The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-12

l Dupont shrugged his shoulders
 Are you aware of the consequences of turning Fournier out of doors? q don't want to hear any of your rodomontades Just have the goodness to take yourself off,
 "Listenn said Fournier in a fury. T cannot have any revenge on the Gen eral, because he is my superior officer but you are my equal; you have pre- stunned to take your share in the in suit, and you shall pay for the whole of it. We will fight"
 Listen, in turn" said Dupont. T have long been out of patience With you. I am disgusted with your bully ing ways, and l hope to give you d lesson you will long remember" Fournier would have gone mad with vexation had he not been consoled by the hope of killing Dupont. But the result of the combat was not what he 1 expected, for Dupont gave him fright 1 full wound.
 You fence we'll" said Fournier as he fell.
 Not badly, as you sec" l Yes; but now I know your play. You won't catch me another time, as l will soon show you" You wish for another encounter" "Parbleu. That's a matter of course" In fact, after a few weeks nursing, ] Fournier for the second time was face to face with his adversary. It was now his turn. He gave Dupont home ! thrust with the comment, You see you hold your hand too low to parry prop erly. After your lunge you gave me time to stock three inches of cold iron between your ribs"
 This is only the second act" cried Dupont. "We'll come to the catastro- phe as soon as possible" At the third meeting they each re- ceived a triling scratch. So the ese two l fire-eaters. annoyed at such a negative result, agreed to recommence the strug- ] gle until one of the two confessed him self beaten. They therefore drew up a treaty to this effect, and whenever i the madmen were able to meet they | fought. Thei persons were marked with numerous scars, yet they coIf- 1 tinued to cut and slash at each other l in most enthusiastic style. Fournier used to observe now and then, Ut is really astonishing that I, who always l kill my man, cannot contrive to kill that devil Dupont"
 After these encounters had continued some years, Dupont now promoted to | the rank of general, received orders to ! expected, and was trying in vain tC join the army of Grisons He was not find a lodging, when he perceived a ! chalet, through whose windows a lighi ! was gleaming. He knocked at the l door and entered. man was writing | at a bureau; he turned his head and | recognizing his visitor, said before the
 other could cross the threshold. "Ah is that you, Dupont? We will have q little sword play"
 With all my heart" said Dupont tc 1 Fournier, who chanced to be the occu
 pant of the chalet, and they set tt
 work, chatting between the passes.
 q thought you were employed in tho
 interior" said Fournier.
 The Minister has promoted me tc
 the Fourth corps"
 | ''Vraiment, What a curious coinci
 denee! 1 command the cavalry there
 And so you have only just arrived 1 I am delighted"
 | At last General Duponts sword, aftcl
 struck the wall.
 "Sapristi!" shouted Fournier
 You didn't expect that"
 "On the contrary, directly I left m,
 guard l knew l was caught. But 'ti
 you who don't expect what is going t'
 happen"
 During the little dialogue Dupont
 kept Fournier pinned to the wall as a naturalist would butterfly. | well what will happen?" ! "The moment you stir l shall giy'