The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-03
WAS He A COWARD?

room, my newly made acquaintance and I.
ITO resume the subject we were dis
cussing at the table, he began, ''let me
give you an instance that came across my
notice some years ago.
1t wasn't the first affair of honor that
had had to do with in one way or an
other. but not even the first unnerved me
like this did
MY friend, Paul Graham, was a young
lawyer. We had played together in infan-
cy. and we were chums at college We
spent our vacations together shooting and
fishing.
''More than once had heard him de-
clare that il his opinion dueling was
morally and socially wrong. Once asked
him:
Would you refuse a challenger
ct shall never send one, he answered,
'and it would be cowardice in me to ac-
cept one
But
I have not answered the question,
you are about to object. 1 cannot answer
it i'll word. II I ever accept challenge,
it will be for the simple reason that am
afraid of what people would think end
say,f
:" All this remembered when the affair
with William Cuthbert came up. Graham
sent for me- 1 knew he would There
was little to say except thai Cuthbert's
friend, Milan, had called upon him (Gra-
ham) that afternoon.
= There is only one thing for me to do.
Will you carry my answer he said
1t did look cold blooded This man
was-well he was sacrificing himself.
Cuthbert was crack shot and had killed
his man. Graham was miserabIy poor
shot and novice.
Will you carry my answer
s' ON condition that you consent 60
my arrangements as to the distance, and
that you promise me upon your honor as
a gentleman to shoot to kill
Do as you please.
Good. Well, thank Commodore Do
catur for the suggestion and make the
most of it. And promise me that you will
kill him if you can
''He shook his head.
You know what I believe 1 shall
not try to hit him in any event. If 1
killed him. it would be murder
. Idiot And what would it be if hs
killed youY'
q Murder
''Of course refused to have anything
to do with the matter. In fact l camo
near going to Cuthbert to explain the sit
uation fully, in gross violation of conf
dence. 1 didn't know what to do, and
finally did nothing but lose some sleep
over it. 1 even refused to go as surgeon,
but consented reluctantly when Graham
insisted.
His second was an ass named Morrow
"a consu1nmate ass! He agreed to ten
PAGES, when he might have known that
Cuthbert's being Disconnected = as the
British officer was by Decatur's arrange
ment, in behalf of the midshiplnan, by
bringing the principals together-was
Graham's only chance.
For many reasons, then, I was low
spirited that morning. Our ride was as
solemn as a funeral procession.
''Cuth bert and his friends had just
reached the grounds when we arrived.
mo time was lost in making ready.
Graham s second lost the toss for position,
of course. Even yet the thought of that
but my opinion of Morrow, beyond ques-
tion the most addle pated of imbeciles, is
not material to the narrative. He lost the
toss. That much is relevant. 1 never lost
the toss in my life. Neverl
ttOne-twO'-
'tThen very irregular and somewhat
dramatic thing happened. Graham raised
his left hand, meaning that halt must
be made for some reason. Was it, could it
he cowardice? Was he afraid to be shot
att In an instant l knew better, because I
knew him so WE'LL but the others didn't.
. Jim, he said, without moving from
his tracks, come here a second.
.'Cuth bert and Milan bowed their con-
sent.
II went to Grahams side In a per-
fectly steady voice he asked for a piece of
paper. AS 1 tore page from a small note
book he put his pistol carefully under his
left arm and drew pencil from his pOck-
ct. He scrubbed fow words and then
folded the paper.
Keep that, he said to me.
81 drew aside, thinking less about this
singular interruption than about Ora
hams manner There was absolutely no
trace of faltering. His face was firm. But
something in his very elaboration and
GOODNESS was wrong-a stiffness, a sort of
paralysis that could not be defined. His
movements had a mechanical an auto
matte appearance.
- I am very sorry to have been obliged
to interrupt, said Graham quietly. I
am quite ready now. You had counted
two.
g 'Three-frel'
''My friend drew his hand to his breast
at the report of Cuthbert's pistol and
came near falling. He steadied himself
grandly and fired without aim at random.
Then he fell.
4 cut open his shirt and saw at once
that the wound was very serious-not
necessarily fatal, SO far as a superficial
examination showed, but with the chances
against recovery.
You'd better get over the line, said
to Cuthbert He is likely to die
"Graham revived bit and tried to whis-
per my name.
'Brusqueness is characteristic of mine
Frankness is another On this exception
al occasion was reasonably smooth spo-
ken, and I lied to my patient. 1 told
him he was in no real danger.
g 'Cuthbert?' he questioned in barely
audible tone as I leaned over him.
Why, said 1, there he is.
{" is he hurt?
No Can't you see him right over
my shoulder
ell was afraid might-might