Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 231: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

224 THE ARGOSY. ‘““ My dear fellow,” he said quietly, “ once a prisoner, the count will find means to bend the lady to his will. But if he is very impatient, and the process is too slow, he can find that which will rid him of her for good. You have heard of people being poisoned, have you not?” Cottrell sprang to his feet with acry of horror. “ My God, man! Weare not dealing with common cutthroats, nor are we living in the Dark Age! ” “No!” retorted Struthers drily, “ but man’s nature doesn’t change; and a black heart 1s the same whether its owner wears fine clothes or the rags of an outcast.” CHAPTER XI.—A FACE AT THE WINDOW. COTTRELL was staggered. Such a possibility as Struthers had just sug- gested had never occurred to him, and he was lost in admiration of his friend’s fertility of imagination at the same time that the idea struck terror to his heart. “ Struthers, I’m glad you have come!” he ejaculated. “I foresee that I should have been a mere baby in the wily hands of the count. I would be perfectly unable to anticipate such plots and scheming. Why, that plan you have just outlined he may be preparing to put into execution this very night!” “I don’t say that the count has concocted any such scheme,” put in Struthers; “I only suggest that that would be the easiest way out of his difficulties, and it would very likely occur to him. But whether it has or not, he will not carry it into effect until after his duel with you. French soldiers, who are all dexterous swordsmen, are very punctilious regarding such a matter. Besides, in-the count’s case, that would be the safest way of getting rid of you; after that it would be comparatively easy to dispose of the two women.’ ‘“T don’t like the idea of being so disposed of,” said Cottrell, making a wry face. ‘You can hold your own, I think, in a duel,” observed the Englishman. ‘Your experience at sword practice in the United States militia will stand you in good stead. And if you are still fresh on those few Continental feints I showed you, you ought to come out of the affair with little more than a scratch.” Just then both men started to their feet and instinctively reached for their revolvers, for right above them on the sand dune was heard a smothered ex- clamation, and then a fierce scuffle. The sounds of heavy panting came down to them, and they made out in the dusk the forms of two men met in a deadly embrace. They rocked this way and that, in their efforts to gain a mastery each over the other. In the fury of their action, they did not note how near they were to the edge of the dune, and on a sudden they came crashing down at the feet of the two astonished and bewildered spectators. The young American and his friend separated the combatants, who proved to be Jean Daron and Louis, the butler. “Daron!” exclaimed Cottrell, ‘ what is the meaning of all this? ” GONG OOO ceo