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At Swords' Points;
OR, I
A SOLDIER. OF THE RHINE. I
J By ST. GEORGE
Copyright, by STiutrr A
ciiAi'Ti'.n iv.
"Hoch! Tho Amerlcanl"
It was lndocd a pretty sight, If one
could only overlook the disfiguration
of tho principals necessitated by their
armament, and both men handled
their rapiers in tlcrco and guard with
a cleverness that would havo brought
out chocrs from an American audience
to make tho very rafters ring, while
thrco score of Hermans sat or stood
around, watching every move, with a
grim sllcnco thnt was only broken by
tho clash of fctocl upon steel, or tho
sharp cries of tho umplro directing
tho affair.
ThoBo lights had never shone upon
a moro gallant fight, nnd each student
hugged himself with delight because
fortunn had been kind enough to
mako him a witness to It.
Thoso most experienced In such
matters saw, however, that when ton
minutes of this torrlllc work had pass
cd by with but n few slight cuts on
clthur side, Hoffman was gathering his
forces and preparing to end the duel
with ono of his hitherto Invincible
tactics, nnd they trembled for tho
bravo American.
To Karl's eager inquiries during an
Interval between tho bouts, Paul only
gave a short laugh and assured his
aecond ho was but playing with his op
ponent Again the rivals faced, but this timo
Paul was In deadly earnest, nnd amid
a clash of steol It was seen that Hoff
man's face was covered with blood.
Then tho sonorous volco of the um
plro was heard calling n halt whllo
tho surgeons ascertained just how
serious the Prussian's wound might be.
Hoffman seemed to bo wildly pleading
with him to tell tho battlo to go on
It was his first dofoat and unusually
bitter but the doctor, realizing tho
gravity of tho wound, was inexorable.
"Abfuhr!" ho called out. signifying
that tho Prussian should bo allowed to
tight no more.
The umplro repeated tho word, and
In a loud voice doclarcd tho result In
tho stereotyped phrase:
"Saxo-Prusslan is led away."
Then something occurred that had,
perchance, novor been heard upon a
similar occasion tho glorious result,
tho signal downfall of tho proud duel
list who had lorded it over thorn so
long, was too much for the students
to witness without giving relief to
their pent-up feelings.
"Hoch, hoch, hoch the American!"
they shouted. And "hoch, hoch, hoch"
it was whllo they boro Khlnelander,
bloody as ho was, Into tho ante-room
to resume his street dress.
Paul had received a fow slight
scratches, but fortuno had been very
kind to him in this respect, for none
of them were moro than bagatelles.
As ho, dressed acaln for the street,
was about to break away from the ad
miring groups that surrounded him, ho
saw a tall figure pressing through tho
throng, and recgonized tho Englishman
who had been assisting the surgeon
who attended his bout. His eyes, blue
as tho summer skies, beamed with good
nature, and Paul was drawn to him un
consciously. Then, too, tho Impulsive clasp of his
hand, how hearty it was nfter nlmost
formal congratulations of tho Ger
mans 1 Well, blood seems thicker than
water, after nil, and tho day is surely
coming when these cousins may stand
shoulder to shoulder for peace
throughout tho whole world.
"A thousand congratulations, my
dear boy. It was beautifully done,
nnd I am proud to havo been a wit
ness to your victory. I hopo wo may
meet again. Sir Noel Travers Is my
name, and I am probing Into tho col
leges .and hospitals of our German
couslnB."
Paul was dragged away by his com
rades at this Juncture, but he had a
singular premonition that ho would
run across this big, frank Briton again
at some uncertain future dato.
To Paul's lodgings they rode. The
day passed as had others, but Paul dis
covered what ho had not known before,
that he had many warm friends in tho
university.
And, of course, ho wob by courtesy
compelled to accept their Invitation
to bo a guest of honor at tho grand
meeting in tho Knelpe or korps drink
ing all that night, whoro tho famous
Salamander with its chorus and pound
ing of empty beakers on tho table
opened nnd closed tho festivities.
Still ho was glad when tho end came
and ho could leave the hall without
giving offense, for other matters of a
moro personal nature demanded his at
tention. Ono of tho objects that had brought
him to Europe to Germany gave
promise of bolng attained.
