Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-12
ne asked of James.

eyes, sir; | saw him two or three
times"
"Did the man who was with Mr..
Pcndlcton the evening we found him
resemble the duelist at ally"
"Not at all, that remember"
"Now, James, 90 back to the moment
You first knew that a duel was to be
fought. How did you know about it,"
"Mr. Burr told me-"
"Tcll me how he told you; tell me
just what he said"
HE asked Inc il I remembered an
incident that occurred one afternoon
on the Paseo when he defended lady
from the attentions of a man who had
offended her. u
Tell me about that incident James,"
1--WE were on the Paseo together,
walking. | was few feet behind Mr..
Pcndleton. We were near what IL
known as the Indian statue, which is
located rather farther up the avenue
than pedestrians usually 60. A little
way in advance of us was lady aud
her maidScrvant. When we got near
the statue, man appeared suddenly
from behind it or one Of the big cypress
trees. l don't know which. He walked
rapidly toward the lady, and she stop
ped still, as if she were frightened, but
/ do not know If that was the reason,
although | think it must have been"
what time of day was that, james,"
"About o'clock in the afternoon.
The sun WA, shining, and there were
hundreds of people within CALL so l
do not think the man really meant any
thing like violence"
"Wcll, so ahead. What happened
them
"The lady was hundred feet or 50
in advance OF us when the man con-
fronted her. We were walking slowly
toward them. Whether Mr.. Pendleton
was looking at them or not | do not
know, but | was, for l thought the ac-
tons of both rather strange. noticed
that they talked rather eXcitedly and
that they seemed to be known to each
other. In the meantime we were draw
ing nearer to them. We had almost
reached them when the lady turned
suddenly away. as if to leave the man,
and he reached out and seized her by
the arm.
That was more than Mr.. Pendleton
could stand, as you know, sir. lie
stopped instantly, raised his hat, adj
dressed the lady in Spanish, as though
he had known her all his life and ut
the same time utterly ignored the man.
As for him, he hesitated an instant. and
| never saw such a ticndiSh expression
on the face of man as that which
swept over mis- at that instant. But he
did not say word. Instead he turned
away and walked rapidly down the av-
euuc.
The lady murmured few words to
Mr., Pendleton. l think they were
words of thanks. He raised his hat,
said two words in reply, and we con-
tinued on our way.
That, sir, is all there was OF that
incident, but the man who afterward
insulted my master and thus compelled
him to send n challenge was the same
man, Captain Romero, who is called
the deadliest duelist in Mexico; SO you
see, sir. there must have been some
connection between the two affairs"
"Undoubtedly, James"
"And now, sir. if you will permit me
to surmise little, have an idea"
LET me hear it, by all means"
"The evening before the duel Mr..
Pendleton was busy for some time pre-
pairing his affairs. Then he went out,
Ostcnsibly to the opera, but l know he
did not go there, for about midnight
or a little after Captain Agramontc,
who was to be his second, called and
told me so, inquirng for him. The fol
lowing morning | received a note in
his handwriting telling me 10 defer all
action twcnty-four hours longer than
he had told me to do when he went
away, and the note was brought by the
same person who on the preceding day
delivered one to my master in the
pateo of the hotel just as we were so.