Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-10
The party stopped.
"This 10 the place." said Captain Jones'.
"Yes," said Doctor Smith.

very W6lt. VI u1bdSuFo Lno ground,
1t was done.
Now for the pistols" whispered the Cap
tain to his fellow second.
They are all ready, III the vs.ise," replied
the Doctor.
The principals were placed ten PAGES apart,
wearing that decidedly uncomfortable look
a man has who Is In momentary expectation
OF being shot.
"You will fire, gentlemen, I'm ltaneously
when l give the werd,' said the Captain.
Then. In an undertoue to the Doctor, Quick,
the pistals.''
The Doctor, STOPPING over and fumbling
at the valise, appeared TO fud something
that surprised him.
why what the devil"
Why, what the matter?" asked the
Captain, starting up. Cant you find the
caps3"
"Duce pistol or cap, but this ?"
He held up a lady's night cap!
"Look Observation-Disclosures
-here!" holding up successfully q hair
brush, long white night gown. a cologne
bottle and comb.
| They were greeted with long whistle by
| the Captain, and blank stare by tho two
principals.
"Confound the luck" calculated tho Cap.
| tain, "if we haven't made q mistake and
brought the WRONG valise."
The principals locke ed at the seconds, No
body volunteered suggestion. At last the
Doctor inquired.
| "W6lI what's to be dOne2"
"D-d unlucky !" ejacula lated the Captain.
THAT duel can't go on"
| Evidently not" responded the Doctor.
'unless they brain each other with the hair
brush, or take pop at each other with the
| cologne bottle
| You are quite sure there are no pistols in
| the valise?" said one OF the principals, with
suppressed eagerness, and drawing breath
| OF evident relief.
I'VE might go over the city and get pfs.
| tolls" proposed the Captain,
| "Aud by that time 1t will be dark" said
the Doctor.
"D-d unlucky." said the Captain again.
I'VE shall be the laughing stock of the
town If this gots wind,' consolingiy remark
ed the Doctor.
"One word with you, Doct ,r," here inter-
posed his principal
They conferred.
At the end of the conference with his prin-
cipal, the Doctor, advancing to the Captain,
conferred with his principal. Then the sec.
onds conferred with each other. Final!y,it was
formally agreed with the two contending par
ties that statement should be drawn up in
writingwhere by No. l rendered the assuranc Q
that the offensive words, 'Yon are liar" /"
were not used by him in any personal sense,
but solely as an abstrat proposition in general
way in regard to the matter of fact under dis
pute. 10 which principal No. appended his
statement of hisIhigh qualification at this can
did and honorable explanation, aud unqualifi-
edly withdrew the offensive words, 'I OH are
scoundrel," they having been used by him un-
der amisapprehension of the intent and pur-
pose OF the remark which preceded.
There being no longer q cause for quar-
! rel, the duel OF cource was ended. The prin
| clpals shook hands with each other, and next
with the seconds, and were evidently very
glad to get out of it.
} "And now that it SO happily settled" said
the Doctor, chuckling and rubbing his hands,
lit proves to have been lucky mistake after
all, that we have brought the wrong valise
Wonder what the lady that owrs it will say
! when she opens ours and finds the pistols
Very we'll for you to laugh about" growl-
|, ed the captain; "but its no joke fer me to lose
my pistols Hair triggers, best English make,
and gold mounted. There aren't a finer pair
in America.
ooh, we'll fiud'em. Wen go on pilgrimage
from house to house, asking If any lady there
had lefta night cap and found pair of dueling
) pitols.
In very good spirits the party crossed the
river, and inquired at the baggage-room in
reference to each and all black leather trav-
cling bags arrived that day, took notes OF
where they were SENT and set out to follow
them up. In due time they reached the Con
, /, tinental, and as luck would have it, met the
unhappy bridal pair just coming down stair:
D in charge of the policeman.
whats all this?" inquired the Captain
70, a couple of buglars caught with yalise
full of stolen property"
"A vslise. What kind Of a yalise ?"
"A black leather valise That's il there"
Here! -Stopl-Hallol-Pol Policeman Land
lord It's all right. You're all wrong. That's
my yalse lis all mistake. They got chaugec
at the depot This lady and gentleman are in
' nocenl. Here's their valise with a nightcap il
: Great was the laughter multifarious the CON
ments. aud deep the interest of the crowd in al
! this dialogue, which they appeared to regard al
dellghtful entertainment, got up expressly fol
their amusement.
"Then you say this 'ers is yourn " said the
, policeman, relaxing his hold ON the bridegroom
i and confronting the Captain.
D .Yes, il's mine
"And how did you come by the spoons
Spoons, YOU jackanapes? ," said the Captain.
"Pistols !-dueling pistols!"
"Do YOU call these pistols ?" said the police
: man holding up one oil the silver spoons, mark
cd II b.
: The Captain astounded, gaspsi, ats the
wrong valiss again, after all
ri "SIop Not SO fast" said the police fanctiou
/ ary, now invested with great dignity by the i'm
a portance of the affair he found himself engaged
In "If SO be al how you've got this 'eie lady.
Q valise, shes s all right and can 60. But in thai
case this is yourn, and it comes 10 you to account
! for them are stolen spoons. Have to take ye il
: : charge, all four ofye"
= "Why, you impudent scoundrell roared th,
!. Captain, s.Tll see you in Il wish l had my
8 pistols here, I'd teach you how 10 insult gentle
Q men |" shaking his fist.
VI The dispute waxed fast and furious. Th'
: outsiders began to take part in it, and there il
no telling how it would have ended, had not al
explosion followed by heavy fall and scream
of pain, been heard In an adjoining room.
The crowd rushed to the scene of the new at
r traction.