Ho had seen tho ono he sought, the
Bister who had for so many years been
lost to him.
How tho memory of her thrilled him,
and what agony swept through his
mind as ho remembered In whoso
company ho had seen her.
Tho namo of Hoffman, what a curso
it had been to his father. Was tho
eon fated to perpetuate his sire's in
famy? CIIAPTHH V.
A Sorpont In the Dovecote
It was night again In Holdelborg
when Paul wandorod about the streets
of tho classical city. Rhlnolander was
RATHDORNE
f
Surrn, Now York,
not aimlessly wandering. Tho little
god Cupid hud to do with his wander
ings. Pnul was thluktug of Hllde
garde. That haunting face, with its melting,
brown 'eyes, was tho lode star that
drew tho reclut-o from his don.
And pray, who was Hlldegardo?
Truth to toll, Paul would not have
been wholly nblo to have given n def
inite answer to that question had he
been asked.
Some weeks ago ho linn met her In
rather n strango way that bordered n
little on tho romantic. Chance had al
lowed him to do her a favor, slight
enough In Its way, but when she
thnnked nltn so sweetly, the mischief
was done, for with tho nibdcst grnco
of thoso velvety brown orbs the little
god of love had shot an arrow true
to the mai It, and ever since Paul had
felt its point In his heart.
Several times ho hail seen her since,
and on each occasion had received a
bow nnd a blush of recognition, Hut
no moro.
However, on the occasion of their
meeting, sho had dropped a small 'ker
chief, which Paul had discovered, and
now he was on his way to her house
to, he hoped, become definitely ac
quainted. He found the house readily enough,
and wns shown into a small, dimly
lighted parlor where ho was to await
tho coming of the lady of the house.
It was Just at this moment that IiIh
car caught tho sound of laughter.
It camo from tho next room, and
was as merry and freo from care as
any sound ho hud ever hoard fresh,
girlish laughter that quickened his
pulse, since he could give a very good
guess as to the source from whence it
came.
Few temptations arise that thcro
does not also appear the means of
gratifying tho deslro, nnd in this case
he noted tho fact that tho connecting
door between tho room In which he
awaited the pleasure of tho tardy aunt
nnd the adjoining apartment wns ajar.
Utterly unconscious of what awaited
him. ho advanced gently toward tho
opening, and with eager eyes sought
the object- of his solicitude.
Success immediately attended his ef
forts, for he discovered the nymph of
the hazel brown eyes In direct range.
Sho had evident cnusc for merriment,
and as Paul turned his eyes toward her
companion ho saw that it was a man.
The party's back was turned to him
po that ho could not discover whother
he were young or old, comely or ugly,
though he hoped tho Intter.
While Paul ttood there wondering
what all the fun was about and cha
grined to think ho was not In It, tho
man faced about, and the American
felt a cold chill chase up and down bis
spinal column when, amid the multl
bandages he discovered tho handsome,
Blnister countenanco of his bitter en
emy, Conrad Hoffman.
CHAl'TKK Vr.
Paradise Lost.
Probably In all his adventurous life
up to dnto young Hhlnelander had
never before experienced such n chill
as beset him when he made this as
tounding discovery, and saw his hated
enomy apparently quite at homo In
tho apartments occupied by Hlldegarde
and her aunt. Tho familiarity with
which sho received Conrad, tho lack of
conventionality, declared that they
must bo related In somo way.
And If so, what must follow?
His vory blood ran cold at the
thought this fair, angelic creaturo
connected with tics of kinship to the
family, father und son, whom ho had
such reason to curse!
Tho Idea was appalling.
In that minute of timo Paul had aB.
sovero a mental strugglo as comes to
most men.
Ho conquered his Weakness, too, and
resolved to meet the emergency Just
whoro he stood.
Thcro had been time to leave tho
house and avoid tho encounter, but
Rhlnolander was not tho man to shirk
a duty, no matter at what expense to
his feelings.
And when the lndy entered, present
ly, with apologlo for keeping him wait
ing, Paul was himself again, resolved
to play his part to tho bitter end, no
matter what the cost.
