Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-05-16
THE ACE OF SPADES.
BY FRANCIS A. DUKrvAGE.

BY FRANCIS A. DURIvAGI.
"Twenty to one hit at the frs: shot!"
said Frank Traverse, young American.
as he pointed out to his companions, a
group Of Cubans and Spaniards, a play
ng-card, the ace OF spades, pinned to the
trunk Of palm tree, at twenty PAGES dis
tance. in the capacious garden of a coun-
try-seat in the neighborhood of Havana.
DRAW it rather milder, for heavens
sake, Frank" whispered his friend. Will
Waters, New Yorker, long a resident Of
Cuba.
"Twenty to one I centre the ace - re-
peated Traverse. looking around him.
"You are jesting, amigo" said DASH
ing young Spanish officer. Captain Anto-
MO Alvarez. Of the Lanceros. You are
jesting, or want to throw away your mo>
ney."
"That's my lookout, captain, will you
take me up?''
Certainly"
well then, I'll make the offer fairer.
1 will turn my back to the mark-wheel
at the word fire land discharge my
pistol At one-two-three. You shall
give the word, if you like"
"Done p
Traverse turned his back to the card
The captain gave the word. Traverse
wheeled and fired ut "two." Captain
Alvarez ran up and examined the card.
He returned, stroking his coal. black NOUS
tache.
"You did il, certainly" said he, but
it was a chance shot"
"A chance shot T. repeated Traverse.
" A hundred to one I'll do it again four
times running"
Done u said the captain.
The second shot widened the hole made
by the first. The circumference of the
third cut the circle Of the second-the
fourth and fifth shots widened the aper-
ture. The card was handed round
amidst the admiration Of the company.
Traverse smiled as he put the card in
his pocket.
That is nothing" said he. {" I have
made better shots. There is nothing so
wonderful in it. have lived with the piss
tol in my hand"
"Do you understand the small sword.
also, senor." asked the lancero, carlessly.
Inditferently we'll" replied Traverse.
"Whnt do you say to bout 2" asked
the captain.
With all my heart"
Alvarez smiled. and signed to an at
tendant to bring the foils. The young
men laid aside their coats. Traverse bent
the blade of bis foil to try its temper and
spring; it proved to be of the best Ger
man steel. Alvarez tossed his high in
the air, caught it with the right and left
hands, threw it over his arm. and played
with it in thousand dextrous fashions.-
At last they saIuted gracefully. and inter>
changed the preliminary passes to ascer-
tain their distance.
"On guard !" cried the Spaniard, stam-
ping his foot; and the glittering blades
were engaged.
Traverse was accounted good swords
man. He made pass; and his antago-
mist sent his blade whirling thirty feet in
the air.
Take mine, I beg you,' said Alva-
rez with polite bow.
Picking up the Americans sword, he
renewed the encounter, and touched his
antagonist lightly on the breast. Trav-
erse lunged i'll return, and was disarmed
instantly. .#..
Il give it up" said he gaily. St.
George was not more master of the
sword"
:" 1t is nothing" said the Spaniard in
differently, yet well pleased at the COM
plimeut. -" Ny fencing is like your shoot-
ing. have lived with sword in my
hand. 1t is my favorite weapon"
He is an inveterate duelist," whis-
pered Walters to his friend. al He has
killed four men to my certain knowledge,
and each one was drilled in different
place."
Come, gentlemen. to horse." said
captain Alvarez. I" The sun has almost
touched the horizon-the sea-breeze has
sprung up-we shall be in time to pay
our respects to the ladies on the Pasco.'
The gay party lighted their cigars,
mounted their little Audalusan horses and
cantered toward the city at an easy pace.
1t was holiday time in Havana, and
Traverse and his friend, both masked,