Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-06-12
UNAF RAID.
SCOTT'S GREAT DUEL.

q. Scott was a much simmer, more
notwithstanding man than he is now.
there was seated at one of the little
round marble tables before the Cafe
Ricci. in the Boulevard des ltaliens, in
Paris. two young Frenchmen, the
cheek of one of whom bore red mark
as if some one had brought his hand
sharply against it. In an inner room
of the cafe the person who had done
this was engaged in wiping away from
his shirt-front the stains Of some red
wine, which, in his fury, the recipient
of the slap had hurled across the ia
BILE. The man with the red cheek was
the young Adolphe Ferrier, the son of
the celebrated artist of that name.
The man with the soiled shirt-front
was Martin G. Scott, of Mobile, Ala.
There had been an exchange of
cards. and Scott and his friend, Geo.
Z. Wainwright, twelve hours later,
suddenly found themselves with a
large-sized, healthy French quarrel on
their hands, to be settled, as most Of
these matters are in France, under the
code.
When it came to choice Of weap-
ons, Scott had wisely chosen pistols,
for, while he was notoriously bad
shot, he was totally ignorant OF the
use of the rapier.
The affair was TO come off at Au-
vergne, little village distant about
miles from Paris, in forty-eisht hours
time. The parties were to go out on
the early train.
| doubt if Scott was so much cut
about the affair as Wainwright, even
though he fully expected to be killed.
Wainwright kept on blaming himself
for having let his friend get into such
scrape. 1t was to be no chiId's play.
They were to fire at twelve PAGES, and
to continue firing until one of the par
ties was disabled.
The more Wainwright thought over
the affair the more he realized what
an awkward job he had upon his
hands.
He Law awake all night in his hotel,
revolving some plan by which they
could get out Of the scrape. He had
frequently seen Ferrier practicinS at
fashionable pistol gallery in the Rue
du Capucines He knew that he spent
the best part of every evening there
in ringing the bell on the target-to
accomplish which feat, as every one
knows, it is necessary to hit the bulls
eve. Wainwright arose early with
plan fully thought out.
Come" he said to Scott, I'VE have
not too much time before Us. We
must 90 down to Maupassant's gal
lerv and get some practice. You stay
here and have some breakfast. do
not care to eat so early. I'll run down
there and see if we can't get the gal
lerv all to ourselves for u couple OF
hours"
THAT will be pretty costly, won t
it p hazarded Scott.
Not more than a decent coffin and
all the other funeral tiXings, replied
Wainwright, with some little sarcasm
IF possible. / want to throw those
expenses on the other fellow.
Wainwright jumped into a cab and
dashed of to the Gallery Maupassant,
where for upward of half an hour he
remained closeted with its proprietor.
1T is agreed. then" said Vain
wright, at the conclusion of the inter
view. Now, then, Monsieur Mau-
passant, there are $50 francs down.
The remainder of the 500 you get if
the duel doesn't come of.
Agreed" said the Frenchman, and
he sat down and wrote at least TWEEN
ty letters like the following;
M. Maupassaut requests the pleasure OF
your company tomorrow afternoon Mt three
| O'Clock, TO witness the phenomenal shooting
/ OF an American gentleman who has kindly
/ consented TO give an exhibition of his skill at
| that hour"
! While NJ. Maupassant was thus en-
/ gagged, Wainwright put in half an
hour making sundry purchases, re-
turning with them to the gallery,
where the next hour was protitably
employed by him in company with an
/ ingenious mechanic.
Meantime, as the idea grew upon
the mind of NJ. Maupassant, he
chuckled and wrote, extending his in
vitations until. if one-half of them
were accepted, the question was ;
| Would there be stauding-room in the
gallery?
we must certainly go down and
see this American shoot, said NJ. Fer
rier's second. You may find some Of
his tricks useful to you at Auvergne
| tomorrow
NJ. Ferrier, whose courage was not
of the 5-o'clock-in-the-morning kind
shivered slightly, though the weather
was decidedly warm.
Il wish that fellow had chosen ra-
piers" he muttered. These Ameri-
cans are such devils with the pistol.
1t was three o'clock in the after
Doon.
NJ. Maupassant's gallery was crowd
ed. NJ. Ferrier had an excellent seat.
He sat talking with his friend and
second. He had been drinking some
what to keep his courage up. and his
voice could be heard all over the
room With a Frenchman's love of
gossip, his second had talked freely OF
the meeting on the morrow.
As the American had not yet come,