The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-23
Solving u Tough Problem.

| lflenCs, 1ounu IL occupied by young
man well known rs one of tho best shots
i'll Paris; and most assuredly he was d
good shot. He performed all the feats
which tradition assigns to the Chevalier
st. George; he each time hit the bulls
eye of the target at the usual distance,
snuffed n candle with the ball, split a
bullet against the edge of knife, and
drove nail into wall by striking the
| head directly in the center with his ball;
and, i'll short, by thousand feats of this
nature proved himself worthy tho name
of Il first-rate shot.
His 0nlOur 2)rOl0rc was reused by the
presence Of Jack, whom the attendant,
in presenting him with the pistol,
quietly said was almost rs good shot rs
himself, but Mt each shot, instead of re-
| ceiving from Jack the tribute of praise
| which he deserved, he heard Jack, in
reply to the exclamation of astonishment
which proceeded from all in the gallery
| sny "NO doubt, that is u very good shot,
but the result would be very different
I've notion, if he had n live man for his
butt" This incessant calling in uues-
ton of his powers as duelist, for Jack
had repeated his observation three times,
at first astonished the "L,cu.," and end
ed by annoying him; and, at length
turning round to Jack, md looking at
him with an air half threatening, he said ::
''Forgiye me, Mr.. Englishman, but it ap-
pears to mo that three times you have made
al observation disparaging to my cour-
age; will you be kind enough to give me
some explanation of the meaning of your
words?"
"My Words" answered our friend, edo
not, I think, require any explanation;
they are plain enough i'll my opinion"
"Perhaps then, sir, you will be good
enough to repeat them, in order that
may Judge Of the meaning which they
will bear, and the object with which they
have been spoken" was the reply of the
Frcnchman.
'I said," answered jack, with the
most perfect Sa',y ,fi'oid, "when I saw
you hit the bull's-eye at every shot, that
neither your hand nor. your eye would
be so steady, if your pistol were pointed
against the breast of man in the place
of wooden partition.
"And why, may ask?"
Because" answered Jack, cit seems
to me, that Mt the moment of pulling the
trigger, and firing ut n man, the mind
would be seized with Il kind of emotion
likely to unsteady the hand, and conse-
quently the aim"
"You have fought many duels?" asked
the Frenchman.
"Not one," said Jack.
"Ah! rejoincd the other with slight
sneer, "then [ am not surprised that you
suppose the possibility of man being
afraid under such circumstances"
"Forgive me-" said Jack, "you misun-
dcrstood me. [ fancy that Mt the moment
when one man is about to kill another, he
may tremblc from some other emotion
than that of fear.
''Sr! "cvcr trcmblc," said the shot
"Possibly," replied Jack, with the
same composure; ''still l am not at nll
convinced, that at twenty five PAGES, that
is, at the distance Mt which you hit the
bulPs-eye each time"
"Well, at twenty paces?" interrupted
the other.
"You would miss your man," was the
cool reply.
"Sir, assure you should not, ans
wered the Frenchman.
''Forgivo mo if I doubt your word"
said Jack.
"You mean then to give me the lic?"
"I merely assert tho fact" replied our
friend
GA fact, however, which think you
would scarcely like to establish" said tho
"rctc,o."
"Why not?" said jack, looking steadi-
ly ut his antagonist.
''By proxy, perhaps?"
'By proxy, OF i'll my own person per-
haps, l care not which" said Jack.
l WARN you, you would be somewhat
rash."
"Not Mt all," said Jack, for I merely
say what L think; and, consequently,
my conviction is that should risk but
little"
"Let us understand each othcr," said
the Frcnchman; 'you repeat to me Il
second time, that at twenty-five paccs I
should miss my man."
"You are mistaken, monsieur" said
jack; ''it appears to me that this is the
fifth time that I hnve said it,"
"Pnrblcu?" said the Frcnchman, now
thoroughly exaspcratcd "this is too
much; you want to insult me-"
"Think as You like, monsieur" said
Jack.
"Good!" said tho other, "your hour,
sir?"
"Why not now?" said jack.
"rhc place." said the other.
owe are but five steps from the Bois
de Bologne," cried jack.
"Your arms, sir?"
'"rhc pistol, of course, was jacks an
swer, eve are not about to fight duel,
but to decide point upon which we arc
at issue"
The two young men entered their CO.
briolets, each accompanied by q friend,
and drove towards the Bois de Bolognc.
Arrived at the appointed place, the sec
onds wished to arrange the matter. This
however, was very difficult; Jacks adj
versary required an apology, whilst Jack
maintained that he owed him none; I'M
less he himself was either killed or
wounded; for unless this happened, he
Oack) would not have been proved
wrong. The seconds spent quarter of
an hour in the attempt to effect n recon-
ciliation, but in vain. They then wished
to place the antagonists at thirty PAGES
from eoch other. To thia Jock youl1 not