Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-18
DAILY STORY
A SINGULAR DUEL.

Orleans in order to kill time dropped
into a. fencing academy opposite the
hotel where l stopped. l am fond of
all the arts of self defense and would
sit by the hour during the afternoon
and evening watching the fencing mas
ter give instruction. At the end of
each lesson he would send his pupils
foil spinning high in the air, thus In
timating that the lesson was finished
One evening, while in his academy,
as was about leaving he asked me
if l would like to see a spirited con-
test with the foils between two ex-
perts. When l said l would he told
me to be on hand at Z in the morning,
giving as q reason for the early hour
that the contestants did not care to
fence before a crowd. When l en-
tered the hall little before the hour
appointed l saw the principals emerge
from a dressing room attired in fenc
ing costume and each wearing a wire
mask. The fencing master turned to
me and said:
I'm contests between strong men
sometimes the button will be broken
off one of the foils. l wish you to look
at these weapons that you may be a
witness that they are in good condi-
ton at the start"
l examined the foils and found them
perfect. He handed them to the prin-
cipals, and the contest began. confess
1 was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest in the struggle, and
it was an indifferent performance.
wondered why I had been invited to
witness it. Meanwhile the fencing
master went to another part of the
room, where suddenly he dropped
something which made a clatter, and l
turned my eyes in his direction. When
turned them back to the fencers
saw that they had suspended the con-
test. One of them was standing in
position; the other was just stepping
into position. Somehow l got the idea
that they had both stepped away from
their places.
When the fencing recommended each
man threw himself into his work as if
his life depended upon his efforts. Each
was supremacy careful of his guard
and each watchful for some opening
through which he might pierce his adj
versary. 1t was not long before l saw
blood ooZing from the sword arm of
one of the fencers. l looked at the
fencing master, supposing he would
call a halt. Certainly, as he had fear
ed, a button had been broken off a foil.
He could not but see the blood, but he
no III no 81 tn If Presently moro
blood spurted, this time from the Shout
| der of the other fencer, and the two
were bleeding profusely.
Whatever had been the intent at the
| beginning, I was sure that now the
|. men were fighting for their lives. They
We're both skilled with the foil, and the
exhibition, as promised, had become
one of great briIliancy. Presently he
who was wounded in the shoulder re
| ceived another wound in the side. This
time the fencing master started to in
| terfere but the wounded man waved
him away, and the fighting went on.
l concentrated my vision to discover
| the condition of the foils. Had both
/ buttons been broken? Impossible,
| There was some trickery, some method
| of making the weapons effective. Then
| I remembered the noise made by the
| fencing master just before the change
| had come in the character of the con
| test, and it suddenly dawned upon me
that that movement was device tC
| draw my attention while the foils were
| changed. While they were crossed and
| for moment at rest could see thai
there was no button on either, but &
sharp point. 1t looked as if the affair
We're a veritable duel.
I now began to notice the personne
of the contestants. They both appear
ed to be gentlemen. One was tall ani
slender, with fair hair and eyes; the
other short and thick and very dark
the latter evidently ten years oldel
than the former. But the short MAJ
was the better fencer, besides bein.
why, and he was evidently firing tn,
other out. / was looking for him a
any moment to finish his adversar.
when suddenly the door flew open ant
a young woman. evidently q lady o
high degree, rushed in and up to tn,
fencers. where she stood glaring at TIL
| SNORT Druuelle, lHell tuEullS re
proachful glance on his younger ad
versary.
paul" she gasped, you're q fool
And as for you, Mr.. lie Gro. there i
no reason whatever for you to hav
any contest with any man about Inc
You thought you had outwitted M
and the police in bringing your victim
to fencing academy. NJ. Renard,"
the fencing master, II am astonishe,
that under cover of teaching your ar
you should permit your place to
used for murder! Yes. murder! Thi
man lie Gro. am told, was formerl
one of the best fencers in Paris. Shout
, reveal this outrage you would
I obliged to leave the city. Gentlemen
; give me your weapons"
They were handed to her. She e1
amined their points and threw ther
on the floor. Then, putting her arr
5 through his whom she called Paul, sh