Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-04
DAILY SHORT STORY
An Even Chance With Death.
lOriginal.1

L liz OlllttIS VI OIC vi lLC
regiments were RECALLING themselves il
Havana. where the command was sent
after the surrender of Santiago. cele-
bratin. the results of the campaign.
During the evening the regimental sur.
geon, Major Norris. deliberately insult.
ed Il young lieutenant, Bertram, who
WAS sitting opposite him 1T table. Der
tram was surrounded 10y Il number OF
Junior officers. Norris by several sur
geOns who happened To- be on duty a:
Havana ut the time and who had beeI
invited To participate i'll the festivities
Norris accused Bertram of cOwardics
before Santiago. Since Bertram Dor.
an uneXceptionable record his compan-
ions were asIoniShed ut the doctors
charge Bertram left the table and
sent one of them to demand Il retrac-
ton. Ii was refused. and he sent
challenge. The doctor agreed to give
satisfaction. but as the challenged par
~ demanded the privilege of choosing
the method of the contest. 1e declared
that his method would involve certain
ly the death of one of the antagonists
and stipulated that Bertram should
sign an agreement before knowing of
the terms to accept them. This Ber
tram was Obliged 10 do or remain I'M
der the ban of cowardice- When the
preliminaries We're completed and the
paper was signed Norris made known
his way of fighting. Two pellets, the
one harmless. The other containing prus-
sic acid in concentrated form. would be
placed in a cup. The principals should
each draw and swallow a pellet.
Some of Bertram's brother officers
begged him TO refuse To fight on the
terms on account of their unmilitary
character. but he suffered so severely
under the surgeons aSpersiOns that he
declared he would rather run one
chance i'll two OF death than live under
obloquy He fulfilled his agreement,
and after the dinner was over party
of officers. including all the surgeons
who had sat together ut table, the two
principals and two of Bertram'S COM
pany. assembled in Il room above where
the banquet had been held, ready for
the duel
Norris chose one of the surgeons and
Bertram another TO prepare the pellets,
both agreeing that the major of the
regiment act as supervising umpire.
The three retired to an adjoining room.
where they We're gone long while.
There was evidently Il want of har-
mony among them. ana the majors
voice could be heard raised in protest,
the words certain death" being dis
tinctIy audible While this was going
on Surgeon Norris sat cOOlly reading
medical journal. Bertram thinking of
that terrible even chance between life
and death. The consequence was that
when at the end of an hour the men
returned from the other room Bertram
was very nervous.
Gentlemen. are you ready" asked
the major. who held the cup.
Both replied in the affirmative.
This cup" continued the major,
contains the pellets. as agreed upon
The surgeons who have prepared them
have surrounded the fatal one with
wintergreen.
He held the cup first TO Norris as the
ranking officer. who chose Il pellet and
swallowed it. Bertram. whose hand
trembled, did the same with the re-
manning pellet.
Presently Norris said:
'Bertram. | cOmmiserate you.
cracked my pellet with my teeth. and
yet | taste nothing
At the same moment Bertram went
deadly pale. The outer coating of his
pellet had been dissolved. and there
was Il strong flavor of wintergreen
IF you have anything to say" said
one of the surgeons. Il should advise
you to say it quickly. The drug. YOU
know. acts instantly. and we have al
lowed only ten minutes for its Enclosure
TO be dissolved"
Rertram was standing when he took
the pellet. but now the certainty of
death weakened his knees. and he sank
back on a lounge. One of those present
brought him writing materials with
which 10 write IL last message He took
the pen, but was unable 10 write New
ertheless his pluck was good. 1t works
quickly" he said. with some GOODNESS.
The nerves Of my fingers are already
pOwerlesS.
Speak what Won have TO say" said
one of the surgeons. Your tongue will
soon be paralyzed."
Bertram spoke a few words. then
found il impossible TO articulate fur
Their. He sank lower on the sofa and
closed his eyes. The surgeon whom he
had chosen TO prepare the food Of death
went 10 him and felt Of his heart.
The whisky. quick he shouted
Great heavens. I'm afraid he's gone
Whisky had been kept at hand. and
half tumbler was poured down the
lieutenant's throat.
Il say. Bertram." cried the surgeon.
Won are mistaken, You have not swaI-
lowed poison
8ertram slowly opened his eyes and
looked wildly about him.
This is not duel continued the
surgeon. 1t Is medical experiment
10 test if man may be killed by the !
imagination. The pellets were borh !
made of bread.
Wake up. Bertram" said Norris. 60
ING 10 him and taL-iuo his hand Won re- /