The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-05
A Unique VmdiCatiOn.


ginan. went 10 study at the Univer.
sity Of heidelberg he promised his
mother that he would never light
duel But Bancroft did not consider It
necessary TO refrain from Joining the
lighting corps and engaging in hafm-
less encounters. Indeed there was
plenty Of fighting material In him iplt
hcrited from his proccnliors. and this
was Why his mother hnd exacted the
promise Her father bad been Killed.
/ In duel, one OF her brothers through
reckless exposure in the civil wns
while another had been shot attempts
ing 70 defend prisoner from n mob.
These shafts OF death. striking 80 ncar
her. caused her 20 brood and induced n
| fear that her only son should fall
through a similar cause
Bancroft 1T Heidelberg proved Sc
handy with IN sorts OF Weapons as 10
distance al competitors save ono.
young Englshman named iiorcnt.
The two held the record for being tho
best swordsmen at the university and
there was desire among the siudent.
that they should fight for the cham
! pionship. Bancroft made no objer-
tion 20 a friendly encounter. tlle vital
parts OF each dispntunt boing covered
according 90 the corps rules. lsus IN
ruth he did not relish even a friendly
tight with the Englisliman. who was
| an avowed hater of Americans.
When the terms Of the nght for tlis
4 championship came 70 be arranged
Horcut insisted on certain innovations
rendering the af'alr dangerous, II was
suspected Nv a few that fe considered.
Bancroft 10 better sworilsman and.
judging him to be tlnid. wished 40.
force him TO decline tha combat. This
would give HocuI tIs mpionshiW
without lighting for It or rlsklpg 10.
lose It. Ele would thcn return 10 Ergs
land 20 enjoy his honors
Whether on no this was his objece.
It was accomplished Iancroft de.
clined 20 fight except undor Shc rules
for friendly contests. I{orcus ucolsnd
him Of cowardice. ana there wHs nov
nothing for him TO DC hut Challenge
the Britisher 20 an ''unprotectoA~
fight or be cut by tho members ce nis
corps. lie declined TO gighE either 1or
the championship or to vindluetc Ne
courage, but he wrote his mother lhs
facts and begged her TO relaSse hiui.
She declined to do so. BedLes. frierIs
at home assured him That She wax iil
a critical physical condition anf ne
anything happened 20 him iG woufa
Kill her.
Bancroft neither cGrad 10 giye Ills
true reason for not lighting noe 9s.
lleyed that II would isa accepted. Is
would have been accepted and ho
would have been respected for II II DC
could have satisfied tho students OF
It's truth. In no country IN the worlal
are parents more beloved and respoce-
ed than in Germany. But to convince
couple Of thousand OF young men
that he was not hiding behind nis
mothers skirts was out OF The cues
tion.
SO Bancroft finished his university
carecr q cut man, though he was bLcn-
Ing 10 meet lbs adversary When he
went homo 10 Virginia. lnding That
the story had preceded him ans pref
udlced some people against him, he
went 20 the farther west nnG engaged
In sheep raising. Soon after this Ills
mother died.
Several years passed. One day Ran
: croft was treading his way ON n path
barely foot Wide around the side % a
precipice While doing so he saw a
party OF tourists coming Persons
meeting on the path must pass care
fully. the one taking the outside. the
other the inside. Bancroft was ex-
pcciing TO iase the outside when sud
Genly he recognized Ia the reading
man IN the line of tourists his old
enemy at the university. lie was also
recognized
"Wait there said Horcut. pointing
TO place where the path widened a
little. II pass lnslde.' He spoke
with his old domineerlng tore Ban
croft stepped 10 the spot Indicated,
saylng as he did so;
II pass inside"
you pass outside, l say" growled
iIorcut, remembering that Bancroft
was a coward
Are you armedl" asked Bancroft
quietly.
"No"
Bancroft took revolver from his
hip and flung 1t over the preciplce. II
struck 500 feet below.
"What do you proposef" asked Hor-
cut blanching
"To settle a feud OF long standing.
We are about the same build. Let one
OF Us throw the other over II am
victorious I viii pass inside the rest
Of your party
Horcut stood aghast my God, man
that would be certain death for both Of
1sr'
1T would prove us both brave men" I"
Hut
"We are keeping your friends wait
ing"
The frieDds were as terrified as the
principals. The begged Horcut not TO
accept such a fearful challenge
"Do do understand" faltered Hor.
cut 1that you win pass inside those
behind meT
That IS my intentiOn'
"And YOU will hermit me To mass voii