Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-08-27
A QUEER DUEL
Two Gotham CIubmen Settle an Affair of
Honor with a Game of Pool.


You're liar, STRIP
The cold, rather unpleasant voice of
Frederick Rowelstone Varick echoed
through the lounging-room of an aristo-
cratic metropolitan club, and his words
caused several men to jump to their feet
In dlsmay- Such language as he had
used was seldom heard in that resort of
those who claimed to be American gem
tleInen. Previous to Varick's startling
exclamation there had been various
groups in the room, gossiping, smoking,
drinking after-dinner liquors and in
dulging In that inspiring sociability
that Is SO often found among club
men when their families have left
the city for the summer. The discord-
ant words that are quoted above de-
stroyed on the instant this feast of
reason and flow of soul, and, as if under
orders. every man present fastened
toward the corner where Varick was
seated. The man to whom the latter's
accusation had been hurled was hand.
some youth, whose face, as he gazed at
Varick, was CHASTITY pale. His name
was Norman Henderson. He was very
popular in the club. and, as the crowd
surrounded the small table across which
was evident to a close observer that he
had more friends than his antagonist,
man his elder by some years. Suddenly
Henderson arose. He was fully six
feet in height, and the rage which in
spired his soul made him seem even
taller. Leaning forward he slapped
Fariclk on the cheek.
An hour later the preliminaries of the
duel had been arranged. 1t had leaked
out that Henderson had spoken disre-
specially of certain woman well
known in New York society. Varick
had resented this and had dubbed his
young companion liar. The respective
friends of the two wranglers had de-
cided that, in spite of law and custom, a
duel was necessary to wipe out the in
suit given and returned. Now it hap
pened that Henderson and Varick were
the best pool players in the club. In
the tournament of that year they had
tied for first place, and their reputation
as wielders Ct the cue was on a par.
Their seconds had, therefore, decided
that they should play three games of
pool, and that the loser thereof
should be under obligations to
commit suicide. You can we'll
imagine the excitement that pre-
vailed among the onlookers as the
iuelists grasped their cues and prepar-
ed to fight with the ivory balls for the
high stakes of life and death. The
pool room that night presented a most
striking spectacle. Therein were gath
cred the jeunesse doree of the new
worlds metropolis. Pale with excite
ment. speechless with the enornity of
the stake, they watched the game as
its varying fortunes indicated first the
death of one of the contestants. then
the other. Varick won the throw, and
Henderson broke the balls. A sup
pressed sigh of disappointment echoed
through the room as he failed to score.
Then the elder man, with a smile of
eXultation on his face, proceeded to
pocket five balls. He missed an easily
accomplished ball on his sixth trial and
his opponent, cooler than his friends
supposed he would be, succeeded
in tieing his rival. From that time on
the first game was nip and tuck, as the
old saying is. Finally one ball re-
manned upon the baize. He who peck
eted the sphere would win the game.
Henderson made a brilliant shot, but
missed the reward by the smallest frac-
ton of an inch. Variek, who found the
object ball straight in front of a pocket.
had no difficulty in winning the game.
Henderson grew paler yet, but smiled
as his friends thronged around him
wringing his hands and urged him to
keep up the fight to the end
Ready cried the scorer, after he
had placed the balls in their Pyramid
cal form. The second game began
with coup by Varick that was with
out result. Then Henderson began a
brilliant exhibition of skill that Melted
him seven balls and seemed to leave
him q certain winner of the game. But
he was not to have a walk-over. When
Variek finally missed a shot only two
balls remained upon the cloth
..One hundred even that Varicl wins, "
remarked a friend of the elder duelist,
anxious to injure the nerves of Man
derson.
II take you" came in a chorus from
the crowd, and just at that moment the
handsome youth pocketed ball by
a brilliant stroke and the game was
his
Thus was it that the duel, so far as il
had gone, had resulted in a tie. The
third game opened amid breathiess
silence Manderson's break was sen
sational and he pocketed two balls at
one stroke. BY most understandable
carelcssness he missed an easy shot and
retired. Varick, still wearing his quiet
self-confident smile, played brilliantly
for a few moments and pocl1eted -four
balls
II wouldn't give dollar for Mander
sons life whispered a yonth, stroking
his blonde mustache complaeently.
bet you FIVE dollars to ten dollars he
wins" said an older man, who had been
watching the play closely.
Take yon," answered the blonde,
putting up his money in rather a super
cilious way.
The game. upon which hung life and
death, now stood two balls for Mander-
son and four for Varick. The former,
who seemed to be out of form, again
lost an opportunity to tie the game and
resigned the ia BILE to his adversary after
capturing only one ball and missing a
shot that eonld have been made by a
novice The excitement had become
oppressive. Not Is sound was heard in
the room save the tick of the worries
and the jingling OF coins as the onlook-
ers make the bets
Varick pocketed three balls and re-
tired after a brilliant bank shot tnat
was so nearly successful as to increase