Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-01-23
A Singular Duel.

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
II l would like TO see spirited con-
test with the foils between two ex-
perts. When / said would be told
me to be on hand at in the morning,
giving as a reason for the early hour
that the contestants did not care to
fence before crowd. When I en-
tered the han little before the hour
appointed saw the principals emerge
from a dressing room attired in fenc-
ing costume and each wearing wire
mask. The fencing master turned to
me and said:
I'm contests between strong men
sometimes the button WIFI be broken
OF one Of the foils. l wish you TO look
at these weapons that you may be
witness that they are in good condi-
ton at the start
/ examined the foils and found them
perfect. He handed them to the prin-
cipals, and the contest began. confess
I was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest In the struggle, and
1t was an Indifferent performance.
wondered why had been invited to
master went to another part Of the
room, where suddenly he dropped
something which made a clatter, and
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 1 got the idea
that they had both stepped away from
their places.
When the fencing recommended each
man threw himself into his work as II
his life depended upon his efforts. Each
was suprenely careful of his guard
and each watchful for some opening
through which he might pierce bis adj
vefsary. 1t was not long before / saw
blood oozing from the sword arm Of
one Of the fencers. l looked at the
fencing master, supposing he would
call halt. Certainly, as he had fear
ed, button had been broken off foil.
He could not but see the blood, but he
paid no attention to 1t. Presently more
blood spurted, this time from the shout
der of the other fencer, and the two
were bleeding profuseiy.
hrl f,4 aN
beginning, / was sure that now the
men were fighting for their lives. They
were both skilled with the foil, and the
exhibition, as promised, had become
one of great briliiancy. 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 lighting went on.
concentrated my vision to discover
the condition of the folls. Had both
buttons been broken? Impossiblei
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 II suddenly dawned upon me
that that movement was a device to
draw my attention while the foIls were
changed. While they were crossed and
for a moment at rest could see that
there was no button on either, but
sharp point. 1t looked as IL the affair
were veritable duel.
now began to notice the personnel
Of the contestants. They both appear
ed to be 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 fencer. besides being
wiry, and he was evidently firing the
other out I was looking for him at
any moment to finish his adversary
when suddenly the door few open and
young woman, evidently lady Of
high degree, rushed in and up to the
tencers, where she stood glaring at the
short brunette, then turning o re-
proachful glance on his younger ad-
versary.
paul" she gasped, you're a fool!
And as for you, Mr.. LIE Gro, there is
no reason whatever for you to have
any contest with any man about me.
You thought you had outwttted me
and the police In bringing your victim
TO fencing academy. NJ. Renard," TO
the fencing master, 81 am astonished
that under cover Of teaching your art
you should permit your place TO be
used for murderi Yes. murderi This
man lie Gro, am told, was formerly
one OF the best fencers In Paris. Should
I reveal this outrage you would be
obliged to leave the city Gentlemen.
give me your weapons"
They we're handed to her. She ex-
amined their points and threw them
on the floor. Then, putting her arm
through his whom she called Paul, shs
walked away with him.
tried hard TO elicit an explanation.
but signaIly failed The affair never
leaked out.
Ny OWE inference was that an IN
successful rival desired to take re-
venge upon q successful one. He had
planned the affair to take place IN a
fencing academy partly to escape the
police. but rather to make the affair
appear as an ordinary trial Of skill.
Perhaps after he had killed his rival
the story was to have been given cut
that the button on his foil had been
broken OF and an accident had result.
id was 60 be called In to be . VII
hess that they fenced with foils.
ELLSWORTH EMERSON