Rock Island Argus., 1902-02-27
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Caught a Tartar.


wood adjoining her fathers winter
home in Florida. Coming to the edge
of the thick timber, she heard familiar
voices. Stealthily drawing II, az, she
took position behind the trunk OF a
tree and listened.
Il must put this man Sumner out of
the contest. l can never win the fair
Virginia so long as he is in the race"
How will you do that?''
"With your assistance"
Explain"
81 want you to pick a quarrel with
him. You are dead shot. If he chal-
! lenges you, 1 will step in and save
him from you by taking the quarrel
upon myself. If lie does not resent
your insult. 1 will challenge you on his
account. In either event he will be
under an obligation to me. Then L Will
cook up a story about myself and Vir-
ginia and secure his promise to with
draw from the contest"
And what am 1 TO gainY
BY this time the speakers had passed
out of hearing. Miss Maynard at first
determined to warn Mr.. Sumner of the
conspiracy. Then she concluded to re-
main silent and see how he would con-
duct himself. He was a quiet man,
with more inclination for books than
for fight.
A week passed, during which she
saw nothing unusual in Sumner except
that his manner toward her was chang
ed 1t was plain to her that the scheme
of the plotters had worked admirably.
Every day she expected TO receive
call from the victor, Martin Archer.
but he did not appear, and ut last she
heard that he was suffering from ty
phoid fever. Then, with freak which
j she herself could hardly explain, she
sent Archer some flowers. y reply
came from his mother that he was too
| i'll to thank Miss Maynard even by
note The next day Sumner called,
and she sent word TO him by the maid
that she was engaged and would like
to be excused.
Sumner did not need so strong Il
hint as this 10 drive him away. He
ceased his calls on Miss Maynard and
in another week went to his home in
the north. Archer. after several weeks
confinement. went to New York without
visiting her or in any way taking leave
of her. From New York lie sailed for
Europe.
Miss Maynard was puzzled. She re-
turned TO her northern home and spent
n summer wondering what 1t all meant
The following November found her
again in Florida. She knew of but
three persons who could satisfy her
curiosity. and none Of them was avail
able. Neither Summer nor Archer was
near. and George IIinkley. Archer's ac-
h11 al. l,x-f
thoritie=. TO leave the state for some in
fringement of the law.
Miss Maynard was wondering what
to do when she made the acquaintance
of Stephen Withers. Nithers was
northern man. the owner of an orange
plantation. and lived most of the year
in Florida. He was acquainted with
all the parties concerned and had been
an intimate friend of Sumner. Miss
Maynard noticed that Withcrs always
regarded her with n curious interest.
This at last induced n suspicion that
he knew something about the affair
which had aroused her curiosity. One
day she boldly asked him:
mir. Withers. do you know anything
about a having passed from
one George Hinkley to Walter Sum
nerT'
81 ought to. since 1 was Summers
second"
"You don't mean it! 50 there was
duel? Why didn't YOU tell me:'
Il was pledged not to tell; but, since
the affair was about you and is Il thing
of the past, 1 don't mind speaking of
it now"
"Tell it all at once"
"Hinkley insulted Sumner. and Sum 4
ner knocked him down. Then Hinkley
challenged Sumner, and Sumner ac-
cepted. Archer told Sumner that Hink-
ley was u dead shot and would kill
him, offering to take the matter off his
hands. Sumner finally permitted him
to settle the matter amicably, which
he did. Then Archer intimated to
Sumner that, in consideration of hav-
ing saved his life, he would like him
as a favor to do something. l never
knew what. but it made bad blood be-
tween Archer and Sumner. They had |
scuffle one day in the presence of
witnesses. and Archer challenged Sum-
ner. / acted for Sumner, Hinkley for
Archer. At the first round Sumner sur
prised us all by firing very quick and
true. wounding Archer in the arm.
Then we tried to stop the affair, but |
Sumner would not consent unless Arch |
er would agree never to communicate |
with you in any way again. Archer |
would not make the pledge. At the |
next round Archer was badly wound |
ed. Again we tried TO patch up n
peace. And so it went on till Archer |
felt assured that Sumner would kill |
him if he didn't promise. Then he |
made the pledge. We carried him |
home. put him to bed and gave out |
that he had typhoid fever
4 few days later Mr.. Sumner re-
ceived n letter from Miss Maynard
asking what had become of him. In
closed was note. from her father in
viting him to visit their winter home