The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-29
CHATTER I.
PREPARING FOR THE DUEL.


lighted wax match his vale
offered him, applied it to the end Of hi:
a = looked again into the mirror thai
lded from floor TO ceiling and be
IeisureIy to draw on his gloves.
Beneath the coat he had so carefully
buttoned across his ample chest he was
faultlessly attired. Faultlessness in al
things was Burr Pendleton's chiefest
hobby among many. and on this par
ticular occasion he had been more i'm.
Fortunate than usual The reason was
obvious to the man who waited upon
him and whose attentions, always
strictly correct, were on this occasion
imbued with touch of indescribabl
tenderness.
rs there anything more. SIR" he in
uuired, stepping backward two or
three PAGES and regarding his employ
er-master would be a more appropri-
nte term In this case-with glance
that was almost reverential.
Nothing. James-ah. yes, the case OF
pistols" was the Indifferent reply.
"Will you not permit me to take
them to you, sir?" asked the valet ca
gerly.
mo. I will take the case with me.
You are to remain here, James. and on
no account leave these rooms until l
return or until some accommodating
friend calls to tell you that 1 am not
likely to do So"
"If the matter were to be settled at
fence. sir. instead Of with pistols, l
should feel better, but
An imperious gesture interrupted
further remark by the servant. and n
moment later Burr Pendleton said
quietly:
Perhaps you had better fill my cigar
caSc. James / may not have enough
with me. On the table in my dressing
room you will find several letters that
j have written during the day. If l do
not return-that is. If am not here by
noon tomorrow-you will see that they
are delivered. l refer. of course. to
such OF them as can be delivered. The
others you will post. Among them is
one for yourself. but on no account are
you to open it before II o'clock tOmor-
row. or we VIII say a quarter past II.
How much ready money have you at
hand. james,
Something over $1,000 in American
money, sir. 1t Is in the secretary.
Shall get IT for your
mo. no. / do not want it. In the
event of your reading the letter to
which ! have referred it will tell you
just what to do. The amount you have
will be sufficient for your expenses. l
think. That is all. believe. No; there
is one thing more"
Yes. sir"
Among the letters you will find one
addressed to Mr.. Craig Wyndham. l
think ! would prefer that you should
deliver that in person. James. | have
remembered everything else in the let
ter to you. What time is it? Half
past S? l will be late at the opera"
And you VIII not return here after
the opera. sir!'
NO; at least not before tomorrow. |
The meeting is TO be at . in the morn /
ing. l am booked for supper at the |
Concordia at l. and it will be or |
Whereabouts before we break up. Cap |
tain Agramonte is to be one of the |
party, and doubtless we will go to the
shooting gallery in San Felipe Neri aft |
crward if there is any time to spare.
After that
The abrupt pause was suggestive.
and tears gathered in the eyes of the
valet. For a moment be remained
irresolute; then he stepped suddenly
forward and extended his right hand
toward his master.
You will forgive me. sir" he said
TREMENDOUSLY. '.but things would be cas-
Ter for me during the next few hours
If you would shake hands with old
James. Begging your pardon for the
impertinence, Mr.. Burr you could not
a.
son VIII you shake hands with me-
sir. before you so out"
Burr Pendleton grasped the Wallets
hand firmly In his own.
Dear old jimmy" he said. did yon
think | would 20 away without doing
that? You are not about TO funk. are
you. Jim? Just feel how steady my
nerve is. eh? Not tremor. James.
There really isn't anything about this
matter to give you the doldrums. you
know. Ii is true that Romero is noted
duellst and tina, he numbers some very
good men among his victims. but |
don't think l am billed for eternity just
yet You may expect me here little
before neon tomorrow, but if do net
come you must make the best of it and
see that my instructions are carried out
TO the letter. ,
you may trust me TO do that. sir"
II know il. James. If things end hap
pily-for me-we will leave Mexico for
home tomorrow night Good night
God bless you. SIR
The door opened and closed. and
James was alone. but long time pass
ed before he moved from his position
In the middle of rhe floor and only God
and himself knew what words be whis.
pered during those moments of silent ,
agony.
IL was true that Burr Pendleton had
IN engagement at the opera that even
ing. but it 3 also true that lie had co !
OF going directly from his
rooms in the Hotel Clio to the theater.
The idea of being late in keeping his !
engagement TO hear the divine Patti i
did not appali him. and instead of
walking tie short distance along the
Il Ar