The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-01-01
CHAPTER 1.
PREPARING FOR THE DUEL.

offered him, applied it to the end of his
cigar, looked again into the mirror that
extended from floor to ceiling and be-
gan leisurely to draw on his gloves.
Beneath the coat he had so carefully
buttoned across his ample chest he was
faultlessly attired. Faultlessness in all
things was Burr PendletOn's chiefest
hobby among many, and on this par
ticular occasion he had been more i'm
Fortunate than usual. The reason was
obvious to the man who waited upon
him and whose attentions, always
strictly correct, were on this occasion
imbued with a touch Of indescribable
tenderness.
'Is there anything more, SIR" he in
quired, stepping backward two or
three PAGES and regarding his employ
er-master would be a more appropri-
ate term in this case-with a glance
that was almost reverential.
Nothing, James-ah, yes, the case of
pistols" was the Indifferent reply.
'Will you not permit me to take
them to you, STRIP asked the valet ca
gerly.
''No. l will take the case with me.
You are to remain here, James, and on
no account leave these rooms until
return or until some accommodating
friend calls to tell you that l am not
likely to do So
''If the matter were to be settled at
fence, sir. instead Of with pistols,
should feel better, but
An imperiOus gesture interrupted
further remark by the servant. and
moment later Burr Pendleton said
quietly:
perhaps you had better fill my cigar
case, James. l may not have enough
with me. On the table in my dressing
room you will find several letters that
I have written during the day. If do
not return-tnat is, if l am not here by
moon tomCrroW-yOu will see that they
ARE delivered. l refer, of course, to
such OF them as can be delivered. The
others you will post. Among them is
lone for yourself, but on no account are
you to open it before II o'clock tOmOr-
row, or we will say a quarter past II.
How much ready money have you at
hand, James"
Something over $4,000 in American
money, sir. 1t is in the secretary.
Shall get it for you?''
"No no. l do not want it. In the
event of your reading the letter to
(which l have referred it will tell you
lust what to do. The amount you have
will be sufficient for your expenses,
think. That is all, l believe. No; there
is one thing more"
eyes, SIR
among the letters you will find one
addressed to Mr.. Craig Wyndham. l
think / would prefer that you should
deliver that in person, James. l have
remembered everything else in the let
tier to you. What time is it: Half
lpast S? l, will be late at the OPERA
4 "And you will not return here afte1
the opera, sir?"
mo; at least not before tomorrow.
The meeting is to be at 5 in the morn
ing l am booked for supper at the
sfConcordia at /, and it will be or
whereabouts before we break up. Cap
tain Agramonte is to be one of the
party, and doubtless we will go to the
shooting gallery in San Felipe Neri aft
erward if there is any time to spare.
After that
& The abrupt pause was suggestive,
and tears gathered in the eyes Of the
valet. For a moment he remained
irresolute; then he stepped suddenly
forward and extended his right hand
toward his master.
"You will forgive me, sir" he said
TREMENDOUSLY, "but things would be cas-
Ter for me during the next few hours
if you would shake hands with old
James Begging your pardon for the
impertinence, Mr.. Burr, you could not
be dearer to me if you were my own
son. Will you shake hands with me,
sir, before you go out"
Burr Pendleton grasped the Wallets
hand firmly in his own.
"Dear old Jimmy" he said, did you
Z think 1 would 60 away without doing
that? You are not about to funk, are
you, Jim? Just feel how steady my,
nerve is, eh? Not a tremor, James.
There really isn't anything about this
matter to give you the doldrums, you
know. 1t is true that Romero is noted
duelist and that he numbers some very
good men among his victims, but l
don't think am billed for eternity just
yet. You may expect me here little
before noon tomorrow, but if do not
come you must make the best of it and
see that my instructions are carried out
to the letter."
"You may trust me to do that. sir"
81 know it, James. If things end hap
;pily-for me-we will leave Mexico for
home tomorrow night. Good night,
Jimmy"
"God bless you, SIR"
The door opened and closed, and
James was alone, but long time pass
ed before he moved from his position
lin the middle of the floor, and only God
and himself knew what words he whis.
pered during, those moments of silent
agony.
It was true that Burr Pendleton had