Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-05

you 10 Senior Agramonte."
81 will Introduce myself to him ct the
Concordia. You may call me Pancho,
without prefix. 1 will pass as a serv-
ant. Hasta luego, senior. / will return
In an hour"
'One thing more, Pancho. We forgot
my case OF pistols"
ct Is better so, senior. You will use
Romero's without tossing for choice.
You will be given the selection It
would be natural for you to take the
one nearest to you In the case when
his second places 1t before you That
is what you will be expected to do. Sc
lect the other one. and you will win.
Do 1t carelessly. AdlosP'
The charro put spurs TO his horse and
rode away. While he was gone PEN
dleton rode mp and down the Passed
between the points named. and he was
soon gratifed to see the charro return
much sooner than be expected.
Everything is arranged" the charro
t, announced. 81 found Senior Agramonte
without difficulty. He was much dis
turbed because he had not seen you.
but is all right now. The place Of
meeting is changed. There is a small
cypress grove under Chapultepec OPP
posite the park. 1t is to be there. III
you are ready, we win go at once"
With the rising OF the sun, a half
hour before the appointed time, Agra
monte appeared, and promptly on the
minute came Romero with his seconds
and the surgeon.
The principals bowed courteously to
each other, and the seconds began i'm
mediately to arrange the ground When
1t was paced Off. Agramonte won the
choice of position, and, although the To-
cation was such that it offered little or
no advantage. it was regarded by Pan
cho as a good omen.
you will kill him. senor," he said In
confidential aside. He seemed to re-
gard Pendleton as quite as bloodthirsty
as himself. lis it your first duelT' he
added presently.
4 Eyes"
y Your nerves are like steel You
will triumph. l know It Cara, but 1
will be gladr'
The enthusiasm OF this stranger.
strangely enough. communicated itself
to Pendleton. He began to believe that
be would be successful He knew per-
fectly well that Romero always shot to
kill and that IL the bullet touched him
X would doubtless find a fatal spot
Until be was actually on the ground
be had believed himself doomed, but
now he remembered that he was him
self perfect marksman. and. aided by
the suggestions of Pancho, he knew
that he would have the advantage in
4 IN In,
the trigger the instant he heard the as
pirated IT
The necessary prellminaries were
, soon completed. as Paacho had proph-
esied, the case of pistols belonging to
Romero was placed on the ground for
Pendleton to make selection. and. step
! ping up carelessly. he pointed to the
one on the farther side Agramonte
leaned forward and touched the one
nearest him. but Pendleton said qui-
, city:
Not that one. captain; the other"
The weapons were quickly supplied
with powder aud ball the principals
were directed to their positions and the
| pistols placed in their hands. AT the
moment OF selection Pendleton had
glanced In the direction OF his oppo-
|, nent- lie saw an angry scowl fit across
, his face, and from that instant he be
lieved the battle to be his The sensa.
ton reminded him OF time long be-
fore when his favorite horse had taken
the bit In his teeth end started at a
mad pace along the boulevard In New
York. at that time thronged with car.
riages; how hopeless he had felt for a
moment and the reaction that came
when suddenly the Dir was freed and he
: regained control OF the animal and per.
feet confidence In his power 10 master
! the incident That quick glance at Ro-
nero accomplished the same result
Coats, walstcoats and suspenders
, were removed. Pendleton and Romero
stood facing each other. Agramonte
; asked II they were ready and gave
: them the stereotyped instructions,
standing directly between them while
he did so.
! II shall walk ten PAGES at a right an
gle from your positions" he said calm
ly. ~ will then pause and turn. When
] turn, | will say, 'Attencion. and aft
erward the words. 'Uno. dos. tres At
the word tres you win fire. Beware
lest either fire In advance OF the word.
II either principal is wounded and stin
desires to continue the combat, the
privilege belongs to him. but no more
than three shots each will be permitted.
Are you readyY
The seconds responded in the affirm
alive. Agramonte began his slow
counting OF ten PAGES; he turned; there
was an instant of silence, and then
sharply and clearly on the crisp morn
Ing air sounded the ominous words:
"Attencioni Unol Dosi TresP'
The reports OF the two pistols sound
ed like one. There was a brief interval
after that, during which both men
stood like statues facing each other.
SThen, without warning, Romero's legs
gave way beneath him, and he crashed
to the ground on the very spot where
be had stood. His own friends ran to-