The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-04-18
A GENTLEMAN
COWBOY In PARIS
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TOriginall
The professional duelist who is an
expert with the rapier in France, the
short sword in Germany or the pistol
In both, who picks quarrels with stran-
gers for the purpose of adding one
more to his list of killed, still exists
and will exist as long as dueling is in
fashion. During recent trip abroad
one Of these cases came under my no
tice. Indeed took an active part In
1t.
was dining one evening at Paris
cafe with my old friend, Ned Urner of
st. Louis when dapper Frenchman
at neighboring table suddenly seized
wine glass and threw the contents
In Ned's face. Ned jumped for the
man and knocked him down, but when
he arose, instead of attacking Ned in
turn, he pulled out card and threw
it on the table. When asked what
was the cause of his throwing the
wine, he said that Ned had looked at
him insultingly and had then turned
to me and made some remark about
him. OF course this was mere pre-
text. He was duelist and had select
ed Ned for one of his victims.
Suppose, NJ Bichot," l said-that
was the name on the card-"my friend
declines to meet you, what then?"
81 will be justified in shooting him
down wherever can find him."
'Then you will be guillotined for
murder"
He shrugged his shoulders as only q
Frenchman can. The shrug and his
expression clearly said. 1.-THE courts of
France would never find me guilty in
such case
l concluded that it was best to agree
to meeting, hoping to find some way
out of 1t before it could take place. l
told NJ. Bichot that l would act for my
friend, and he introduced me to q COM
panion who acted for him. In order to
gain time l appointed the meeting for
the second instead of the next day
and insisted on pistols for weapons.
Ned could not fence at all and was
very poor shot. After arranging ev-
erything Ned and l went to our hotel,
Ned to sleep. for he was happy go
lucky sort Of fellow that nothing trou-
bled; to spend the night thinking out
q plan to head off the Frenchman.
In the morning / went to the Latin
quarter. where found an American
art student. Mark Winter. whom l
coached to help me. He was to seek
out Bichot, secure an introduction, in
vite him to drink with him and tell
him stories of the cowboys Of America
and their wonderful proficiency with
the revolver. He was to mention his
acquaintance with an American gen
a cowboys life, inviting Bichot to
display of his skill.
All this Winter accomplished very
happily and adroitly. A cowboy soiree
was arranged for the same afternoon
in Winters studio. When the guests
had assembled, Ned walked in, was
presented to the company, bowed
to them and, pretending not to see
Bichot, proceeded to select q revolver
from several on table. / saw 1t all
through q pinhole in q screen, in the
center of which l had arranged q tar
get, borrowed from shooting gallery.
l had my eye on Bichot, who the mo-
ment he saw Ned enter the room turn
ed as white as a sheet. / afterward
learned that the rapier was the duel
lists strong point, and he never used
the pistol when he could help it. Ned
was well calculated to play the part
of a cowboy. I was only afraid he
would overdo it.
Gentlemen" he said in bad French,
this room is very cramped place to
display proficiency acquired on the
boundless plains Of western North
America. but my friend Mr.. Winter
has done his best, and will In turn
do my best"
AS he spoke, revolver In hand, he
took few steps toward his audience,
with his back to the target, then sud-
denly turned and with the rapidity of
lightning emptied 1t Of its six shots.
Indeed he fired so rapidly that l was
barely able to keep up with him in
ringing the bell. I had not been so
reckless as to permit him to fire ball
cartridges, well knowing that II I did
l would be dead man. Besides, he
would have riddled the target and thus
given away the whole scheme.
The next feature was tossing the re-
volver up. catching 1t and ringing the
bell without apparently taking aim. I
had kept Ned practicing this feat all
the morning, but he was not proficient
at catching and when doing the feat
for Bichots benefit very nearly ruined
the whole game by dropping the re-
volver, which exploded on the floor.
The audience jumped, then began to
look for the bullet. With proper pres
ence Of mind took lead pencil from
my pocket and jabbed hole in the
screen near the floor. This saved us.
Ned repeated the performance, after
which made my way through door
that had been purposely left open and
In walking costume entered the room.
Casting my eyes over the assembly, I
rested them on M. Bichot.
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