Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-12-01
A SURPRISED FENcER.
The Lesson Taught Young American
 Swordsman--Disarmed.

Swordsman-Disarmed
 young bank clerk in Albany is wiser than he was year ago In the bank where he was a clerk a new man was given a somewhat inferior position The newcomer was a small, slight framed Frenchman, whose English was decidedly lame but who so seldom spoke that it made little difference The senior clerk had decided penchant for fencing and compared with most fellows of his age and position was unquestionably good swordsman In addition to this he was a most insutferable braggart. and his mili. tary accomplishment was his one topic of thought and conversation He bad about him very patronizing air, which he pro ceeded to inflict upon the inoifensive Frenchman, and his familiar slaps on the back evidently displeased the stranger. Finally particularly emphatic thunp be- tween tho little Frenchman's shoulders produced as response stinging slap in the face. which left the red mark of small hand sharply prominent against the otherwise deathly palo face of the young American.
 Speechless with rage. the young man found his desk, and shortly afterward, through friend, challcne cd the French man to mortal combat rne latter apolo gized in fact did all in his ro@er to undo the mischief of his nasty blow. ill vain Nothing but blood can wipe out that in suit" the young man said hSughtily. The details were arranged, the Frenchman, as the challenged party, choosing rapiers. Greatly to the surprise of the hot bloodcd young challenger, the cashier Of the bank, who knew the Frenchman well, acted as the latter's second The day came and the hour. The principals stepped to posi- tion. saluted, and the blue blades crossed with that smooth. gliding sound which is music to the ear of the true swordsman- The Frenchman whose familiarity with his weapon was evident at the start, con fined himself at first entirely to defense. turning his opponents point with grace of movement and absence of fear or nerv- ousness which wero poetry In action. The young man grew bolder. his thrusts be- gan to have an air of ferocity which seemed to anger the Frenchman trife. and turning aside his opponents thrust he m7do quick lunge, and the young American barely parried.
 Another quick thrust and Q turn of the wrist were too much for him; there was a | sharp snap and the top button of his coat flew across the room Angry at this evi- dent tri1ing, the buttons owner made 8 | spiteful lungc, which was quickly parried and the next button was snapped away Ono after another the shining buttons on his natty blue braided jacket were cut of by the Frenchman's ready point. Dc cidcdly ''rattled" at his opponents skill and the irrepressible smiles of the seconds and surgeon, the young clerk now, with greater rapidity and less caution, made | fierce lunEes, any one of which would have driven the sharp rapier through the body of the cool Frenchman. while the little man, quietly parrying, with tue sharp point of his weapon stripped the front of the young mans jacket to rib bons.
 The contest had lasted some twenty minutes when suddenly the Frenchman caught the swiftly advancing point of his opponent, turned 1t aside, slipped his owI sword quickly down along the others blade, turning it with a quick wrist mo tion 50 that 1t partly wound around it, and with sharp wrenching motion tore the weapon away and sent it flying across the floor. Then he saluted, threw hi: weapon down and left the room. It sub scquently transpircd that the foreigner was-and is-a member of a once nobl, French family, captain in the Frencl the best swordsnen in France. The young American has not challenged aCN miscellaneous foreigners since. and is les: inclined to talk of his experience or skill Albany Journal.