The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1905-08-18
An Episode OF the
Decline of Dueline

+ sonal difficulties in America, even in
+ the northern states. one evening at
the close of the eighteenth century Il
young man stopped at a tavern in New
+ York ana WAS sitting in the taproom
/ drcamily looking ut the embers in the
/ great open fireplace when one of n
/ number of men drinking and smoking
/ Mt the tables Il fellow with "A bad eye
/ and n crafty look on his face began to
make remarks about him in So loud
n tone that he could not fail II hear
/ them Nevertheless the stranger en-
dured them for . time without retort
! then got up and started To leave the
room, whereupon the man who had in
suited him suddenly put out his foot
and the stranger fell spraWling on the
floor. The fallen man. still apparently
unwilling to notice the offensc. arose
and proceeded on his way to another
room.
He had not been there long before II
young man of pleasing appearance en-
tered and addressed him.
You are apparently a stranger here, "
nt SIlu. anu Ilffu II lIItiltl. / ilt iuil
who has insulted you is notorious for
picking quarrels. and when he finds
his antagonist one who Is likely to get
the better of him he invariably finds
some adroit method of getting out of
the difficulty. | am anxious for a pre-
text to fight him Why, | don't care
to explain, except to say that 1t is II
Of In.
returned from long absence in that
part Of Louisiana lying west of the
Mississippi. and, though | Immediately
recognized this man-Amos Stringfel-
low-he doesn't recognize me. On ac-
count of the lady In the ease | would
not like to quarrel with him on my
own account, nor would he permit me
TO do so. Your affair is my opportu-
nifty. You seem to be averse to fighting
him yourself Therefore | would ask
your permission to act ms your cham
pion."
The speaker drew forth card on
which was printed his name. Horace
George Herrick In return he received
one from the stranger. Henry Pinck
ney.
II am not ayerse TO fighting the fel
low" Pinckney said I'VE of the south
usually settle such matters under the
code. But In my case there is n reason
why | should not. My father killed
friend In a duel and suffered so from
remorse that he exacted n promise
from me never TO engage In one my
self"
Herrlel pleaded with Pinckney for
permission to represent him. Pinckney
was unwilling to stand in so unpleas-
ant light but at last consented, de
claring that in ease Herrck fell he
would throw aside his scruples and
take up the quarrel on his own ac
count. Herriek returned to the tap
room and after beratlng Stringfellow
for being so inhospitable ms to insult
an inoffenslve stranger took 1t upon
himself to yindicate the good name of
New York and demanded satisfaction
Stringfellow demurred on the ground
that the challenger was not New
Yorker whereupon Herrick informed
him that he had been born in New
York and of his Identity.
Stringfellow saw at once that he had
fallen into his own trap but relied. as
usual, on some subterfuge to preserve
his reputation for courage and at the
same time keep out of harms way. He
accepted the challenge and, as the chal-
lenged party having the right to name
the conditions. chose pistols In n dark
room.
Before entering the apartment Her
rick took Plnekney aside and said TO
him:
IF | fall go to Harlem and find
Katherine Van Gaasback. Tell her
that her former playmate returned and
heard that she was about to marry
Amos Stringfelow; that chance gave
me the opportunity to defend the good
name Of New York"
Plnckney, much dissatisfied with the
course the affair had taken, made the
required promise, and the two prlnci-
pals were put In the room, from which
all light had been excluded, and took
their positions. Each was provided
with two pistols, and the men We're
permitted to fire on signal.
Ten minutes elapsed after the signal
when two shots were fired In rapid
succession, and a moment later n
knock was heard on the door from
within. 1t was opened, and Stringfel-
low was discovered in the fireplace
across n pair of andirons, while Her
rick stood looking at him, white as
sheet.
What does 1t mean?' asked one of
the entering party.
"Meanp exclaimed Ierrlck. ut
means that as soon as the door was
closed was seized with remorse at de
priying Kate Van Gaasback of the
man she had chosen to wed. Feeling
my way around the room, | came to
the fireplace. 1t occurred to me to dis
charge my pistols up the chimney that
they might surely do no harm. | did