Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-09-04
A Singular Duel.
tOriginal.l

hotel where l stopped. l am fond Of
all the arts of self defense and would
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 l was about leaving he asked me
If 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 in the morning,
giving as n reason for the early hour
that the contestants did not care to
fence before crowd. When l en-
tered the hall 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
me and said
I'm contests between strong men
sometimes the button will be broken
off 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
examined the foils and found them
perfect. He handed them to the prin-
cipals, and the contest began. confess
l was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest in the struggle, and
it was an Indifferent performance.
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 q clatter, and
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 Supremacy 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, supposing he would
call halt Certainly, as he had fear
ed, button had been broken of 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
were bleeding profusely.
| Whatever had been the intent at the
beginning, l 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 brilliancy. 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 fighting went on.
concentrated my vision TO discover
the condition of the fotls. Had both
buttons been broken2 Impossible
There was some trickery, some method
Of making the weapons effective. Then
l remembered the noise made by the
fencing master Just before the change
had come in the character OF the con-
test and 1t 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 moment at rest could see that
there was no button on either, but q
| CHI tnt a n po "
were q 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 was looking for him at
any moment to finish his adversary
when suddenly tho door flew open and
young woman, evidently lady OF
high degree, rushed In and up to the
fencers where she stood giaring at the
short brunette, then turning O re-
proachful glance on his younger adj
versary.
paul" she gasped. you're fool
And as for you. Mr.. 10 Gro, there is
no reason whatever for you to have
any contest with any man about me.
You thought you had outwitted me
and the police IN bringing your victim
to fencing academy. NJ. Renard," to
the fencing master IT am aStOQiShed
that under cover Of teaching your art
you should permit your place to be
used for murder! Yes, murder! This
man lie Gro, l 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 were handed TO her She ex-
amined their points and threw them