Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-05

amined the cartridge - Though not Amer-
| can 1t was well made, and 1t seemed to
me that it's lead bullet was trifle heavier
| and perhaps longer than usual.
Where did these cartridges come fromf
I asked
From Gastinne-Renette's replied
Jacques.
That settled 1t.
IT don't know what you are up to-" I
said, "but am going to stick to you"
Come along" said Georges.
went along. They took me to Auteuil
villa. Ringing the bell, we were admitted
silently by an aged man servant.
Are they all there?" asked Jacques.
Ready for the Fray.
Eyes, monsieur lie comte," he answered,
impassiveIy.
We walked to the back garden. And at
once I saw strange sight. Two men stood
at sixteen yards apart, their right arms
extended upward so that they touched the
sides of their heads. Each right hand held
big revolver!
Three moro men stood along the wall,
midway between them. but well out of
range.
Attention." cried one of them Then:
Fire! One-two-three!'
Between the word 'sFire!" and the word
"three!' both combatants lowered their
weapons, took quick aim and pulled the
triggers.
Hes hitw cried some one.
'In the right breastP' admitted the hit
one, TRANQUILITY. And Immediately I began
to understand.
Pardon US, old branch" said Jacques,
Shaping me on the back, you showed your
good heart. Now you have opportunity
to see the latest sport-the duel camel It
is the real thing, assure you, and makes
splendid practice!'
But those lead bullets in the cartridges!'
I objected.
"They are Of composition invented by
DR.. Devillers," answered Henri himself. It
was he who had been hit. Look at the
mark they makel Though heavy enough to
carry just like a real lead bullet, they
burst inoffensively when they hit you, leav-
ing only the smudge you perceive"
I looked at the place he indicated on his
right breast. He wore long black linen
duster. The smudge on 1t could be seen at
quite distance.
mo disputing when one is hit" I said.
Like the Real Thing.
THAT makes. the beauty Of It," they ex-
planned. Then they explained to me the
rules Of the new game. It's essence is to
reproduce exactly all the terrible Incidents
of true pistol duel without exception
Think Of the value Of the practice" they
said. Mine men out Of ten. when they
go out to fight. are painfully impressed
Ny LILO 1Oll6, d6OLlZlLS CeIeLHOUldl tHdt must
precede the word Firer This makes us
SO used to it that we become like old
hands"
Watch Georges and Henri nowp' they
told me. Both had put on the black linen
busters that reached well below their
knees. Their eyes they protected with au-
tomobile spectacles. and over their faces
they wore fine fencing hall masks.
4 am going to put you twenty-five yards
apart" said the director Of the combat.
'At sixteen yards the balls are sometimes
dangerous on cool days like today Be-
sides. twenty-five yards Is the usual dis
lance. Only the most grave provocation
take your places"
With this the procedure became utterly
ceremonious. How politef How coldI
How deadly! They drew lots for the pis-
tolls. Then for the places. Georges got
the sun In his eyes. $50 much the bet
ter" he murmured. TT is all good prac-
ticer'
"silencer. whispered his second The
seconds took their places, after having been
given the revolvers. Henri held his point
ed vertically in his upstretched hand, be-
side his head. Georges held his straight
down. along his right leg, SO that its bar
rel pointed to the ground. Both stood so
as to expose only their right sides. only
hits on the right side count" whispered
Jacques to me.
"Whyf'
Otherwise the position would be de-
clared defective" he explained hurriedly.
Quite "Impressioning."
Attention. cried the director of the
combat. In spite Of knowing that 1t was
game. I felt queer. How must Georges
apd Henri feel7 Each saw and felt the
pistol pointed at his heart-the pistol whose
trigger must soon be pulled. Now. to look
down the barrel OF big revolver under
these or any circumstances is otherwise
impressioning. as the French say, than
when one calmly aims at black steel pro-
file in shooting gallery. 1t cannot shoot
backi
do those balls never harden too muchf'
asked.
'Yesr. replied Jacques in hoarse whis-
per. "Hushr'
The director OF the combat spoke.
Neither Of you has his own revolver"
he said. ''rhat Is proper. The combat
tants must be equally unfamiliar with the
Individual characteristics Of their arms. !
Henri holds his pointed vertically upward;