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


a man who wiAhed to join the ship,
and after some consideration, said
man was received by the captain as a
sort of steward, he having agreed to
work for his passage and board, and
some slight consideration besides His 7
name was Joe Lattit, and he was
regular specimen of the strOlling Yam
kee; but he dressed we'll and was re-
markably good looking, though in his |
face there was a peculiar look which |
indicated that he preferred fua to
sound sense, allowing however, that
the fun had some sense in it,.
The moment / placed my eyes upon
the man l knew l had seen him be-
fore, aud when / had an opportunity
to speak with him / found that he had
been a performer Of legerdenRin and
ventrloquism in the United States,
aud there | had seen him. lie had
travelled through England, France and
Spain with his implements of decep-
ton, and had just brought up at Glib
raater when our chip came in. He
brought his whole kit on board, in a
large chest which he got permission to
stow away in the bread-rOom where it
would keep perfectly dry. Ho had
quite a 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, aud 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 were at home. One pleas
ant morning party of us went on
shore, and Joe Lattit was among eur
number. Joe was dressed in q per-
feet Sh0re-going rig and appeared a
! gentleman Of consequence. Near the
middle Of the forenoon few Of us en-.
tcred cafe, and the only occupant
4, 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 nexI
to the one ut which the officer sat, Joe
seating himself so that his back cam,
- against the back of the officer, but h'
did not notice how close he would be
Our laugh and Jest ran high, anC
>. just as Joe said something moro thar
usually fanny, he threw himself back
and thereby hit the Spaniard with suc|
force as to cause him to spill glas
Of wine upon his bosom. The felloN
leaped to his feet and before Joe coul'
,r beg pardon for his unintentioDal mis-
take, he commenced torrent of oath
aud invective, partly in Spanish an
partly in broken English. Hio Ian
guage WAS 80 abusiye that Joe's ten
- per was up in moment, and instea
Of asking pardon, as ho had intended
I he surveyed the raving man from hea
TO foot, and then said
Go on, sir, your language is beaut
, ful, very beautiful tor a gentleman
'Ah! you call me no gentleman eh
n uttered the officer in n towering pa'
u sion.
III we're going to call you an
A. thing, | should call you jackass
calmly and cOntemptuously responC
re, cd Joe.
'Aha.a.ahr = halt growled the Spal
lard, rolling his black eyes wildly an
he furiously. Now, by Santa Marie, yC
nd shall answer for that. am q gente
1s eo man But you, you one leetle curse
see puppy Aha-a-aha! Now you sha
fght ?
Joe would have laughed the matt
of, but he saw that the captain "
determined to fight, and at length
resolved to accommodate him. i
keeper Of the cafe called me on o.
side, and informed me that the oftic
- was Ca plain AntOnia Bizar, one Of t
- most notorious duellists of the plaC
~ but he was always quarrelsome VIII
under the influence Of liquor, and tn
his companions always left him alo
Ms rather than have a fuss.
ers Not FIVE minutes before you cal
FAC. 1 in added the keeper, -four of his
low officers left him because they 81
Pa he was ripe for q fuss. So you h
better get your friend out
has | pulled Joe away, aud told him
,rgo that had Just been told me, but he I
all IL smiled and assured me there '
ana ana nothing to fear. l felt sure at eI
from his very manner that he /
D some fun in his head, and l let h
,ors go.
iDts MY name is joseph Lattit, sir
and citizen of the United States, and G
., eral of the Order of Sublime Da
ork ogIS ness, said Joe pompOusly. ~
ions name, Sir?'
- 'AntonIa Bizar, Captain in
Geo. Most Catholic Majesty's seventh n
Y. meRt of infantry. But your Office, 1
: ing | don't comDrehend.'