Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-08-11
a MAN OF HOtO"'

three r~ouCh-lookIng doWh-e the
had zone through the worst hro ~ IL
civil war. DIR. Vicaire, surgeon IN 80
Erencb army, was standing III lionS
them. regarding them win i S0''
air. ,,ou as you
have Insult my friend, NJ. le LdeutenSnns
EonTon He demand 70 satisfaction,
~ Dr Vicoire. particularly address
pa. Colonel Skerrctt. ''You have kich
his doc, You write apology, yer sooI'
You write no apology, you chooSc 70
zoNobl vat YOU call Parme-ze;
nWeepons," said Major Marsh; com
"eol ~" assistance. DR.. Vicaire
bowed. n;a dorned
o,r1,P Sbo9ted the Colonel. "What dld
it como swapping n baTNinE ~
heels forp | would KICK MI Foot0'o
himself if he did that.
"Ah" replied the doctor, "Ver goo!!
Insult additional;" and he Die" HIS
nose like a flourish of trumpets.
Colonel Skerrett was as brave amah as
oyeT Good in boots, but besides his con-
s~cientious objections to a DUEL the
csuso of quarrel was so ludicrous that
he only answered with a burst OF
.:sAh!" said the Doctor, calmly, but
reddening. Insult tree" II he
took a prodigious pinch Of snuif.
The three friends looked at each
other, Major Marsh took the word.
..My friend will allow me to act Tor
him. We have the choice Of wcapons!'
Yes"
Then 1 choose them that nature
provided. Fists?"
..Feest!'' slid the doctor, pondering.
You mean Ze-Ze-
Major Marsh explained in panto-
mime.
.Sir!" cried the fiery doctor, you
make 70 game of me! | sec you after
my friend have re satisfaction"
Don't get so hot, now. What do you
say to stuffed clubs in q darkcned
roOm?"
1t took q long TIM to make the doc
tor understand this proposition, but
when he did he rejected it with con-
stantly increasing wrath. Captain
Pickering suggested q r~ough-and-
tumble in q pit-kick, scratch, bite,
claw, and gougc. Major Marsh thought
an excellent way of settling the dill
Guilty would DO Tor the two adyersaricS
to 90 into shallow water and see which
could draw the other. Finally, Colo
mel Skerrett suggested that they should
bring q key of powder on the field; cast
lots; and whichever lost should sit up
on the keg and apply the cigar he had
just been smoking to a hole in the key.
DIR. Vicaire tore his hair and rejected
one and all.
why" said the Major, sit pears
to me that we haven't got the choice
of weapons at all"
''Of re weapon, yes! But this is no
Weapon. Swords, dagger, pecstol,
gun-zey all weapon. But re gouge,
re fecst, re clup rempli, or n you call
re stuff clups-ch, monsieur!' and the
worthy Doctor stamped with rage.
Doctor" said the Major quietly,
'the last suggestion of Colonel Skier
rett is one that has been acted on, in
at least n cast in one of the Southern
States of America. If your friend
wants an out and out dooel, he will ac-
cept the offer of q barrel of powder I'M
der them conditions. If he don't he is
only foolin' with the matter. PeoplU
blaze away at each other here for half
an hour and shoot nothing but the
pigs. When W du a thing in the
States we du it."
''Sir!" shrieked Vicaire with concen-
trated rage. you coward, you pol
troon, secirat! | post you in re cafe, 70
hotel. l and my friend whip you with
ze-eh!-ze whip of &c horse!' an he
rushed from the room, swinging his hat
frantically in one hand and plucking
at his hair with the other.
Left to themselves, the three friends
laughed heartily. As for the Doctors
threat of personal chastisement, Major
Marsh alone looked strong enough to
%horsewhip the National Guard if it
were called out For the posting in the
cafes they cared exactly nothing. They
chatted and smoked and were begin
ming to forget the whole affair.
But an hour later the writer an
nounccd an. Lieutenant Foulon!"
NJ. Foulan advanced into the room,
bowed courteously TO the two, and adj
dressing Colonel Skcrrett, said in per-
feet English:
Il have just seen,my friend Vicaire.
Possibly he misunderstood. From
what he told me, | understand that
you made propositions which no gentle
man would lnake. Therefore YOU are
no gentleman. 1t remains to he seen
if you are a coward as well. | am
aware that your last proposition is a
mode of the ducllo practiced in some
parts OF your country. OF that my
friend Nicaire was ignorant. Although
the practice is irregular, | waive that
consideration, and personally accept
your proposal of n keg ofpowder under
the specified conditions. You will
oblige me by naming the time and
place"
Say tomorrow at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. | reckon the little wood OF
Piessis, on the road to Versailles, is a
quiet enough place. will supply the
keg of powder for your use and you
will supply the one for mine"
Very well, sir" said Foulon, bow
ing. al shall be there. The terms to
be rigidly adhered to? TO apply tho
cigar which one had just been smoking
to the open hole in the keep"
Precisely" answered the Colonel.
81 presume" said the Lieutenant.
with a sinister smile, that in any
event the service of n doctor or sur
gcon will be unnecessary"
Il am sure of that" said the Colonel.
with n grin.
Foulon left the room, and when he
had gone Colonel Skcrrett saiu: .rll
fight this here devil, but | amt gwine
to be blowed to atoms, nor | amt
gwine to let that there fool blow HIM
self to atoms" Tho three friends took
measures accordingly.
The next day, at the appointed time,
the five men, all smoking vigorously.
were on the ground. Each party had
brought its ~powder-kes along. The
Major and Dr.. Vicairo tossed UP. The
Major won.
Foulon turned CHASTITY pale, but
walked firmly to the keg which the
Americans had brought and sat down
on 1t. 1t was an ordinary cider keg,
and Major Marsh knocked out the
bung. All then retired to a safe dis
lance except the Colonel, who remained
standing by Foulon's side. The latter.
down whose liyid face the sweat was
rolling, took his cigar from his mouth
and advanced it, stIll glowing, to the
open bung-hole.
Hold on there" said the Colonel.
THAT ere cigar is lit"
Certainly it is" gasped Foulon, his
lips quivcring in spite Of himself.
we'll" said the Colonel with a grin.
'.you bent such 4 darEed fool as TO mt
a lighted cigar into 4 keg of powder.
be youp When was you born?"
Sir" replied the lieutenant, vainly
~endcayoring 10 hold the cigar motion
less in his shaking hand. II have given
my word that ii | lost the toss-up |
should put this lit cigar"
Hold on; you didn't say lit"