Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-06
A Singular Duel.

OIlchIS Ill orurf 10 XII tlInc dropped
, into fencing academy opposite thu
hotel where stopped am fond OF
all the arts of self defense aud would
sit by the hour during The afternoon
and evening watching the fencing mas
ter give instruction. At the end 81
each lesson lie would send his pupils
Toll spinning high In The air. thus In.
tlnating that the lesson was finished.
One evening. while in his academy.
MS | was about leaving lie asked Inc
II | would like to see II spirited con.
test with The foils between two OK.
ports. When | snll would lie told
I me 10 he on hand ut : IN the morning
giving MS reason for the early hour
/ that the contestants did not care TO
fence before crowd When | Ell.
tered the hail little before the hour
appointed | saw the principals emerge
: from dressing room attircd in fenc-
Ing costume and each wearing n wire
mask. The fencing master turned Ia
me and said:
''ln contests between strong men
sometimes the button will be broken
off one of the fois | wish you To look
ut these weapons that you may he Il
witness that they are in good condl
tlon at the start
I examined the fois ana found them
perfect. He handed them TO the prln.
clpals, aud the contest began. confess
was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest in the struggle, and
1t was an indifferent performance.
wondered why | had been invited 10
Ni IA a..
master went 10 another part Of the
room, where suddenly lie dropped
something which made Il cllttcr, and
turned my eyes IN his direction. When
turned them back To the fcnccrs
saw that they had suspended the con.
test. one of them was standing In
position: the other was just stepping
into position. Somehow got the idea
that they had both stepped away from
their places.
| When the fencing recommended each
J man threw himself into his work as II
his life depended upon his efforts. Each
was supremacy careful OF his guard
and each waichrul for some opening
through Which lie might pierce his ad-
vcrsary. 1t was not long before saw
one of the fcncers. | looked at the
fencing master, surprising lie would
call II halt. Certainly, as he had fear.
ell, button had been broken Off foil.
lie could not hut see the blood, but lie
paid no attention TO It, Presently more
blood spurled, this time from the Shout.
der of The other fenccr, and the two
were bleeding profusely.
/ Whatever had been the intent ut the
beginning. ! 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 brillnncH. Presently lie
who was wounded In the shoulder re.
cclved another wound In the side This
time the fencing master started to in.
terfere. but the wounded man waved
him away. ana the fighting went on
concentrated my vision 90 discover
the condition of The fols. Had both
buttons been broken: lmpossblc
There was some trickery, some method
OF making the weapons effective. Then
remembered the noise made by the
I fencing master Just before the change
had come in the character of the con
4
that that movement was II device to
draw my attention while the foils were
changed. While they were crossed and
for Il moment 1T rest could see that
there was no button on either but IL
sharp point II looked as II the AFFAIR
/, were II vcriiablc duel.
| l now began to notice the personnel
of the contestants They both appear
ell 10 he gentlemen. One was tall and
slender with fair hair and eyes; the
other short and thick and very dark.
the latter evidently ten years older
than the former. But the short man
WAS the better fcnccr. besides being
4, why and hc was evidently firing the
other out. | was looking for him NJ
any moment 10 finish his adversary
: when Suddenly The door flew omen ana
young womun. evidently lady OF
high degree, rushed in and up TO iii.
fcncers. where she stood Slnring ut the
short brunette, then turning Il re
proachful glance ON his younger adj
versary.
paul she gaspcd. you're fool
And as for YOU MIR. I.c Gro, there is
no reason whatever for you 10 have
any contest with any man about me
You thought YOU had outwitted me
and The police In bringing Your victim
to fencing academy NJ Rcnnrd," Ia
the fencing master, Il am astonishcd
that under cover Of teaching Your nrt
You should permit Your place TO be
used for murder. Yes. murder. This
man lie Gro. nm told, was formerly
one of the best fcncers in Paris. Should