After a fow minutes' conversation
tho good lady begged him to excuse
her for a brief Interval whllo sho
brought her niece Into the room, Bay
Ins sho knew the young people would
be friends sinco they seemed to havo
many views In common.
Tho time, then, had come, tho fate
ful moment which but a short whllo
back he had beon anticipating so
engerly, whllo now, alas, he dreadod it
Btlll more.
He fell his courage oozing from his
finger tips when Hlldegardo entered
with her aunt, and ho saw tho sudden
wave of crimson that suffused her face
and neck as sho caught a first sight of
him.
Ah! that telltale color would havo
brought amazing satisfaction to Paul
but for tho wretched discovery ho had
nvude.
Then ho saw Hoffman, bandages and
all, looming up In tho doorway. Paul
was quite composed and rendy to glvo
and tako fully aB choorfully aa ho had
done when, sword In hand, tho Saxo-
Prussian leador slashed jvuit ho.Tcd In
tho endeavor to down hint In tho
schlager combat of the arena, but Hoff
man promised to enliven matters
speedily enough.
Ho wns rapidly working himself up
to u while heat, when nn explosion
would follow.
Meanwhile the good lady of tho
house had Introduced the young peoplo
and nt least Paul might henceforth
havo tho privilege of addressing Hll
degardo upon their meeting, unless sho
took up Hoffman's quarrel nnd cut him
direct.
Knowing whnt was coming Pnul ac
tually felt relloved when the man of
banduges advanced to have his llttlo
say.
Hoffman was a man whose talents
lay Homowhnt In tho line of oratory.
Consequently, when ho let lon:o his
vials of wrath upon the American ho
said some very bitter things In his
tonguo lashing.
The ladles were aghast.
Paul smiled through It nil.
Wearying nt length of the tirade,
which ho could not answer, he put up
his hand ns If to signal that enough
had been smld.
And Hoffman actually stopped,
though hi all probability It was moro
on nccount of his lack of breath than
any desire to humor his enemy Hint
Influenced him.
Having gained the Moor, Paul stated
IiIb case In n frank and manly way,
calculated to gain the respect of tho
gentler sex.
"Indies, I am sure you will believe
me If I suy I had not tho remotest
suspicion when I came here to-night
that I should find this gentleman pres
ent, or that ho wns connected with
you In any manner whatsoever.
"Unfortunately he chose to tako of
fense In the concert garden recently,
accusing my frlond nnd myself of nn
action of which we were entirely Inno
cent, nnd ns you doubtless know thero
followed tho passagc-at-artns In which
I hud to tuko part.
"I do not regiet my action In tho
premises, but doom It my misfortune
that I should hao been compelled to
disfigure any relative of yours. Slnco
my presonco here Is evidently unwol
come to Mynheer Hoffman, I shall In
sist upon withdrawing myself without
further ceremony."
Tho effect of this manly npeech was
evident from tho fuct that both ladles
smiled upon him.
Seeing which, tho miserable Hoff
man, smarting In the bitterness of his
first defeat, snarled:
"One of yoii'dld Insult the lady, and
a German knows how to resent such
things."
Then it was tho American turned
upon him with flashing eyes, fully
aroused.
"I say you know that Is a base llo,
since you should be aware of tkj sacred
bond between that young woman and
myself that I would booner cut my
right hand off than offer her the
Bllghtest harm. I will ecn go further
nnd solemnly declare, as you well
know In your cowardly soul, that your
presenco in her hociety was the busest
Insult bIio could receive. 1 shnll stand
by these words alwnys.
"And now, ladles, since this scene Is
painful to you und to mo, permit me
to retire with tho hope that possibly
wo may meet again under other and
moro ngicenblo conditions."
Hoffman looked almost as whlto in
tho face as the bandage thai padded
his split check.
Evidently he knew to whnt Paul re
ferred, and the consciousness cut him
to tho quick.
'Ho glided over to the door, and aa
tho other, having bowed politely to the
ladles, wns pusslng through, tho Teu
ton said In u low but passionate tone:
"TIiIb is only the beginning between
us."
