The Irish standard., 1902-05-31

showed it, 'I'll do more than that and
give you this letter right now instead
of sneaking into the hotel and Slip
ping it under the door of your room
as l was going to do. after I went to
the post Office Sampson took a
square. pink envelope from the breast
of his coat and handed it to Guy.
"Nlandinghum's hired man brought
that over to me at 10 o'clock last night.
He said he couldn't deliver it himself,
as the sheriff was sleeping with one
eye open in front 'of your room door
and he wanted me to slip it into your
hands"
Guy looked at the s,lperscription of
the missive. The photography was
graceful and distinctly feminine. Of
course he did not know who the letter
was from, but he could imagine, and
his eyes frightened and his face
flushed.
cts good thing you're going to
keep still about me-" grnned Samp-
son. 'I'm not the only fellow who has
established communication with the
enemy"
He went away chuckling. while Guy
dropped the note quickly into his
breast pocket and waited for the sher-
iff to rejoin him.
"Didn't he give you something's"
queried Pettibone. as they walked ON.
Nothing of much Importance" an
swered Guy.
The sheriff was thoughtful for a
space and then asked abruptly:
"Did you ever see duel, Mr.. Her.
bert?"
"What kind of ducl?'
cone of the o,dfashioned blood-and-
thunder kind Guess YOU know about
as much how they did it as do. It's
in defiance of the law and | suppose
I'll have to go out and linger around
even if don't do anything. You can
have your choice between being
locked up while | am gone, or going
with me-
"I'll go with you, Pettibone"
'rhats sensible. We may have a
little fun incidentally. Read that"
The sheriff fished folded paper out
Of his pocket and Guy opened the
sheet and read as follows:
Concord, June &c. 'S5-Mr. Richard Petit
bone. Sheriff of Goodwill county, Concord,
ID. T.-Dear Sir: One who chershes the
law as the dearest of our country's nsti-
tutions, and who has become aware of a
terrible crime about to be committed, comes
to you with these presents, asserting that
challenge ard acceptance to fgth a duel
have passed between two of the most
worthy people of Goodwill county. Chal-
!enge was issued from the editorial Of
flee of the Norther and accepted in the
sanctum of the BiizZard-this, be it stated,
in direct violation of paragraph 29S, chap
ter %, penal code of this territory. This
affair Of honor, unless thwarted by .Xer-
else of your authority, will take place at
four O'Clock in the afternoon of Wedncs-
day, June II, ON the north shore Of Lake
Elizabeth.
"lf you have a decent regard for the
peace and well-being of this community,
let me suppicate you forthwith to take
such steps as may seem advisable for avert
Ing an impending catastrophe. Proceed to
the scene OF this intended crime and resort
to force, IL necessary, in overturning the
s'1nguinary plans vi the duelists.
PRO BONO PUBLICO."
''Tllis states plainly enough that
the two Colonies are the principals in
the affair."" said Guy. "The fact of
this proposed duel is no news to me,
however, as ! already had knowledge
of it from Col. Keever himself Who
is this PRO Bono l'ublico,' | wonder?"
"You wonder, chg" returned Petit
bone, with another of his winlls.