The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-01-30

in the way again. proposed rifles; then
double barreled shot-guns; then. Colt
navy revolvers. These being all rejected
l reflected awhile. and sarcastically sug
gested brick-bats at three quarter of
mile. | always hate to fool away hu
morous thing on person who has no per
ception of humor; and it filled me witt
bitterness when this man went soberl,
away to submit the last proposition to hi
principal.
He came back presently, and said hi
principal was charmed with the idea o
brick-bats at three-quarters OF a mile. bu
must decline on account of the danger Il
disinterested parties passing between
Then said:
well, ! am at the end of my string
now. Perhaps yon would be good enough
to suggest a weapon? Perhaps you have
even had one in your mind ali the time 2
His countenance frightened, and hi
said with alacrity:
''Oh. without doubt, Monsieur"
So he fell to hunting in his pockets
pocket after pocket, and he had
plenty of them,-muttering all the while
Now, what could | have done Will
them?'
At last he was successful. He fsheG
out Of his vest pocket a couple of little
things which carried to the light and
discovered to be pistols. They were sin
gle-barreled and silver mounted, and
very dainty and pretty. l was not able
to speak for emotion. silently hung one
Of them on my watch-chain, and returned
the other. My companion in crime now
unrolled postage stamp containing
several cartridges, and gave me one Of
them. asked if he meant to signify by
this that our men were to be allowed but
one shot apiece. He replied that the
French code permitted no more. then
begged him to go on and suggest dis
lance. for my mind was growing weaker
and confused under the strain which had
been put upon 1t. He said sixty-fve
yards. | nearly lost my patience. said
"Sixty-five yards with these instru-
ments! Pop-guns would be deadlIer at
fifty. Consider, my friend. you and are
banded together to destroy life, not to make
eternal"
But with all my persuasion, all my ar
guments, was only able to get HIM to
reduce the distance to thirty-five yards;
and even this concession he made with
reluctance, and said with sigh:
81 wash my hands of this slaughter; on
your head be it."
There was nothing for me but to 90
home to my old lion-heart ard tell my hui
initiating story. When | entered, Mr..
Gambetta was laying his last lock of hair
on the altar. He sprang toward me, ex-
claiming:
You have made the fatal arrange
ments,-I see j. in your eye!"
81 have"
His face paled triAe, and he leaned
upon the table for support. He breathed
thick and heavily for moment or two, so
tumultuous were his feelings; then he
hoarsely whispered:
The weapon. the weapon! Duck.
What is the weapon?"
"This!" and | displayed that silver
thing. He caught but one
glimpse of it, then swooned ponderously
to the floor
When he came to, he said mournfully.
''The unnatural calm to which | have
subjected myself has told upon my nerves.
But away with weakness! | will con-
front my fate like man and French
man"
He rose to his feet, and assumed an at
titude which for sublimity has never been
approached by man, and has seldom been
surpassed by statues. Then he said, in
his deep, bass tones:
Behold. | am calm, am ready; reveal
to me the distance"
.'Thirty-five yards"
] could not lift him up, of course; but
rolled him over, and poured water down
his back, He presently came to, and said:
Thirty-6ve yards, = without rest?
But why ask? Since murder was that
mans intention, why should he palter at
small details? But mark you one thing:
In my fall the world shall see how the
of France meets DEATH"
After a long silence he asked:
''Was nothing said about that mans
family standing up with him, as an offset
TO my bulk? But no matter; | would not
stoop to make a suggestion; if he is not
noble enough to suggest it himself, he is
welcome to his advantage, which no hon
Drable man would take"
He now sank into sort of stupor of re-
lection, which lasted some minutes; after
which he broke silence with
The hour-what is the hour fixed for
the collisions"
Dawn, Tomorrow"
He seemed greatly surprised, and imme-
liately said,
Insanity! | never heard of such
hing. Nobody is abroad at such an hour"
THAT is the reason | named it. Doyou
mean to say that you want an audience?"
1T is no time to handy words. am
astonished that NJ. Fourtou should ever
nave agreed to so strange an innovation.
10 at once and require later hour"
| ran down stairs, threw open the front
lOor. and almost plunged into the arms of
N. Fourtous second. He said,
81 have the honor to say that my princi
'al strenuously objects TO the hour chosen,
md begs that YOU will consent to change
{ to half-past O."
ANY courtesy, sir. which it is in our
'ower to extend is at the service Of your
EXCELLENT principal. We agree to the wo- |
,osed change Of time"
| beg you to accept the thanks of my
lient." Then he turned to person be- |
lind him. and said. 'You hear, NJ. Noir, |
he hour is altered to half-pas:9" Where
Ipon NJ. Noir bowed. expressed his thanks,
nd went away. Ny accomplice contin
led
''lf agreeable to you, your chief sur
e"hs anu outs SHALL pICttuto tne nelu ID /
he same carriage, as is customary"
1T is entirely agreeable to me. and am
bliged to You for mentioning the sur
cons. for ] am afraid should not have
bought of them. How many shall I
rant? | suppose two or three will be
nough?"
1.-TWO is the customary number for each
'arty refer to chief surgeons; but
the exalted positions occupied
y our clients, it will be well and decor
us that each OF us appoint several con-
ulting surgeons. from among the highest
n the profession. These viii come in
heir own private carriages. Have you
ngaged hearse?"
Bless my stupidity, never thought of
/! will attend to it right away. I
must seem very ignorant 10 you: but you