The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-11-13
A Singular Duel.


NollIC NEdlS = III L "oo IL Men
Orleans In order to Kill time l dropped
into a fencing academy opposite the
hotel where | stopped. l am fond Of
all the arts of self defense and wouI!
sit by the hour during the afternoon
and evening watching the fencing mas
ter give instruction. At the end 1f
each lesson he would send his pupil's
foil spinning high in the air, thus In
timating that the lesson was finished.
One evening, while In his academy.
as l was about leaving he asked me
II 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 a reason for the early hour
that the contestants did not care to
fence before a crowd. When l en-
tered the hall a 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
and said:
I'm contests between strong men
sometimes the button will be broken
of 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"
I examined the foils and found them
perfect. He handed them to the prin-
cipals, and the contest began. I confess
I was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest In the struggle, and
it was an Indifferent performance. l
wondered why l 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
l 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 supremely careful of his guard
and each watchful for some opening
through which he might pierce his ad-
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, %supposinE 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
paid no attention to it. Presently more
blood spurted, this time from the shout
der of the other %fencer, and the two
We're bleeding %profusely.
Whatever had been the intent at 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 brilliancy. Presently lie
who was wounded in the shoulder re-
| ceived another wound in the side. This
| time the fencing master started to in
t%erfere, 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 vas 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 a device to
draw my attention while the foils were
changed. While they We're crossed and
for a moment at rest l could see that
there was no button on either. but q
sharp point. 1t looked as If the affair
were a veritable duel.
now began to notice the personne
Of the contestants. They both appear
ed to be gentlemen. One was tall anG
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 ma!
was the better fenccr. besides helm.
why, and he was evidently firing tn,
other out. was looking for him a
any moment to finish his adversar,
when suddenly the door few open an,
a young M evidently a lady o
high degree, rushed in and up to tn
~fencers, where she stood glaring at tn,
short brunette, then turning a re
proachful glance on his younger al
versnry.
paul" She gasped, you're a fool
And as for you. Mr.. LIE Gro, there i
no reason whatever for you to hav
any contest with any man about me
You thought you had outwitted m
and the police In bringing your victlI
{ to n fencing academy. NJ. Rcnard," I
the fencing master, II am astonlshe
that under cover Of teaching your M
you should permit your place to b
used for murder. Yes. murder. Thl
maj lie Gro, l am told, vas forlnerl
l one of the best fencers in Paris. Shout
I reveal this outrage you would /
obliged to leave the city. Gentlemel
give me your weapons"
They were handed to her, She q,
amlned their points and threw thel