Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-07-19
HIS AMBITION.

rival In that city from his native prov
knos Of SympboEien B~aliveau.
The owner Of this curious and not en-
eireiy ouphonious patronymio was q
young man Of about 20 years, neither
handsome nor ugly. fat nor lean-the
tpya, IN fact that one daily elbows on
lie boulovards and never looks at twice.
Ineod not add, Of course, that such was
no1 hts W opinion. On the contrary,
be wa deeply impressed with the con-
seriousness Of HIS own charms and equal
" determined to profit by them for the
-notoriety.
Everything Is in my favor, " said he,
good looks money and determination
- succeed All I want is q short cut TO
~oslobrity. A duel will give me that.
The next evening while he was treat
ing himself 20 q bavaroise at Tortoni's
short, muscular individual, dressed In
tho latest mode, with a bristling mus
tache and a self satisfied cir, took his
soat at an adjoining table.
The provincial after a critical inspeo-
ton Of the newcomer rose from his chair,
and sAluting him courteously requested
him 70 favor him with the address Of
his tailor.
The stranger glanced askance at his
luestioner.
"Why2'' inquired he CURLY.
Because / am struck, monsieur, "
said Symphorien, with the good taste
oG your costume. That green coat with
silver buttons becomes you 30 admira-
bly," IL
''You think soi Well, your wish can
b easily gratifed, for I chance to have
card Of my tailor in my pocket. Be-
bold SET"
''Thanks, monsieur. May ask IL you
have also the address Of your shoemaker
IN your pocketG''
1.-THE same thing Is in my pocket,
monsieur" the little man answered,
with great Buavity, and tearing out a
leaf from his notebook he wrote On it
the required address aud handed It to
Baliveau.
ITS there any more you desire to
know, monsieur7"
"Only this-your hAtter's name, II /
may be 10 boldTP
THAT / regret to say, sir, / cannot
afford you tonight. / have it at home,
and tomorrow morning two Of my
friends will bring It to you If you will
kindly oblige me with your address"
"With pleasure, monsieur, " replied
eymphorien. Here is my card"
'And here, monsi gur, Is mine"
Nothing could 10 better, " thought
BAliveau as, exchanging a polite bow
with the stranger and paying for his
baVAroise, he strolled leisuTely ont and
down the boulevard.
&c drew the card from his pocket, APP
preached n lighted window, and on the
little square of p~asteboard, in clear,
sharp etching, read, Martial Rogue. "
"Roquel'' said he, starting back and
pAling visibly. THE great duelist who
never misses his man. but either spits
him with a thrust impossible to parry
OF brings him down with a bullet sent
evenly between the eyes Bon Dieul
What q mistake I've made, all for the
sake Of q little celebrity. I'll be cele-
brated tomorrow, that is certain. But
what good will IL do me If I'm not
ttete to see it5"
"a secluded spot on the Bots de Bou.
~logne--loss frsquented in those days
than now-Aagreed upon at I O'Clock in
the afternoon, proposed and accepted.
~. ROque's friends announced that their
principal. having the choice Of weapons,
selected pistols, and this formality over
left Symphorien to his meditations,
none Of the cheerfulesk as you can see.
While ruefully refeo ing on whom hC
could apply to in his dilemma, hC
chaDoed 70 pull from his pocket the two
aHHrnnaoa utvau him hy ROuua
And without a seconds delay he dis
patched q message to MN. Staub ant
6akosky, the fashionable tailor and boot
maker Of that epoch, requesting thei
Immediate attendance at the hotel Wherl
20 was stopping.
Thirty minutes later they were there
and as . wise measure Of conciliation-
eymphorien was no fool, after all-hl
kays them an order considerably large.
than they were wont to receive, even
from their most ~extravagant customers
Then, tho necessary selections and meas
uTementG Eade. be amazed them still
moro by demanding the amount Of th'
bill, as he desired 10 settle IL beforehand
With one accord they protested agains
theneed Of so speedy q settlement They
had every confidence in monsieur's solv
ENJOY and were not in the slightes
hpTryl
''That may Be-, replied ho. ''but
an. ] have a duel this afternoon Will
Martha Rogue. and, though / Am no nov
100 IN such matters and have caught
swallow on the wing many and many
time, q cannot be sure with so dan
gorous an antagonist what may hap
pan"
etaub and sAkcSky stared at each 9th
q aRhast Such an offhand proceeding
took the breath out Of them.
They reflected on the ohance-mos
unlikely Of course, but still possible-o
his proving himself the better shot O
the two Rogue owed them , regulaI
pot Of money, and II he should ohnnc'
% fall BY synlphorien's bullet viii
void pay their billsi
Biaub looked at sakosky sakosh.
- - CT MI.