Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-26
DAILY SHORT STORY
Saved by an Artifice.
1Original.1

the dueling corps. In the corps was
young Baron Steiger, who was consid-
cred the best swordslnan at the uni
| versity.
Toward the end of the term had the
| good luck to be pitted against Baron
| Steiger when he had been drinking and
| got the better of him. This gave me
some renown and made Steiger my Bit
| ter enemy.
IT, i did not touch a sword again during
my stay at the university, and after
taking my degree l went to Vienna to
see little of life at that capital. / had
letters to some of the best people there,
| and my associates were almost eX
| clusively Austrian or German. One
evening after attending the opera with
a party of ladies and gentlemen l in
| vited them to sup with me at q cafe.
While we were there, who should come
| In but Baron Steiger. He passed close
to me, not speaking to me, but glaring
at me, and as he walked behind my
chair he purposely ran against il.
was at the moment raising glass of
wine to my lips, and part of the wine
was spilled on my shirt front. was
angry and, acting on Il foolish but
natural impulse, threw what remained
In the glass in his face.
The moment had done so l realized
that had likely signed my own death
warrant Steiger would undoubtedly
challenge me, and as l had not touched
sword in two years and he had be-
come famous in its use, as we'll as Il
merciless opponent, must either show
hn hnr. nd In all
among my Vienna friends or-die.
Steiger apologiZed for touching my
chair, declaring that it was uninten-
tional. and, raising his hat, politely
passed on. Not one of my friends but
understood what would follow, and the
party broke up Immediately. l went
to my apartments with n young DIR.
Koch, with whom l was very intimate
The challenge came before we sepa-
rated, and l confess | was thrown into
a serious mental condition. Since leav-
ing the university Steiger had fought
dozen or more duels and had never
spared his man. DIR. Koch told me to
think no more about the matter or 1
would unfit myself to take advantage
of what slight chance there was for
me; that he had saved u friend of his
once under similar circumstances and
he would try his plan with me. placed
my case in his hands, turned in and
after an hour or so fell asleep.
The next evening after dark DR..
Koch came to me and told me that he
had arranged everything and if would
keep my head all would go well with
me. 1 as the challenged party had the
right to choose the weapons and the
time and place of the meeting. Acting
for me, DIR. Koch had chosen swords
in dark room. The duef was to take
place Immediately in room of a third
party. Without giving me time TO
dwell on these horrible conditions DR..
Koch hurried me to the meeting place,
but before entering the rooms in ques-
ton he took me to another where a
gentleman was waiting, to whom /
was introduced-"Dr. Siefer:h, the
most noted oculist in Europe" The
two doctors at once began to paint
my eyes with u camel's hair brush that
had been dipped in some liquid. AS
soon as they had finished a bandage
was clapped over my eyes and kept
there for some twenty minutes, when
it was taken off, and we went immedi-
ately to rooms in the same building
where the meeting was to take place.
A few moments later Steiger and
were thrust into the dark room, and
the door was closed and locked.
Now, it is impossible to exclude per
fectly either light or heat from any
apartment. One might as well attempt
to form Il perfect vacuum. Scientific
ally speaking there is no such thing as
a perfect absence of everything from
any given space. The treatment of the
physicians had enabled me to take adj
vantage of what light there was in the
room. nearly all of which came through
an imperfectly fitted door, under which
| there was n strip unprotected. BE this
| as it may, could distinguish the prin-
cipal objects in the room, including my
| enemy. 1 could not make out his eX
preston, but his figure was quite per-
| ceptible, especially his face and hands,
| which were lighter than the rest. He
| remained perfectly quiet for awhile,
when l moved, and, hearing the creak-
| ing of my boots, he came toward me.
/ glided away, this time without max
ing any sound, and in another moment
gave him a cut ON the hand which
forced him to drop his sword. Before
lie COulu IcCONcL II pLiChNh INN AANAb
the other side, which drew him from
where the sword had fallen, and then
/ took it up myself.
Baron" 1 said, you are at my
mercy. 1 have your sword
"Finish the murder. That's what is.
| 1t certainly is not dueling."
81 have no use for your life. l give
| it to your Hello!"
The door was opened, and the party
| in the adjoining room entered. ] had
| given Steiger an ugly cut on the hand
and slight wound in the fieshy part
of his back. These the doctors dressed.
Steiger insisted on renewal of the