The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-21
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ito demand immediate satisfaction from
you for the insult you have inflicted"
Immediate satisfactioni'' osid coolly.
Chow is that possible' Although the age
of duelling is past"-
"Ah, hal you hesitatelp exclaimed twenty
voices.
looked about me. It seemed as IL the
eyes of every man present were fixed in
tently upon me-
you are mistaken, gentlemen said,
with the greatest calmaess of manner /
could assume II do not hesitate, merely
desire to know what is expected Of me in
this matter"
"Fightp' answered the twenty voices.
II do not refuse Mr.. Rivers challenge.
am skillful at no weapon but the pistol;
and as / have, believe, the choice of
weapons''-addressing myself now exclu-
sively to Holmes-"I Shah of course choose
that. Any further charge in the matter
of time and place will, trust, be assumed
by my friend, Mr. Erskine."
Erskine bowed assept.
A few moments of conversation took
place between himself and Holmes, when,
turning to me, he at length said: 81 have
decided upon both place and time-here
and now. Does the arrangement meet
with your approvals There is no necessity
of making this affair--provided it does not
result in very serious consequenees-un-
duly public Rivers has expressed a wish
that the duel, if you accept his challenge,
take place at once. The weapons also are
in the building"
Very WELL" I said, with q voice that
shook little, in spite of my efforts to con-
r0l IN. 49,
ut is not the first time that matters of
this sort have been settled here in the club
upoa the evening of their occurrence"
Erskine went on. "Se far, l am glad to
state that nothing more serious than flesh
wounds have been the result. VIII you
remsin here while Holmes and measure
the PAGES in another portion Of the room2
All will be prepared in a very few mo-
ments."
With these words Erskine left me among
the crowd of gentlemen by whom was
surrounded. 1 had not long to wait. He
returned presently, saying: Everything is
in readiness. The distance is 20 be twelve
PAGES. VIII you follow me, if you pleaseS
Rivers is already waiting for you to ap-
pear"
We passed arm in arm to the lower end
Of the large apartment. Rivers, as he had
said, was there waiting my appearance. /
confess to a very miserable feeling when
the pistol was putin my hand by Erskine
The sudienness Of the whole matter had
scarcely left room for thought until now.
Visions of one loved better than all else
in the world haunted me in a hundred
pleading ways during the next three min
utes. thought Of Che agony, too, that my
family would feel on the morrow if the
news of my death were to reach them in
their quiet country home. My DEATH Was
to die like thisS--shet down for the mere
obedienceto a tyraHnous social code that
in my heart had always despised and
hated?
Well, hope of life was strong within me
to the last. thought of her.
"Oner"
Erskine's voice had spoken the first word
OF signal. Ana somehow that monosylla-
BILE wrought change In my feelings,
added force to my arm and a courage to
my heart that l had wholly despaired Of
experiencing.
'"Two!'
1 wheeled half round toward my oppo-
nent The pistol was clutched in my hand
now with a grasp Of steel. / was no in
ferior marksman at ordinary times. felt
that my aim would be deadly
'ThreeI"
l stood face to face with my opponent.
"Fire!"
Both pistols discharged simultaneously
made one sharp report.
Was 1 unhurt? l moved my limbs
slightly. feeling no pain in any of them.
My opponent, seen fairly through cloud
of smoke, was standing erect-uninjured
perhaps, like myself And yet my aim
had been sure, or at least fancied so.
Suddenly George Erskines voice sound
ed at my side, raised to tone of the most
extraordinary loudness: Three cheers for
Ned Sternforthl He has stood the test
bravelyp'
looked about me in utter bewilder-
ment while the cheers were given clamor-
ously from every side.
l turned toward Erskine and asked:
what does that singular behavior mean
on the part of yourself and the other mem
bers? What have l done to deserve this
enthusiasm Oblige me by explaining"
THAT task is mine," said the voice Of
Rivers, as he approached to where l stood.
Il have been acting a part tonight, Mr..
Sternforth, which assure you was a most
disagreeable one. This evenings entire
performance may be summed up in two
words-your initiation. Perhaps you can
now understand why it is that the Exclu-
sive club is so difficult TO enter. The men
who fail to stand the test put upon you
this evening fail in becoming members
The secrecy of our initiation system is
nothing remarkable. Those who have ex-
perienced it without afterward becoming
members are not the ones to inform society
of their inability to stand fire. Mortifica-
ton usually keeps them silent. And now"
continued Rivers, extending his hand, 81
trust that an apology for the ridiculous in
suits hurled at you this evening will be
fully accepted. Let the whole matter, like
the charge of these bulletless pistols we
fought with, end in-smoke."
He offered me cigar. | accepted it and
his extended hand likewise, and SO ended
my first evening in the Exclusive club
New York World.
Won't Do Now.
Old Soldier-When die want the old