The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-29
Today.

.Your nerves are. like steel. 1or
will triumph. / know it. Cara. but
will be giad,
The enthusiasm OF this stranger
strangely enough. communicated itself
TO Pendleton. lie began to believe that
he would be successful. He knew per
fectly well that Romero always shot &c
kill and that IL the bullet touched him
IL would doubtless find n fatal spot
Until he was actually on the ground
he had believed himself doomed. but
now be remembered that he was him
self perfect marksman. and. aided by
the suggestions OF Pancho, he knew
that be would have the advantage in
weapon. 1t remained for him TO touch
the trigger the instant he heard the as
pira ted It"
The necessary preiiminaries were
soon completed. AS Pancho had proph.
esied. the case of pistols belonging &c
Romero was placed on the ground foi
Peadleton 10 make selection. and. step.
ping up carelessly, he pointed TO the
one on the farther side. Agramonte
leaned forward and touched the one
nearest him. but Pendleton said qui-
city:
Not that one. captain: the other
The weapons were quickly supplied
with powder and bali. the principal;
Were directed to their positions and the
pistols placed in their hands. At the
moment o. selection Pendleton haze
glanced in the direction of his oppo.
nent. He saw an angry scowl flit across
his face. and from that instant he be
lieved the battle TO be his. The sensa
ton reminded him of n time long be
fore when his favorite horse had takef
the bit in his teeth aud started at
mad pace along the boulevard In New
York, at that time tbronged with car
riages: how hopeless he had felt for a
moment and the reaction that came
wher suddenly the bit was freed and Inc
regained control of the animal and per
feet confidence in his power 10 master
the incident. That quick glance ut Ro
nero accomplished the same result.
Coats, waistcoats and suspcnder
were removed. Pendleton and Romero
stood facing each other Agramont.
asked If they were ready and gave
them the stereotyped instructions
standing directly between them while
he did so.
81 shall walk ten PAGES at a right an
gle from your positions" he said calm
1y. "I will then pause and turn. When
! turn. l will say, Attention." and aft
erward the words. 'Uno. dos. tres Al
the word tres you will fire. Bewar
lest either fire in advance OF the word
II either principal is wounded and still
desires to continue the combat. the
privilege belongs to him. but no more
than three shots each will be permitted.
Are you ready?"
The seconds responded in the anirm-
ative. Agramonte began his slow
OF ten PAGES: he turned; there
was an instant Of silence. and then
sharply and clearly on the crisp morn
ing air sounded the ominous words:
'Attencion! Uno. Dos! Tres.'
The reports OF the two pistols sound
ed like one. There was a brief interval
after that. during which both men
stood like statues facing each other.
Then. without warning, Romero's legs
gave way beneath him, and he crashed
to the ground on the very spot where
be had stood. His own friends ran to-
ward him. while Agramontc hurried TO
side.
Romero II not dead" said the Amer
can, speaking rapidly. II did not kill
shot. The bullet is through his hips