Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
A NOVEL WAY 70 FAME.


[Cri%lnaLl
Miles Earn:cOurt. an American youth
Of timid nature. bal vivid magma
ton. with hicL IL w3s fond OF pie
turing himself rs 4 cowboy. bank rob
Der or duClist. after finishing his eGu-
cation went abroad for Il trip. He told
his friend before leaving that he was
glad TO 90 to country where gen
tlegen settled their differences in 4
gentlemanly way. If he was not prop
erly treated while abroad he could
get redress without resortinG 10 a po-
lice court.
This meant that he would pick 4
quarrel with some person before he
returned. and he did. One evening at
n cafe he noticed Il very modest look
ing man dining alone. Barnicourt in
cndeavoring to make known his wants
TO the French waiter called forth Il
smile from the gentleman mentioned.
1t occurred to the young aspirant for
dueling hOnOrs that this would be
good opportunity TO show his grit. In
broken French he asked the man what
lie was laughing at, making mixture
of verbs, nouns and participleS that
called forth q second smile, more pro-
nounced than the first WhereupOn
Barnicourt seized a glass, doused the
stranger with the wine it contained
and then produced his card. The
stranger removed the wine from his
face with his napkin, then drew his
card and presented it to the American,
at the same time saying in very fair
English: "A friend of mine Will call
upon you at IL o'clock tonight. trust
you will be at home" Barnicourt said
that he would, and the stranger went
on with his dinner.
Barnicourt took the card to an Amer
lean, Charles Maubray, a permanent
resident of Paris, 10 whom he had
brought Il letter of Introduction. He
was narrating the episode when his
friend exclaimed:
Great heavens. man, You've insult
ed Jacques Nerdier, the most noted
duelist in Paris
Barnicourt paled. Maubray asked
him if he were expert with the pistol,
the sword, indeed any weapon which
they might choose for the combat. But
Rarnicourt declared that he could only
use the pistol and that fairly well.
This won't do" said Maubray- You
can't fight Verdier; he would make
minCe meat of you III no time. But
how In the world am l to get you out
Of 1t? My friend Perkins. from whom
YOU brought me your letter, would
never forgive me If l let you get kill
ed"
Cant 1 apolosize?" faltered Barni-
court.
"Apologizc! And have it known to-
morrow in all the clubs of Paris that
an Americana friend of mine-insult
cd man and apologiZed because he
feared TO die. Never
Barnicourt turned several shades
whittier than before, and Maubray, tell
Ing him to remain till his return, went
to Barnicourt's lodgings to receive the
challenge At II 80 he returned and
said it was to he pistols. near Yer
sailles. the next morning ut o'clock.
Maubray went out. and Barnicourt
did not see him again till ! O'Clock.
when he drove up to the house in car
riage in company with young doctor
Barnicourts legs would scarcely carry
him to the carriage, and once there he
lay back on the cushion like Il corpse,
while the doctor gave Maubray an &C
count OF Verdier's last duel, at which
he tthe doctor was present, and how
Verdicr had killed his man. Barni-
court moaned, and the two men looked
at him as much as to say, Hes going
to show the white feather" When
they reached the ground and alightcd
Maubray whispered to Barnicourt:
Courage. They are there, as hoped.
Keep up your pluck
This stiffened the dropping man. and
they proceeded TO join the others. Three
men were in earnest conversation with
Verdier Verdicr was endeavorln2 evil
IDENTIFY to convince them that he was in
no danger, for lie was heard to say,
They are not duelists in America, and
l can pierce q five franc piece at
hundred yards"
What is that?" interrupted Maui
bray. NO duelists in America? That's
in the north. My principal comes from
the south. where the revolver is as