The Irish standard., 1904-06-11

non did the same, took up the two cigar
points, and dropped them into the fire.
Then the two men, as though they had
met merely for quiet evenings CONVEX
sation, began to chat of trivial mat
tiers.
After some minutes, Vernon smiled
and said: "You don't seem to be getting
on with your cigar, my dear Herr Baron"
The other flushed, rose from his chair,
lit the cigar again, and walked up and
down the room for few minutes.
Throw it away, and let us take an
other" said Vernon. "A relit cigar is
never any good, and the first few whiffs
of the one for which we are looking will
decide matters"
There We're great drops of perspiration
on the Germans forehead, and his hand
trembled as he reached for the box again.
Don't drop it," said George Vernon.
"Sir, would you insult meg cried
the baron, hoarsely, but his hand shook
so in his excitement that cigar or two
fell from the box on the floor, and ne
had to pick them up again.
Each man took fresh cigar, and lit
it. They sat in silence, smoking and ey-
ing each other curiously. Vernon was
rather pale. but he restrained hlmsel
more than his companion, who SHOOK
and shivered as though with an ague.
another whisky?" said the English
man. And this time Baron Won Reltzen-
stein drank off almost half tumbler OF
raw spirits.
You're getting nervous, Herr
Baron; it is trying to the nerves, l ad-
nit l saw duel of this kind IN
Patagonia once, and one of the two men
went mad barely so seconds before his
companion died"
Il feel as if might go mad myself"
said Herr Won Reitzenstein. "You have
nerve, you British, Herr Vernon"
Now, then" said the Englishman.
"These are the last two in the box. Will
you help yourself, or shall we toss for
choice?" The baron took a coin from
his waistcoat pocket, then put it back
again, and selected cigar, after SMELL
ing each one of the two left, carefully.
"I-I did not know l was a coward,
Herr Vernon" he said, and his voice
was hardly recognizable, "but dare not
risk the fall of coin at such mo-
ment. Will you forgive me, and shake
hands with me?"
! George Vernon grasped his adver-
sary's hand and said: eve will stop
here, if you wish it, baron, and not
smoke the other two. We can still de-
eide our quarrel with pistols in the for
est tomorrow if you like"
mo, no." said Won Reitzenstein, "let
us go through with it now we have be-
gun. But if man had ever told me that
l should have no more command over
myself. would have killed him where
! he stood!" And he bit off the end of
his cigar savagely.
Vernon laughed little, clipped his
own cigar with care. and both men lit
them. "They are good are they not?"
he said, presently. Il imported them
direct through a friend in Havana"
| The German did not answer. He was
deadly pale, and his teeth were chatter
ing so that he could scarcely keep his
cigar alight. He made point of hon
or, though. to do so, and he smoked by
fits and starts. now slowly, now in des-
! perate haste. blowing great clouds into
the room.
I'VE are suffocating Vercingetorix, u
laughed Vernon. patting the head of a
Great Dane which lay beside his chair
The two men smoked on, and present
ly Baron Won ReitZenstein started from
his chair. and With his cigar still be-
tween his clenched teeth. shouted: III
l die, you shall die also!' and rushed al
Vernon.
The struggle was a short one. for Yer
| cingetorX threw himself at the German
and pinned him to the ground Vernon
looked at Won Reitzenstein, shook his
head, and in a puzzled voice said:
Neither of these were poisoned and the
box is empty"
The baron, whom the dog had left re-
luctantly at word from Vernon, ros.
to his feet. and said, shamefacedly
What are we to do now, Herr Vermont
Vernon did not answer He wa!
watching VercingetoriX, who had beer
shifting at something underneath tn,
table, and licking what he found there
Suddenly the dog gave one short cougl
which ended in moan, and rolled owe
on his side, stone dead. Vernon grope,
underneath the table and picked up ;
crushed cigar, which Baron Won Reit
zenstein had dropped when he upset tn
box.
"This was the poisoned one," he said
"This looks like Providence. Shall W
, postpone the duel indefinitely"
81 agree" replied the German. An
the men shook hands-PearsOn's