The Iola register., 1889-11-08
A SPLENDID JOKE.
Though It Did Not Wind Up Ac-
cording to Programme.

by George! it'll be capital fun!"
But won't they smoke it?"
Not they; the trains too we'll laid,
and only needs touching Off"
The speakers were Guy Riggs and
Seth Norton, two of knot of hilarious
students, so-called non Studendo-
that is, by the rule of contraries
George Wells and Hiram West. couple
of their chums, were the theme of
discourse.
George and Hiram were both 'atten-
tive to the same young lady, and were
thought, in consequence, to be as jeal-
Gus as 1.-The Moor" il not more so, and
nearly as b oody-minded.
The first of April was at hand; and
it would be rich joke, Guy and Seth
and the rest of them thought if the
rival lovers could be hoaxed into call
ing one another out that day, and max
ing themselves ridiculous by firing
blank cartridges at each other, all the
while believing they were exchanging
bullets.
~ WI n 1hO thiuS up uo cHO VI tdlc-
bearing was resorted to. George was
told that Hiram had cast reflections on
his character-what they were could
not be divulged without a breach of
confidence entirely beyond the pale of
Christian forgiveness. while Hiram was
given to understand that George had
said things of him, which the informer
forbore to repeat. lest bloody conse-
euences should follow.
And so back and forth reports were
carried, each more atrocious than its
predecessor, and still more darkly
vague and indefinite.
1t was in the days when people
thought there was logical connection
between wounded honor and wounds of
the flesh. and that however grossly a
gentleman insulted you to-day, he made
you ample reparation if he shot you
through the thorax for it tomorrow.
On the morning of the first George
received note, purporting to be from
Hiram West inviting him to a hostile
meeting at two o'clock that afternoon.
naming place likely TO afford security
against interruption.
1T viii he unnecessary to reply to this the
note concluded. as no other satisfaction will
be accepted for the injury you have done me
than that usually recognized among gentlemen.
If you are as ready 10 back your scandalous
words as you have been 10 utter them. be pres
ent at the time appointed, with a friend and
armed. Yours, etc,
HIRAM WEST"
About the same time Hiram received
a similar missive. signed GEORGE
Wells" Both notes, we may add,
had been written by Guy Riggs. who
possessed a precoc:ous aptitude for
forgery. which, unless speedily cor
prison one day.
They'll be sure to chose some of us
as seconds" said Guy; "and we'll keep
'em popping away till the powder gives
out shortening the distance every other
fire, and in the end call them brace
of April-fools, and laugh them off the
ground.
But suppose they choose other sec
onds. not in the secret. suggested one
more timid than TIE rest, harm may
come of il.
.-Pshaw! you croaker," retorted Guy;
''whom can they get? There's nobody
out Of the secret but Tom Strait and
Stephe Blithers, and they're both Sum
day-school teachers Besides, some of
US will be near enough to prevent mis-
chief"
Sure enough, Guy Riggs received an
early call from George Wells, who very
privately and with many injunctions of
secrecy, confided to Guy his engage
ment for two o clock, requesting him to |
be present as his friend on the occa-
sion.
I'VE had better go separately said |
George; lit will be less likely to at
tract attention"