The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-06-17

non did the same, took up the two cigaJ
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 smilet
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 a few minutes
Throw it away, and let US take an.
other" said Vernon. "A relit cigar il
never any good, and the first few whiffi
of the one for which we are looking wiz
decide matters
There were great drops of perspiratioI
on the Germans forehead, and his hant
trembled as he reached for the box again
Don't drop it," said George Vernon.
Sir, would you insult me?" criet
the baron, hoarsely, but his hand shoot
so in his excitement that a cigar or tive
fell from the box on the floor, and hi
had to pick them up again.
Each man took a fresh cigar, and lii
it. They sat in silence. smoking and ey,
ing each other curiously. Vernon wal
rather pale, but he restrained himself
more than his companion, who SHOOT
and shivered as though with an ague.
Another whisky" said the English
man And this time Baron Won Reitzen
stein drank off almost half tumbler
raw spirits.
You're getting nervous, Her
Baron; it is<trying to the nerves. ad
nit l saw a duel of this kind il
Patagonia once, and one of the two mel
went mad barely so seconds before hi
companion died"
80 feel as if might go mad myself
said Herr Won Reitzenstein. you hay
nerve, you British, Herr Vernon"
Now, then" said the Englishmar
These are the last two in the box. Viii
you help yourself, or shall we toss TO
choice?" The baron took a coin fror
his waistcoat pocket, then put it bacl
again, and selected cigar, after smell
ing each one of the two left, carefully.
Il did not know l was a coward
Herr Vernon" he said, and his voic
was hardly recognizable, "but dare no
risk the fall of coin at such a mo
ment. Will you forgive me, and shak
hands with me?''
George Vernon grasped his adver
sary's hand and said: I'VE will stoi
here, if you wish it, baron, and no
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, '1e
us go through with it now we have be
gun. But if man had ever told me tina
l should have no more command owe
myself, l would have killed him wher
he stood!" And he bit off the end
his cigar savagely.
Vernon laughed a little, clipped hi
own cigar with care, and both men Ii
them. They are good, are they not?
he said, presently. 81 imported ther
direct through friend in Havana"
The German did not answer. He wa
deadly pale, and his teeth were chatter
Ing so that he could scarcely keep hi
cigar alight. He made a point of hon
or, though, ITO do so, and he smoked b
fits and starts, now slowly, now in des
perate haste, blowing great clouds int
the room.
1--WE are :suffocating Vercingetorix,
laughed Vernon, patting the head of
Great Dane which lay beside his chaiI
The two men smoked on, and present
ly Baron Won 'Reitzenstein started fror
his chair, and, with his cigar still be |
tween his clenched teeth, shouted: Il
l die, you shall die alsoI" and rushed a |
Vernon
The struggle was short one, for Vel
cingetorix threw himself at the German |
and pinned him to the ground Verno |
looked at Won Reitzenstein, shook hi |
head, and in a puzzled voice said |
Neither of these were poisoned and tn |
box is empty"
The baron, whom the dog had left re
luctantly at a word from Vernon, ros
to his feet, and said, shamefacedly |
What are we to do now, Herr Vernon?
Vernon did not answer. He wa
watching Vercingetorix, who had bee
shifting at something underneath tn |
table, and licking what he found there
Suddenly the dog gave one short coug
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 Reii
had dropped when he upset tn
box
This was the poisoned one" he salt
This looks like Providence. Shall
postpone the duel indefinitely"
Il agree" replied the German. An
the men shook hands.-Pearson's