The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-04-24

8SN ~ a tale to relate Of
combat with pistols or bowie knievs
fought in q room where all light had
been shut ont These were the battles
of the western barbarians. 1t has re-
mained for Europe to reduce the duel
in the dark to an art. ~ ~ -, e..
Giovanni Rossi is an actor of dis
tinction. He is descended from a
famous ancestry, ,sDutshis family became
impoverished and shortly after he
reached manhood ne .adopt ted the &=tage.
On5seNerh occasions Sig. Rossi found
it necessary to maintain his social dig
niIy at the point of che sword. There
were those who cast siurs On him be-
cause of his profession and these slurs
heswas never slow to avenge Several
men fell before him ON tine field of
hogor and as a. result he came to en-
joy almost as great reputation as a
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 when
"a sharp hiss from tne OF the stage
boxes sounded suddenly in the silence.
The entire house hsard it. The hiss
rendered the actor sbeechless for 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 fled out discussing the Miss
merely as an incident and expecting to
hear no more of it. =. But in this they
were mistaken. It had a fatal ending.
Among the last to leave the play
house came the man VINO had been
gun aof the kissing Hidden in the
rear OF the box, few ID the house had
seem and recognized him But Rossi
had NOTED him Well From his posi-
tionEon the stage. he. had a clear view
of the man, who turned out to be the
Count Trayoni, with: whom Rossi had
had a quarrel in Paris years before.
Just as Travoni 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 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 ........- -.x
You, shall give me satisfaction he
cried, as soon as he had recovered the
power Of speech. .y
=.
sponded Rossi - ""' =
Now this instantr' declared Ira
vonL 4 will not wait a single hour
We can find weapons. ,r9~
Certainly aassentede4. the actor,
cheerfu1ly. IF the count will accom-
pany me to my hotel we will have not
the slightest difficulty. have pistols
there and he may take his choice
They jumped into a carriage that
stood in waiting and soon ratified UP to
the door of Rossi's hotel, the actor still
clothed as for the stage. They went at
once to his room. A."This is as good a
place as any" suggested Rossi.s ;sWe
may dispose of our little affair. right
here. .,<ss$ l. ! ~.><,S5r -
With pleasure responded the 9th
er. II want no delay" ur- Il
The actor took from his trunk a fpair
Of fine dueling pistols, loaded one, and
handed the other, with cartridges, to
his opponent. This ceremony disposed
of they We're just about to step to. op-
site sides of the room when,sa sharp
knocking at the door interrupted them.
It was the landlord, who insisted upon
entering. There was nothing Tor it9ssbut
to open the door The la1ldlordrwas all
mitted after the pistols had been hid
den. Rossi finally succeeded III induc-
ing him to leave the room, though he
said that ne would keep close watch,
and at the first sign sof trouble would
bring the police down On them. 81
.Therets nothing for It, It :. said Rossi
to the count, after the landlord had
gone, except to fight IN the ssdark K. .
How 2" demanded stha, other, :, in
amaze1nent
eve must III in the repeated
the actor THAT is,' he added, with
biting irony # 4 Il our @ als osrags m has Ia en-
4 QureQs I aS 81 sSsss sssAass 9 $50 80
The taant fairly sdIaYe the count
Wild. He said ne would fight. in the
dark. Or IN the light. in the house &
on the roof, or anywhere else.
YRut how can we see ~ he s. asked.
How are we to ain1?.
by the spark Of our cigarettes. We
will count together, draw until our
cigarettes blaze and then fire. =
The landlord. satisfied that the