The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-09

IN upon MIN strobe with cneery step
and cry the friends he was expecting.
..Ah, Jasper, lad" cried Tom Stat
ford, and struck him upon his shout
or. lying in wait for us? Cad, you're
a bscodthirsty fellowr'
"Ane. quite right said Colonel Vii
Tiers, clfnkins spurred legs and flinging
off a military cloak. POUNDS, man.
would you hare him sit down in his
dishonor"
Sir Jasper stretched hand to each,
and, holding him by the elbows, they
entered his private apartment and
closed the door with such carefulness
that the tall footmen had no choice but
to take it in turns to listen and peep
through the keyhole.
"Tom," said Sir Jasper, Colonel Vii
liers, when / begged you to favor me
with this interview / was anxious for
your services because, as 1 told you,
of strong suspicion of Lady Stand
ish's misconduct. Now, gentlemen,
doubt is no longer possible. have the
proofs"
Come, come. Jasper, never be down
hearted" cried joviaI Tom Stafford.
Come, sir. you have been too fond of
the little dears in your day not to
know what tender, yielding creatures
they are. It's their nature. man. And
then, must they not follow the mode !?
Do you want to be the only husband
in Bath whose wife is not in the fash
ion? Tut, tut! So long as you can
measure a sword for it and let little
blood, why, it's all in the days fun
"Swords:' gurSled Colonel Villiers
'No, no; pistols are the thing, boy
You are never sure with your sword :;
it's but dig in the ribs, slash in the
arm, and your pretty fellow looks all
the prettier for his pallor and is all the
more likely to get prompt consolation
in the proper quarter. Ha"
Consolation. cried Sir Jasper as il
the word We're a blow
whereas with your bullet" said the
colonel, lin the lungs or in the brain
at your choice-the job is done as neat
as can be. Are you good hand at
the bankers, Jaspery'
"Oh, / can hit haystack," said Sir
Jasper. But he spoke vaguely
Il am for the swords whenever you
cam" cried comely Stafford, crossing
n
caressing one rounded calf with a low
ing hand. "'Tis far more genteel
weapon. Oh, for the feel of the blades,
the pretty talk, as it were, of one with
the otherv' -
"Silence, Tom.'' growled the colonel.
Here is no matter for jesting. This
friend of ours has had a mortal af-
front, has he not? IT'S established.
Shall he not mortally avenge himself
upon him who has robbed him? That
IL the case. is it not? And. blast me-
Is not tins pistol the deadrer weapon
and therefore the most suited? Hey?"
Sir Jasper made an inarticulate
sound that might have passed for as
sent or dissent or merely as an ex-
preston of excessive discomfort of
feeling.
ITO business them" cried Colonel
villiers. "Shall I wait upon Lord Yer
ney and suggest pistols at o'clock
tomorrow morning in Hammers
fields? That is where I generally like
to place such affairs-snug enough to
be out of disturbers' way and far
enough to warm the blood with a
brisk walk
But stayw cried Stafford, as Sir
Jasper writhed in his armchair, clinch-
ed and unclinched furious hands and
felt the curl of red hair burn him
where he had thrust it into his BOSOM
"Stay," cried Stafford, I'VE are going
too fast / think. Do I not understand
from our friend here that he called
Lord Verney a rat? Sir Jasper is
therefore himself the insulting party
and must wait for Lord Verney's ac-
ton in the matter" r 1898
81 protest. cried the colonel, 'the
first insult was Lord Verney's in COM
our friends wife"
pooh, pooh," exclaimed Stafford, re-
crossing his legs to bring the left one
into shapely prominence this time.
"that is but the insult incidental. But
to call a man rat, that is the insult
direct. Jasper is therefore the true
challenger. The other has the choice
of arms. 1t is for Lord Verney to
send to our friend"
"Sir!' exclaimed the colonef, growing
redder about the gills than nature and
port wine had already made him. "Sir,
would you know better than I?'
Gentlemen said Sir Jasper. sitting
up suddenly, "as I have just told you,
since l crayed of your kindness that |
you would help me in this matter, |
have made discoveries that alter the |
of the affair very materi-
ally. 1 have reason to believe that if |
Lord Verney be guilty in this matter it |
Is in very minor way. You know |
what they call in France un chandelier. |
Indeed, 1T is my conviction-such is |
female artfulness-that he has merely |
been made puppet of to shield anoth- |
,r person. 1t is this person must find |
irst and upon him that my vengeance |
must fall before l can attend to any |
,ther business. Lord Verney indeed |
has already sent to me, but his friend, |
captain Spicer, poor fool somewhat I
weak in the head, l believer, left sud |
lenly, without our coming to any con-
fusion. Indeed, / do not regret it do |
lot seek to fight with Lord Verney now. /
said Sir Jasper, rising /
md drawing the letter from his breast,
gentlemen, shall neither eat nor