(To be continued.)
A MAN OF INTUITION.
Invefttment of n Small Sum of Mono;
to Good Advantage.
"I had just come back to tho Btora
from my lunch ono day," said tho mer
chant, aa burglai -proof bates were un
der discussion, "when a mlddlo-nged
man with a hard-up look entered my
private office nfter mo. Tho object of
his call was to strlko mo for half u
dollar, and I am surprised yet that I
didn't at once turn him down. I guess
It was because ho had tho look of a
first-class mechanic out of a Job, and
because trado was rushing with mo. To
nccedo to hlB request I had to open my
big safe, and as 1 handed him two
quarters ho thanked me and ndded:
'Excuse mo, sir, but Isn't that safo of
yours too dead easy?' 'How do you
mean?' I asked. 'Why, It's a four
number combination, but you havo It
set only on two. I think I could open
It In a couple of minutes.' 'If you can
I'll glvo you $5,' I said, feeling a llttlo
nettled at his disparagement. I shut
and locked tho door and stood bf.ck
for him, and in less than forty seconds
he bad swung it open. 'I told you it
was dead easy,' he said, without a
smile. 'But bow did you got on to tho
combination?' 'Oh, It's Intuition, I
guess. Bettor call in a man and havo
the lock set on four numbers. It could
bo opened then, but It might take nn
hour or two. Thanks again, and good
day.' I didn't lot tho grass grow un
der ray foet," continued tho morchant,
"and from that day on I carried a heap
less money in the safo. The man might
havo been a mechanic, but somehow
I'vo always had tho idea that ho was
a safe-cracker, and thnt I made a good
Investment when I handed over thnt
$5.50. Ho might havo got $2,000 thnt
night as easy as rolling off a log."
Detroit Freo Pre
A Tonawanda (N. Y.) milkman has
been struck thrco times by tho sama
train at tho ' railroad crossing.
mmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmmmmmtmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmss!immmmmmmmmmmmmmmamKamammmammmfmmmmmmmm
pH Pictorial Humor S
A SURE
EthelWhat makes you think they
Maud He ntopped taking her to
Instead.
Over llin IlitiiKor l.lim.
"Weary," snld Shiny Patches, ns tho
two wero resting us usual, "this Is my
birthday, and I draw a deep breath of
relief, for I am out of danger."
"What are you talking about?"
asked Weary.
"1 am 35 years old, and for some
timo I have known that between tho
ages of 20 und 3ft men do their great
est work. It has kept tnc worried, but
now I feel Hnfe."
Mmlfnt.
"Do you think that literature Is like
ly to assume n higher standard V" In
quired tho serious thinker. "I do,"
answered tho man with long hulr and
hluck-rlnimed glasses. "In fact, as I
am now at work on my masterpiece,
1 feel nlmost justified In giving a per
sonal guarantee to that effect."
Iluil It Itrnily.
He Of course, dear, I'll bo back
from tho club In timo for the opera,
but in caso It should turn out to be
Impossible I'll send you a note by mes
Eenger. Sho That'B not necessary; It Just
dropped out of your overcoat pocket.
ARROGANCE
'tF
3
"I am tho Duko do Bosso."
Hotel Clerk Well, ho long as you
we'll let you stuy here.
Dili She Tnko tint Hint?
A distinguished cavalry leader was
onco at a dinner party to which ho
hnd boon Invited as tho guest of honor.
Besldo him was a loquacious widow,
with hair of raven black, who rudely
interrupted the conversation by ask
ing tho warrior why It wos that his
beard wa3 still black, whllo hla hair
was turning gray.
With great politeness tho old warrior
turned toward her.
"I fenr I cannot glvo you n satisfac
tory answer," said ho, "unless, possi
bly, tho reason is that I havo used my
brain a llttlo moro than I havo my
jaw."
Her Wy.
Mr. Hennypcck (musingly) I won
der why a woman never gives her hus
band tho kind of a Christmas present
ho wants?
Mrs. Honnypeck (severely) Because
sho doesn't try to. Sho gives him tho
present ho ought to want.
