The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-08-01
PISTOLS FOR TWO.


a man who wished to join the ship,
and after come consideration, said
man was received by tho captain as
sort of steward, he having agreed to
work for his passage and board, and
some slight consideration besides. His
name was joe Lattit, and he was
regular specimen Of the strolliug Yam
kee; but he dressed we'll and was re-
markably good looking, though in his
face there was peculiar look which
indicated that he preferred fuR to
sound sense, allowing however, that
the fun had some sense in it,
The moment / placed my eyes upon
the man knew l had seen him be-
fore, and when l had an opportunity
to speak with him found that he had
been performer Of legerdenRin and
ventriloquism in the United States,
aud there | had seen him. He had
travelled through England, France and
Spain with his implements of decep-
ton, and had just Brought up at Glib.
raster when our ship came inI He
brought his whole kit on board, in a
large chest which he got permission to
stow away in the bread-r0om where it
would keep perfectly dry. Flo had
quite sum of money which he plac-
ed in the purser's hands for safe keep.
ing, but he would tell none of us how
much. But he was liberal and open
hearted, and it was not long before
the crew blessed the hour that brought
him on beard, for he was the very soul
of wit and humOr. At length our ship
went to Port Mahon, aud here our
Yankee tars we're at home. One pleas
ant morning party Of US went on
shore, and Joe Lattit was among eur
number. Joe was dressed in a per.
feet shsre-going rig and appeared a
gentleman of consequence. Near the
middle of the forenoon few of us en-
tcred cafe, and the only occupant
beside the keeper was Spanish Off
Ger, evidently an infantry captain
from his dress. We called for wine.
and had it served upon a table next
to the one at which the officer sat, Joe
seating himself SO that his back came
against the back of the officer, but he
did not notice how close he would be.
Our laugh and jest ran high, and
just as Joe said something moro than
usually funny, he threw himself back,
and thereby hit the Spaniard with such
force as to cause him TO spill a glass
of wine upon his bosom. The fellow
leaped to his feet and before Joe could
beg pardon for his unintentioDal mis-
take, he commenced torrent of oaths
and invective, partly in Spanish and
partly in broken English. His lam
guage Was 80 abusiye that Joe's tenn
per was up in n moment, and instead
of asking pardon, as no had intended,
he surveyed the raving man from head
to foot, and then said:
Go on, sir, your language is beauti.
ful, very beautiful tor gentleman
'Ah you call me no gentleman ehl'
uttered the officer in towering pas
sion.
III were going to call you any.
thing, should call you jackass ?
calmly and contemptuously respond
ed Joe.
'Aha-a-ahr + halt growled the Span
lard, rolling his black eyes wildly and
furiously. Now, by Santa Marie, you
shall answer for that. / am q genteel
man But you, you one leetle cursed
puppy Aha-a.aha! Now you shall
fight 7
Joe would have laughed the matter
of, but he saw that the captain was
determined tn fight, and at length he
resolved to accommodate him. The
keeper Of the cafe called me on one
side, and informed me that the officer
was Captain AntOnia Bizar, one of the
most notorious duellists of the place,
but he WAS always quarrelsome when
under the influence of liquor, and that
his companions always left him alone
rather than have a fuss.
Not FIVE minutes before you came
in,' added the keeper, -four of his fel-
low officers left him because they saw
he was ripe for q fuss. So you had
better get your friend out
/ pulled Joe away, aud told him all
that had just been told me, but he on
ly smiled and assured me there was
nothing to fear. felt sure az once
from his very manner that he had
some fun ia his head, and I let him
60.
My name is Joseph Lattit, sir,
citizen of the United States, and Gen.
eral of the Order Of Sublime Dark.
ness, said Joe pompOusly. Your
name, Giri'
'AntonIa Bizar, Captain in Her
Most Catholic Majesty's seventh regi-
meRt of infantry. But your Office, sir2
don't comprehend