The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-02-15

spectators, attracted BY the extra
I ordinary skill displayed on both sides
A. the contest progressed, il was i'm
: possible 10 decide which had the a.iyan
: tage; first one was ahead and then III,
other; and finally, n the termination
drew near, 50 evenly were they matched,
/ that when the Count needed but one "a
! complete his score, Maurice only wanted
three.
II was the crisis of the game, and the
, excitement was terrible That Of The
other spectators seemed hardly less in
tense, although we alone knew u the ter
: rible duty deyolyingupon the final loser.
} II was plain TO me that Dolavgne the
! generous fellow-had purposely allowed
us to beat him, in order 10 take the whole
burden upon his own shoulders.
blamed myself deeply for not hav~
ing discovered II in time for remonstra-
ton, which was now too late, and so |
held my peace. II was the Count de
Vautrin's play; and as the balls were
rather awkwardly placed he did not ut
tempt 10 add to his scores, hut PLAYED
for what is technically known As q safe
ty," and left them in position from
which it was almost impossible TO effect
"A count. Maurice looked anxious, but
after long and careful survey of the
table, seized his cue firmly, and by one
of the most brilliant shots had ever
seen, made a carom on the two reds,
and so won the game.
The Count laid his cue upon the Ia
bic, and smilingly said Monsieur, |
must congratulate you. considered
myself the first amateur player in Paris,
but find that have at least one SUI
perior.r
His opponent bowed, and attributed
his success more 10 good fortune than
any superiority Of skill.
II was getting late, and the frequent
ers had mostly departed, 50 that a num-
Der scarcely greater than that Of our
own party was all that remained in the
entire saloon.
DE Vautrin replaced his coat, and hav-
ing lit cigar, strayed leisurey round
the room, and eventually halted in Z
front Of huge cavalry major, who sat
doing IN an armchair with an express
ion Of somniferous bliss upon his
bronzed features positively touching.
= Slr'' said the Count--and he shook
him violently by the shoulder.
The warrior opened his bloodshot
eyes and glared fierccly upon his inter
rogator.
= trust you will pardon me, sir,-
resumed Count de Nautrn, =. for this
unseemly interruption; but the fact Of
the matter Is, am under the necessity
~ lighting somebody, and attracted by
the singular beauty Of your features
(the Major was frightfulIy ugIy), ~
have made bold to disturb You IN order
hat you may become my opponent
Sir" responded the incensed cav ,
Alryman, lyon are a fOol,n
"Oh, | understand; you wish rca- .
'on, retorted the Count, in the most
courteous of tones. :" You shall have
T.. T,
And, without more ado, he reached :
orth his hand, and seizing the son ~
Mars by his nose, which was very prom I
nent, gave II SO vigorous tweak that I
or moment verify believed he must :
itN, pulled portion Of il from his face. 4
Y immediately leaped to the further Y
Idle Of a billiard table; and il was well i
Ie did 50. for the now thoroughly Il
reused soldier sprang to his feet, and b
ad not some half-dozen Of US inter a
cred, he would certainly have throt-
led his nsulter on the spot. I.
l never saw "A man so enraged. He Ii
terally foamed at the mouth. and our D
nIted efforts were hardly sufficient 10 n
revent his breaking away. Finally. il
eeing that his attempts To release him il
eli were Intellectual, he gave his word /,
, commit no immediate violence, and h
'e loosened our hold. A
Count de Vautrin, who had been re- a
ardIng the whole scene with the utmost h
onchalence, now advanced and said. b
his card, "Thcre, sir, YOU will b
nd my name and address. You shall il
ave satisfaction. = N
''llere, sir--here, on this spot,- hiss u
the Major, trembling all over with Iii
assion.
The proprietor of the establishment. II
tracted by the commotion, came up al u
rs moment, and interfered. He be- IA
'ught Us TO take our differences some b;
here else, and informed US, besides.
nj II we persisted in making his sa- d
on the scene Of a duel, he would be pi
der the necessity Of sending for the ~
lice. liz
During this harangue I noticed that vi
iroque spoke in an undertonc To sew in
al Of the students, who Immediately vi
'sted themselves in front Of the large IA
'uble doors which constituted the only w
trance % the place. AT it, conclusion he
detained the landlord by the skirts Of
: coat, and thus addressed the specta- ha
r. ~ this singular scene, who did not I
'mber more than twenty-five, our own er
rty included. sc,
'Nlessicurs,' he said, Elf 4 gentleman Ia
insulted, \ i not cminently Just and
oper that he should demand satistac-