The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-11-20

famous ancestry. but his family became
impoverished and shortly after be
reached manhood ne adopted the stage.
On several occasions Sig. Rossl found
Il necessary TO maintain his social dig
nity at the point Of ne sword. There
we're those who cast siurs on him be-
cause OF his profession and these slurs
he was never slow TO avenge. Several
men fell before him on the field OF
honor and as a result he came TO en-
Joy almost ae great a reputation as q
drellist as he enjoyed as an actor.
which leads up to the story OF a most
remarkable duel.
Rossi was on the stage at Cassala.
He was playing In an Italian tragedy
and had just reached the climax wlcn
sharp hiss from one OF the stage
boxes sounded suddenly In the silence
The entire house heard Il. The hiss
rendered the actor speechless for a mo-
ment and utterly ruined the scene. He
recovered. however. and went on with
his part as well as he could The cur
tain dropped. the play ended. and the
audience filed out discussing the hiss
merely az an Incident and expecting to
hear no more Of Il. But IN this they
we're mistaken. Il had a fatal ending
Among the last to leave the play
house came the man VINO had been
guilty OF the Kissing, Hidden In the
rear Of the box. few In the house had
seer and recognized him. But Rossi
had noted him we'll From his posi-
ton on the stage he had a clear view
OF the man. who turned out to be the
Count Travoni. with whom Rossi had
had a quarrel In Paris years before.
Just as Travonl stepped out OF the
theater he was confronted by the
actor. who was still In his stage cos.
tune. though enyeloped by a heavy
cloak. Without a word Rossi struck
the count a blow across the face. At
once there was an uproar. The people
closed about the two. Count Travoni
was as pale as death.
"You shall give me satisfaction he
'ried. as soon as he had recovered the
power Of speech.
Whenever the count pleases," re-
sponded Rossl.
Nov this lnstantr declared Ira
yoni Il will no, walt a single hour.
We can find weapons"
Certainly" assented the actor.
oheerfully. III the count will accom-
pany me TO my hotel We will have not
The slightest difficulty. have pistols
there and he may take his cholce."
They jumped into carriage that
stood In waiting and soon ratified up 10
the door Of Rossi's hotel. the actor stlil
clothed az for the stage. They went AZ
once to his room. This Is as good a
place as any" suggested Rossl. I'VE
may dispose OF our little affair right
here"
with pleasure" responded the 9TH
er. Il want no delay"
The actor took from his trunk a pair
OF fine dueling pistols. loaded one. and
handed the other, with carirldges. to
his opponent. This ceremony dlsposed
o. they were just about to step TO op-
site sides Of the room when a SHARP
knocking at the door interrupted them.
Il was the landlord. who insisted upon
entering There was nothing Tor Il but
to open the door. The landlord was al.
mitted after the pistols had been hid.
den. Rossl finally succeeded IN Undue.
Ing him to leave the room, though he
said that ne would keep a close watch
and at the first sign OF trouble would
bring the police down an them.
There is nothing for IT," said RossI
10 the count, after the landlord had
gone. except to hight In the dark"
How" demanded the other. a.
amaEement
1--WE must hght In the dark. repeated
the actor-"that h." he added with
biting irony. ~ your courage has en-,
dured."
The taunt fairly drove the counl
wild. He said he would fight In N,
dark or In the light, IN the house q
on the roof. or anywhere else.
"But how can we see2" he asked
How are we to aim"
by the spark Of our cigarettes W,
will count together. draw until on
cigarettes blaze and then frc."
The landlord satisfied that thi
trouble had been smoothed over. wen
downstairs again.
Five minutes later two shots tina
came almost as one sounded throuRl
the hotel. Instantly there was n rusl
for the room occupied by the. actor
The door was locked but without hest
iation the landlord and those who ha,
come to assist him forced q. An at
mosphere dense with smoke ,almos
stifed them. But they to,ftl SEQ moth
ing. There wac not a CLEAN OF llgh
In the room. From one corner, how
ever. there came a moaning sound an,
the noise Of deep, labored breathing
A light was struck and then the Coun
TNvoni was found lying beside thl
wall.
or Rossl there was not a sign. ~
open window that led out on a cnur;
yard showed the path he had taken.
IN t---a-- rst-r.-t@-- Il