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

case like yours the choice Of seconds lisa
matter Of great Importance. May I take
the liberty Of inquiring the names Of
those who act in your behalf?"
II have none rs yet" replied the
young provincial II shall probably take
the FIRST two soldiers / meet Any one.
In short. / have no acquaintance in
Paris to whom / can apply"
"Then, monsieur" said Staub, II
may venture to make you n proposition.
Whenever / have a leisure moment |
am generally To DO found In some shoot
ing gallery where our skillful marksmen
congregate. Therefore, as you are nm
provided with seconds. II you will con-
descend 70 accept my services and those
Of NJ Sakoky''-
"WillinRly, monsiours, " interrupted
Symphorien, who desired nothing bot
ter. "You anticipate my wish and q
me an ininity Of trouble.
Three hours later the two principals
and their seconds, punctual TO the min
ute, arrived at the spot fixed upon for
the encounter.
"What, " exclaimed Rogue, "he has
chosen your"
"He could not do otherwise. You
gave him our anne and addresses, and
az he knows no one else in Paris he was
only too glad 10 avail himself Of our
services"
Roque's sense Of humor, small as it
was, was so irrosistibly tickled by the abb
surdity Of the situation that he laughed
outright Encouraged by his unusual
geniality, his two creditors began elo-
quently to implore him to DO mercifuL
Consider, monsieur, {" urged Sakos-
Ky, "if you deprive us of 80 excellent a
customer, the loss it will be to both Of
us. A perfect treasure, who pays with
ont bargaining and before the goods are
deliveredl These ore hard times, NJ.
Roquel"
"And we have so many debts on our
books, NJ. Rogue, " Staub added insinu-
ntingly.
There was q parley. Rogue was clear
" p~erplexed. He stood a moment in
thought, evidently wayering between
passion and mirth. Finally he walked
over to the outwardly calm Baliveau.
Monsieur, " said he, with a courte-
GUS bow, ''you are sharper witted than
l took you to be"
"Eh2 In what way, monsieur Sym
phorien demanded.
"You know how to save your Skin
without compromising yourself. But,
sec you, tell me what made you so BEN
on a duel last night?"
Ambition, frankly confessed thu
provincial. II wanted to be celebrated
and saw no other way"
"Ah, you have the mania, too, then
So had l onoe-till / outlived the folly
Well, no matter. You've courage, ant
your wish shall be gratiied more easil.
and safely than mine was. Get into m.
cabriolet. When they see rs returning
together, people will say Of you, BE
hold, the only man who ever went on
with Rogue and came back safe an
soundr Jump in before l change m
mind, which would be all the worse 70
you"
Then, agreeably conscious that h
was the object Of universal attention
| Baliyeau proceeded to the Cafe de Pari
the most in vogue at tina
time-where he lengthily dined, know
ing that every eye, from the waiter t
the dame de compton, was fixed upo
him with an interest and curiosity this
satisfied, even beyond his anticipation:
his thirst for notoriety.
Alas for the ~unstableness Of huma
felicity Next morning there was a par
10 on the bourse. When he entered oi
toni's for breakfast, no n noticed hin
They were too much absorbed in tn
} profits and the losses.
It was the coup dc grace to Bal
veau's brief celebrity, and weary an
} dispirited he returned to his PROVING
home, Cincinnati Commercial Ga
} zette.