The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-23

and must say don t think much OF 1t. You
are hundred years behind the times. =
Who you yhas. anyway ~ demanded a SOL
id, broad shouldered German who had been
pitched upon for the part.
My name is Jones' was the quiet answer.
ssUnd who vhas Jones? Was you some
presidentsor sheneral in your country %
Not a BIT of it. There are 1855 Joneses
in the United States. and none of them is of
any particular account There are enoughf OF
US to cut a dash If we made I'D our minds
to 1t, but we are too modest"
II pellet hat met some Shoneses in Sher-
many said the German after pause, .'und
don. like EN-
Don't, eh?s That's too bad. thought tho
Joneses were pretty well liked wherever you
found EN-. What seemed to be the trouble
with your German Joneses?"
He vhas too ncoch brag.''
81 see. Well, the family, as a family, al.
ways thought we'll of itself and didn't care
who knew it. l hope however. that none Of
these German Joneses made any statements
he couldn't back uD.''
81 pellet, SIR said the German as he nod
ded his head to the words, 81 pellet Jones
vhas some liars!''
Jones of America half started up and set
down again. After long breath he softly
inquired: So
Does that include the Jones family Of IL
United States?'' 81
He does!"
And me?"
'.Shust sou
Then, sir, it is my duty to my country.
to the Jones family and to myself to teach
YOU differently, and here goes"'
Jones reached over and struck him in the
face, and next minute had been challenged
to fight duel with swords. Things had
gone as the conspirators had planned. Jones
must take midnight fit or stop his bras.
But there was no shake In his voice as he
bowed around and replied:
my compliments, gentlemen, and will be
on time. The Jones family may have cheated
in horse trade, but they are not liars. I
rise to the occasion-that is, l will rise two
hourearlier than usual tomorrow morning
1t had been up to J1es,' and Jones had
been equal to the occasion. The conspirators
| were nonplused 1t might be, however, that
Jones acceptance of the challenge was SIM
| ply bluff on his part, and meeting place
was duly arranged and seconds chosen.
| 1t was given out for Jones benefit that the
| German was a skilled swordsman, who would
kill him after three or four passes, but he
went to bed whistling Yankee Doodle" and
they couldn't make him out. He was up
half an hour ahead of call next morning,
and there was-general establishment at the
heartiness of his appetite and his jocular de-
| meanor.
Il never let anything interfere with my
| breakfast, gentlemen he explained, and /
anticipate good time fighting this duel. It
must be better than going to circus.
When Jones arrived on the ground he was
| told than ample apology from him would
! be accepted by his opponent.
Il never apologize for being called liar"
he answered, and nothing on earth can stop
my talking about the glorious United States.
The affair went ahead 1t was the play Of
the German to pink and disarm Jones. but it
never came to that. The Yankee hardly
| knew rapier from clothes pole, but no
sooner was he ION guard than he began to
sweep, swipe. cut and thrust in such an awk
ward and vigorous manner that his opponent
! fell into confusion, gave ground and. all OF
| a sudden, got six inches of cold steel in his
shoulder.
| They tried to scare Jones over the frontier,
| but he rode back to the hotel with his hat
on his ear and Key West cigar between his
teeth. When he had got his heels to proper
elevation on the railing of the veranda, ne
| resumed:
Il don't want to pile it on, gentlemen but
even in your way Of fighting duels you are
! half a century behind us in the states.,.E &