Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-03-13

matter of great Importance. May take
the liberty of inquiring the names of
those who act in your behalf?"
II have none as yet" replied the
Young provincial. 81 shall probably take
the first two soldiers meet. Any one,
in short. l have NJ acquaintance in
Paris to whom ca% apply"
"Then, monsieur" said Staub, II
may venture to make you a proposition
Whenever l have leisure moment, I
am generally to be found in some shoot
ing gallery where our skillful marksmen
congregate Therefore, as you are I'M
provided with seconds, if you will con-
descend to accept my services and those
of M. Sakoky"-
"Willingly, monsieurs, interrupted
Symphorien, who desired nothing bet
ter. "You anticipate my wish and save
me an infinity Of trouble +"
Three hours later the two principals
and their seconds, punotual to the min
ute, arrived at the spot fixed upon for
the encounter.
"What," exclaimed Rogue, che has
chosen you?"
'He could not do otherwise. You
gave him our names and addresses, and
as he knows no one else in Paris he was
only too glad to avail himself of our
services.
Roques sense Of humor, small as it
was, was SO irresistibly tiokled by the alb
surdity Of the situation that he laughed
outright. Encouraged by his unusual
geniality, his two creditors began elo-
quently to implore him to be merciful.
"Consider, monsieur" urged Sakos-
ky, "if you deprive US Of SO excellent a
customer, the loss it will be to both of
us. A perfect treasure, who pays with
out bargaining and before the goods are
delivered! These are hard times, M.
Roquep'
'And we have so many debts on our
books, M. Rogue, Staub added insinu-
atingly.
There was parley. Rogue was clear
ly perplexed. He stood moment in
thought, evidently wavering 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
took you to be. "
'Eh? In what way, monsieur" Sym.
phorien demanded.
"You know how to save your skin
without compromising yourself. But,
see you, tell me what made you so bent
on duel last night?''
Ambition" frankly confessed the
provincial IT wanted to be celebrated
and saw no other way.
"Ah, you have the mania, too, then
So had onoe-till outlived the folly.
Well, no matter. You've courage, anc
your wish shall be gratified more easily
and safely than mine was. Get into my
oabriolet When they see us returning
together, people will say Of you, BE
hold, the only man who ever went GU
with Rogue and came back safe ant
soundP Jump in before l change my
mind, which would be all the worse fol
YOU"
Then, agreeably conscious that N
was the object Of universal attention
Baliveau proceeded to the Cafe de Pari
the restaurant 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 upo1
him with an interest and curiosity tina
satisfied. even beyond his anticipations
his thirst for notoriety.
Alas for the unstableness of human
felicity Next morning there was pan
ic ON the bourse When he entered Tor
toni's for breakfast, no one noticed him
They were too much absorbed in tn
profits and the losses.
1t was the coup de grace to Bali
veau's brief celebrity, and weary an
dispirited he returned to his PROVING
home. Cincinnati Commercial Ga
| zatta