Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1901 — THE TEXAS CRUISER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE TEXAS CRUISER

BY T. BURLINGAME ROSS

CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued.) “Antonio St. Marc,” said Tudel, nt this juncture, “since these people fail ns, pernaps you might tell what you know about it." This was spoken in a half-threatening tone, and before St. Marc answered, he directed the* servants to withdraw. As soon as they were gone he turned to Tudel and in a low, decided tone he said: “Senor, you seem to hint that I have had some hand in getting Irene away from here.” < “Upon my soul, you hit ffie mark most wondrous well,” returned file pirate, deridingly. W , “I should think I might hit that part of It, since you have given me so good directions which way to look. But let this at once be settled. I know nothing of the <girl’s whereabouts, and as true as heaven, I am as maeh surprised to find her gone as you caff be.” Tudel looked Nwhost in the face for tome moments, aiid the expression which rested there plainly told what his feelings

were. f “St. Marc,” he said at length, with a positive shake of the head, “you made not the least inquiry for Irene this morning.” “I did not, for I went out as soon as I had eaten my breakfast.” “But you have always been in the habit of doing so. Until this morning< as I can prove by your servants, you have never gone out without first inquiring for Irene. You saw hepkast night?” “Yes—l did.” 1

“Aha —you change* color, Antonio St Marc. You change color! Now, w> Occurred at your meeting with he' -evening?” __ “Nothing more thtan St. Marc, overcoming, by 6- ( tort, the emotion which h. ] itself ui»n his face

“By my soul, St. j am are lying to me. house,” “Ha! Be careftd^^^time growing not to be • a to bluff me off the pirate, warmsaints, ydti can’t smooth Hoover so. YoU-Jiave planned ■Escape. Stop! marked ■rmanner ever since I caft' back from Re Yankees, and I have Woubted you. Just remember, Antonio St. Marc, that you are in my power. Our mutual pledge, made years ago, has been jpost sacredly kept by me. Now give menhe girl—give .her to me!” “I say, I know no moSe where she is cthgn you do.” jy „ /‘Give me the ?iri!” “Fool! Will you '“Hold, St. Marc. 1 know you.” “So do I know you; and though I know Bothing of the girl, yet, for her sake, 1 am almost glad she is gone.” “You are, are you?” hissed Tudel, starting from hjs seat With his hands clenched. ’ “T am ” “Then you’ve played me false! You have, you lying traitor!” “Jilok Tudel, leave my house! Leave it before I strike you!” The pirate’s flashed fire. Naturally reckless and impetuous, this provocation startled the .last lingering passion into action; the loses of Irene had irritated him enough to make him angry; and now, believing as he did that the man before him had used some effort to get the girl away, he could contain himself no longer. And lie was not very far out of the way in mpst of his suspicion. St. Marc had hoped that Tudel'might never get the maiden’stiaud, and he had shown his feelings so plainly that a man with less Wit than the pirate possessed might have read them. A few moments Tudel gazed his companion steadily in the face. He was very pale, and his lip quivered with passion. “Antonio St. Marc,” he said, in a low, I hoarse whisper, “now mark me—since , I have been in the city this last time, you have shown plainly that you hoped | I should not gain possession of Irene’s | hand; you were sorry that the Yankees did not keep and hang me; you cannot deny this.” “I shall not deny it,” interposed St. Marc. “And,” resumed Tudel, seeming not to have noticed the remark, “this morning you arose and ate your breakfast, and went out without inquiring for her as you had always done before. And you had a good reason for so doing. You knew she was gone, and youyneaut not that pursuit should be instituV?d too soon. Now, ser.or—where is she?” St. Marc's only reply was an oath of defiance. ? “That’s your game, th?" uttered Tudel, ad vanning a step. “Miserable traitor, try that and see ” j The concluding part of the sentence was swallowed up in a fierce gasp of rage. St. Marc raised his arrn, but he could not defend fiD face from the blow. The ph-ate’s clenched fist came down upon his temple awl felled him to the I'oor. “There, SL Marc—that’s but a beginning of whajkyou’U get if you don't bring Irene backK’ And witfl these words Jilok Tudel strode froiAthe apartment. It was some moments alter the' pirate had gone l>efrre St. 1 Mme arose to his feet—and then bis first iinj-ulse was to rush after '.he nian who hajl struck him; but he checked himself, anuftneed up and down the anartnicdt head felt dizzy, and a dull pain folßred a full return of consciousness. ft had just concluded to go to his cbnmbw and lie down for awhile, when one of ft servants announced that ,a man see him, at the same ■thne hnndipcßn a card. RkKhow JrfiSmf’ said the host, after he ' caj up towards the window Kpked at ft •’A”' dark “ I ” i S? Marc Bh> colnlus before the servant ft had just returned to Ids RtflJldoor was opened. The jgj? . ft/, gnudiji o ■ ft !lf ' you at home,