He "Reckoned." -
Johnny Paw, what does It mean
when it sayB "Bound tho tocsin?"
Mr. Wise Oh, I reckon It's ono of
these fights about anti-toxin.
Hnianllng m Guen.
Delia "Phwat la this copper com
pany that tho man o' tho houso does
bo talkln' about bo much?"
Bridget "Shuro, 01 aupposo 'tis a
pollssman's union, no less."
Would llo Flrtt on Record.
"Ah," said tho great singer. "I have
hit on a plun which will Indeed bring
mo distinction." Whnt is It?" asked a
friend. "I shall mako a fnrowell tour,
and I shall not go back."
fflraV WwK wr- fi
SIGN.
2ta;
me engaged?
tho theater, and takes her to church
-,..
WHISKY IN THE KLONDIKE.
First Klondike Miner (looking down tho shaft) What Is It, Bill?
Second Klondike Miner (from below) I wIbIi you'd stop over to the
cabin und cut mo oft about two drinks of whlBky. Tho lee-saw 1b under the
bed. r
REBUKED.
don't get noisy, and pay In advance
KNEW THE
She -Wonder why tall mon always
She Thoy tako tho leaser evil.
In Ken tacky.
Many Citizens (as thoy see tho
keeper of tho insano asylum leading
Colonel Bluddangore, handcuffed, to
hla ambulance) "Why, look hyuh,
man, whut does this mean, BUh?"
Keeper "Gentlemen, I asstiah yo I
am as prostrated ovah UiIb affalh as
yo' all, but tho Cunnel has announced
publicly that ho will not touch an
othoh drop of whisky attch tho fust
of tho comln' yeah. What els Is thuh
to do with him?"
'
Ono nmt Twn-Tenttit Drunk.
"Judge, yotu honor, this man wno
ono and two-tenths drunk last night,"
tt policeman told a police court judga
yesterday, when n decrepit old fellow
named Kelly wns arraigned on n
charge of vagrancy.
"Whnt'B Unit?" asked tho court
"How do you figure that out?"
"Well, your honor, your theory its.
that If n man takes 10 drinks ho'ut
loaded," replied tho pollcomnn, count
lug on his fingers. "Kelly told mo
ho hnd 12 drinks."
Kelly went down for flO dnyB.
Washington Times.
Hud It Ciiuiiiiatloii.
"I am afraid, madam," said a gen
tleman who was looking for apart
ments, "thnt tho houso Ib too near tho
station to bo pleasant."
"It Is n llttlo noisy," assented tho
landlady: "but from tho front veran
da ono has such n fino view of people
who miss the trnliiB," she added, wlth
uu air of triumph.
J&J
A I'luiitlng Iteiult.
"You know that measly llttlo cur
that my wlfo mado bo much of?"
"Tho dog that bit mo In tho leg?"
"Yes. A motorman ran over anuV
killed him. Yes. And I had to go
down to tho railway office nnd report
tho motormnn so ho could bo prompt
ly discharged. I went"
"What was tho result?"
"Tho man wns promoted."
Ono Kxplnnnlliin.
"How did tho United States Sonato
get tho reputation of bclns such nn
exceptionally, dlguitlcd body?" in
quired tho man who is always eager to
learn.
"Probably It was going Into execu
tive session nt precisely tho proper mo
ment," was tho cold-blooded man's an
Bwor.
Htnlnn Were Gone, Weren't Thoy 7
"You told me, sir, that nil I had to
do was to leave tho tablecloth outsider
during tho night, nnd the fruit stains
would disappear. Well, I did so last,
night."
"Ah! then tho Btnlna "
"No! It was tho tablecloth that dis
appeared!" REASON.
marry llttlo women?
Accounting for It.
Maud Mr. Wellalong seems entirely
wrapped up in his bride. I wouldn't
havo expected it in tho caso of such an
old, old bachelor as he was when ho
was married.
Mabel Ho had kept bis heart in cold,
storago all thoso years, porhaps.
Why He Vi Coining Home.
"Is your undo coming home from thi
Philippines soon?" asked tho visitor.
"Yes," said tho editor's llttlo boy,,
"bis subscription has expirod."
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