The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-04-16

WIS our military 1r1cnu III DIuc coal ,
apparently the leader of the party. Ol
the second two, one was carrying a
black valisc. Their respective compan-
ions walked with hasty, irregular
strides were distracted, and apparently
i'll at ease.
The party stopped.
"This is the place." said Captain
JONES'"
"Yes," said Doctor Smith.
The captain and the doctor conferred
together. The, other two studiously
kept apart.
every well. I'll measure the ground
and do you place your man."
1t was done.
'Now for the" pistols, whispered the
captain to his fellow-second.
"Thcy are all ready in the valise, , re-
piled the doctor.
The principals were placed ten PAGES
apart and wore that decided uncomfort-
able air man has who is i'm momcnta-
ry expectation of being shot dead.
"l on will fire, gentlemen, simultan-
eously, when give the word,o said the
captain. Then in an undertone to the
doctor:
"Quick. the pistols"
The doctor, STOPPING over fumbling
at the valise, appeared to discover
something which surprised him.
"Why, what the devil-''
"Whats the matter?" asked the cap
tain, striding up. "Can.t you find the
caps?'
"Deuce pistol or cap but this.v
He held up-a lady's nightcap. &c.,.
'Look hcre-and herc!" holding MP
sncccssivcly, hair brush, a long white
nightgown, a cologne bottle and q
comb.
They were greeted with long
round whistle by the captain, and a
blank stare by the principals.
"Confound the luck" calculated the
captain If we hsvcn't made mistake
and brought the wrong valise.
The principals looked at the seconds.
The seconds looked at the principals.
Nobody volunteered a suggestion.
At last the doctor inquired: "Well.
what is to be done?"
Cd unlucky "again calculated the
captain; "the duel can't go on" :,
Evidently not, responded the doctor
unless they brain each other with the
hair brush. or take a pop at each other
with the cologne bottle.' ~
"Iou are quite sure there arc no
pistols in the valiseY' said one of the
principals with suppressed eagerness,
and drawing a long breath of evident
relief.
"We must 90 over to the city and get
the PISTOLS" proposed The captain.
"And by that time it will be dark"
said the doctor. t~
every unlucky." ia
"We shall be the laughing stock OF the
town, consolingly remarked the doctor,
if this gets wind" 49,
Gone word with you DOCTOR" here in
terposed the principal. f.t
They conferred. 1s 800 ~
AT the end of the conference with his
principal, the doctor advanced to the
captain and conferred with his princi-
pal. Then tho seconds conferred with
each other. sec
Finally it was agreed between the
contending parties that statement
would be drawn up in writing, where
by principal No. rendered the assur-
ance that the offensive words You are
a liar-wcrc not used by him in any
personal sense, but solely as an alb
stract proposition, in a general way i'm
regard to tho matter of fact under dis
pute. To which principal No. 2 ap-
pended his statement of his high graft
fication at this candid and honorable
explanation and withdrew the offensive
words-"You are scoundreP -thev
having been used by him under misap-
prehension of the intent and purpose of
the remark which he preceded them.
There being 10 longer cause for
quarrel, the duel was of course ended.
The principals shook hands, first with
each other, next with the seconds, and
were evidently very glad to get out of
it.
And now that il is so happily settled.
said the doctor, chuckling and rubbing
his hands, it proves 10 have been
lucky mistake, after all, that we
brought the wrong valise. Wonder
what the lady who owns it will say
when she opens it and sees the pistols?
"Verviwell for you to laugh about"
growled the.captain, "but it's no Joke
for me to lose my pistols. Hair trig-
gers-best English make. and gold
mounted. There amt finer pair of
shooters in America"
"Oh, we will fird theml We will 90
on pilgrimage from house to house,
asking If any lady there had lost her
nightcap and found pair of dueling
pistols"
In very good spirits the party crossed
the river, and inquired at the baggage
room in reference to each and all black
leather travelling bags that arrived that
day-took notes of where they were
sent and set out to follow them up. In
due time they reached the Continental,
and, as luck would have it, met the un-
happy bridal pair just coming down
stairs in charge of the detectiyel
"What's tho meaning of all this" in
quired the captain?
"Oh, a couple of burglars caught with
valise of stolen property"
"a valise l-what kind of valise?"
"a black leather valise. There it is
there"
"IIerol Stopl Hallool Police
Landlord! It's all right You are
wrong. II is all a mistake. They got
changed at the depot. That lady and
gentleman are innocent. Here is their
valise, with her nightGap in it,"
Great was the laughter, multifarious
the comments, and deep the Interest of
the crowd in all this dialogue, which
they appeared to regard as delightful
entertainment got mp expressly for
their amusement.
Then you say this here thing is yours2
said the detective, relaxing his hold up
on the bridegroom and confronting the
captain.
"Yes 1t is mine."
"And how did You come by these
spoons?"
"Spoons, you jackanape !" said the cap