“Ay, my dear San Benito; and I'm glad to see you, too.” “Thank you. I was down this way, and I thought I’d just drop in. I’ve got a proposition for you." San Benito cast his eyes furtively about him as he spoke, and his every look showed that he had something of importance to communicate. “I’m open to a proposition from you, San Ben., at any time; so out with it.” “But this must be as secret as the grave,” returned the visitor, gazing around again as before. “You may trust me, I think,” said St. Marc, curiously. , “O, I know’ I may; only I wanted it understood.” H£re the man hesitated for some nioments, and he bad just made his lips up for a speecli, when he discovered~the nvuF appearance of his host’s right temple, and he asked w’hat had caused it. “O —nothing—nothing but a mere accident. But I’ll explain it after yon have stated your case. Come, go on.” “Well, St. Marc—in the fir?t place, I { think you have no very great love<f c JilokTudel.” - -

The host started, and his he J* involuntarilj' clenched. d' £> “Go on,” he uttered. “J” that villain anon.” > “Well," resume* 1 *? nn d so nervously, “I n%’ q> * have I’ll come t r ® ° her - 1 havo seen Dordb 6- thoughts of gone S’ of her hand of your way. Mind "-'-j' in this. I’ll have him 5 of his mother earth before can rise and set, if you’ll but jßne the occasion.”

St. Marc started to his feet; wice he attempted to speak, but both times he stopped and thought. At length, however, he said: “Sanßenito, youasked me what made that mark upon my temple. It was Jilok Tudel did it! Irene has fled, and he charged me with aiding her off. He struck me when I was unprepared, and then left. Where Irene has gone I know not, but she may be found. T shall have a shot at Tudel—stand as my second; if I shoot him, come to me again, and we will talk of this. Will you take a note to him?” “A challenge?” “Yes.” “With pleasure.” St. Marc sat down at once and wrote the challenge—brief, pointed and fiery—and having sealed it he gave it to San Benito, who promised to deliver it that very evening. “Wait, wait,” said the host, as his visitor attempted to speak of Irene again. “Let this affair come off first. lam not apt to miss my mark!”

CHAPTER XV. It was early morning, and Antonio St. Marc sat alone in his large private room. He sunk into a seat, and with his head bowed he pondered upon the incidents of his last interview with Irene. He was far from being a happy man; and yet there was no contriteness in his soul. There was disappointment there, and much anger. Thus he sat when the door of his apartment was suddenly thrown open, and Jilok Tudel entered. St. Marc started up and faced him. Both the men were pale, and both stood for a few moments like fixed statues. Tudel was the first to speak. He drew a note from his pocket, and showing it to the host, he said: “Did you write that, senor?” “I did,” returned St. Marc, without moving a muscle, save such as were necessary to the formation of speech. “And you sent it?” “I did.” “And you mean to fight me?” “If you dare.” “Dare? Dare to stand before you? You —Antonio St. Marc! I only wondered if you were not out of your senses when you wrote it. T doubted your courage to face me in such a work.” “Say you hoped I would not meet you and I shall believe you.” “Ah—you can use your tongue. But we are to have no more of that. Come, senor. If you are ready, let us be on our way, for I have business to attend to, and should like to get through with this affair as soon as possible.” “I am at your service immediately. We will meet on the marsh at the angle of the great road. I will be there as soon as you.” "San Benito is below,” said Tudel, and with these words he turned away. As soon as the pirate was gone San Benito came up, and St. Marc ordered two horses to be brought to the court. “I have engaged a surgeon,” said the second. “That is proper,” returned St. Marc. “I thought so,” resumed San Benito. “You are both good shots, and it will hardly happen that both, if either, can escape untouched.” “You are right,” answered the host, thoughtfully; and as he thus spoke he bowed his bead and leaned his brow upon his hand. "Senor,” spoke the second, after a few moments of silence, “have you not some directions you would like to leave?” "My dear friend," uttered St. Marc, starting up, "that is just what I have been thinking of. I cannot hide from myself the simple fact that Tudel is a good shot. He may get his finrt fire. If he does —but never mind. There is one thing of which I would write. I may detain Tudel longer than 1 promised; but I must write it now. Sit you down here, and I will write all I have to write as quickly as possible.” St Marc ojiened a small escritoire and sat down before it; and having rung for a servant and ordered a lighted candle, he drtw out a sheet of paper and commenced to write. He wrote very rapidly, but he was longer at it than he anticipated. However, it was finished at length, and having reviewed it he folded it carefully, and then sealed it with wax. Then he Superscribed it as follows: “For Martin San Benito—if I fall!” He then placed it in the inner pocket of his velvet doublet, and turning to his companion, he aaiJ:

. “If I fab— -if I die—you will take this packet from my bosom. But be sure that lam dead before you open it. Will you be faithful in this?” “I will,” returned San Benito. “But,”’ he added, anxiously, “suppose you fall, and in time to come I should fall in with Irene ” “I have written all there,” St. Marcreturned. “It is all concerning Irene. And now let us go; we have no more time to spare. Tudel is on the ground even now, waiting for us, and I promised to be there as sbon as he.”

St. Marc went to his cabinet and took out a richly ornamented case in which he kept his pistols, and having secured these he went down to the court where the horses were in waiting, and where they found the surgeon ready to accompau,’> them. . St. Marc’s horses were fleet ones, and they were not many minutes in reaching the ground, which was only a mile and a half distant from the city. “How now, senor?” cried Tudel, in a half-mocking tone, “were you doubtful about coming?” o “Never mind about that,” was St. Marc’s reply. - “He had business to keep him, J interposed San Benito. “Aha—been preparing eh?” AnThese words grated h At tonio’s ears, but he y ( seen apthls moment two coming toproaching _ ward the c* they have pass“ShaP B ed?” 5 Miguel, the man who Tudel, “let them come, ' be some striving to do. is most opportune.” jgFtrtw minutes the priests came up.

features were dark from apparent exposure. One of them seemed quite young, though not younger than many others who have friends of influence in the church. “How now, my children?” spoke the elder of the priests, gazing around upon the party. “We are about to settle a difficulty, good father,” returned St. Marc, “and in case either of us fall, you may give us consolation.” “Perhaps, if I did my duty,” answered the priest, “I should try to stop this work, for there is a better and more noble method of settling ” "Peace, good father,” Interrupted Tudel. “We must tight; and you can stop if you please, but you must hot interfere.” Then turning to San Benito, he added: “Come, senor —we wait your motions.” St. Marc opened his case and took out his pistols, and asked his mtagonist if he would like one of then > But Tudel had his own weapons, anci he chose to use them. The seconds proposed that lots should be drawn fqr the fire, and that the distance should fie fifteen paces. These propositions were agreed to; so two blades of coarse grass were obtained, one longer than the other, and the lower ends hidden in the surgeon’s pocketbook —the one w-ho drew the longest piece was to fire first. St. Marc had the first draw —and he drew- the shortest piece. “Will you continue?” asked Tudel. “Take your place?” thundered the other, made mad by the taunt thus thrown out.

Jilok Tudel took his stand without further remark, and his antagonist boldly faced him, with his arms by his side. “Are you ready?” asked Miguel. “I am.” “So am I.” “Then—ready! One—two—three!” Tudel fired—but St. Marc moved not. There was a perceptible tremor of frame for a single instant, and a twitching of the nether lip; but that was all. “Are you hit?” asked Benito, hurrying tn his side. “Never mind. Count—quick!” “One —two —three!” As the last w-ord sounded upon the air St. Marc fired. Tudel uttered a quick, low groan, and instinctively placed his hands to his left breast. “You are hit!” Miguel cried, springing towards him. “Baek! back!” the pirate cried, furiously. “Give me the other pistol! Stand, St. Marc! I have one more shot!” He caught the secOtid'-pistol as he spoke and without a word S't. Marc took his place. “Quick —quick! count!” “One —two ” But ere the other word could be spoken the pirate’s right arm sunk, and the pistol exploded, sending the ball into the ground close by his feet. His second sprang to his side, and almost at the same instant Antonio St. Marc staggered baek and would have fallen, had not the younger of the two priests caught him and eased him back upon the greensward. (To be continued.)