Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-20
the room. I went up stairs too.

Of the living. Nothing but mishap Of
my opponents part and that early Il
the combat would save my epidermis
The absurd side Of the affair strucl
me, and laughed mirthlessly. bu
none the less laughed. If 1t had beel
pistols, the chances would have beel
equal. A German does not like pistol
as q dueling apparatus. They Otter
miss fire. Z sword is surer weapon
And then the French use them-the
pistols-in their tiascoes. Rapiers?
was as familiar with the rapier as
was with the Zulu assagai. unstrap
ped my travelling case and took Out
Phyllis photograph. put it back. If
l was to have last look at any won
an, it should Ue ut Gretchen. Then
got out my cane and practiced thrust
ing and parrying. My wrist was
strong.
WELL" | unused, there's consolation
in knowin.that in two hours shall be
either dead Or alive"
l flung the cane into the corner. Tc
pass away the time paced back anC
forth. 1t passed too quickly. and II
was not long ere heard the clatter OF
the returning cavalrymen. Some one
knocked at my door. | swung it open
and was thrown to the floor. bound and
gagged In a tenth Of minute.
Put him on the bed" whispered the
leader of my assailants. When this
was done, the voice added, Now you
can go to the stables and wait there till
call YOU"
1t was the innkeeper. He surveyed
me for a moment and scratched his
chin.
"Will herr keep perfectly quiet If
take the Sendkerchief from his
mouth?" he asked. nodded. bewil
dered.
What in tophet does this mean?"
asked. did not say tophet. but II
looks better in writing.
1T means nothing and everything'
was the answer. I'm the first place
herr will fight no duel. The man with
whom you were to fight was sent on an
errand to this out of the way place as
q punishment for his dueling at the
capital. | know him by reputation
He is q brawler. but fair swords
man. He would halve you as would
q chicken. There is another who has O
prior claim on him. If there Is any.
thing left of Herr Lieutenant at the
end of the fray. you are welcome to IT.
Yes; there will be a duel. but you will
not be one of the principals. 1t Is all
arranged"
"But do not understand" | cried.
1T is not necessary that you should.
He laughed and rubbed his hands In
pleasurable anticipation. There Is q
young man down stairs who arrived
few moments before the lieutenant
He has a special affair. There were
words. Herr Lieutenant Is mad enough
to fight whole company"
"Then why in heavens name am |
up here in this condition." cried
"Let me 90 and be the young mans
second. though can't for the life of
me see where he has come from so sud
denly and | might say opportunely
Come, cut me loose"
ut Is too late"
'Too late?"
eyes. Herr Lieutenant has been In.
formed that you ran away"
IRAN away" roared. You told
him that ran away? Curse your inso
lence! I'll break every bone in your
body for thisv' cried. straining at the
ropes.
"The ropes are new" said he. You'll
hurt yourself"
"You told him that | ran awayT
Z his was too much.
"Yes. All. but you will be surprised
The duel will last five minutes. Herr
Lieutenant will thrust. The thrust will
be parried He will feint; useless
Thrust on thrust. parry on parry. Con
sternation will take the place of conf
dence. He will grow nervous. He
will try all his little tricks. and they
will fail. Then his eyes will roll and
his breath come in gasps. Suddenly he
thinks he secs an opening. He lunges
Ach. the fool. it is all over" The old
mans voice quivered with excitement
He had passed his time in the barracks
and had seen many sword skirmish.
well. are you going to take off these
ropes?"
mo. You would break every bone ir
my body"
groaned in eXasperation.
"You will soon be out Of breath"
Oh. could have but loosened those
cords!
"Stahlberg. who left the service 9
year ago. will act in the capacity OF
second" Stahlberg was at the head Of
the vineyard Il shall watch the af
fair from the window here. The scene
Of action will take place In the clearing
beyond. 1t will be an affair worth wit
Messing"
"And where Is Gretchen?
"Where she should beat the bar, 6
dutiful barmaid." Then ! heard moth
ing but the deep cachnnations Of the
innkeeper. There was something lI
the affair which appealed to his humor
| could not see it. For ten minutes my
vocabulary was strictly unprintable.
"Will you kindly tell me what ths
meaning Of all this ls?'
Herr Winthrop. the idyl has come t.
an end. The epic now begins"
Separate Towels For Children.
Two or more children should not be
norroittod to usp the same towel Each