The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-03-13
A Singular Duel.
Ioriginall

hotel where l stopped. I am fond Of
al 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
dmating that the lesson was finished.
One evening, while in his academy.
as ] was about leaving he q .1cI me
II j would like 20 see a spirited con
test with the foilS between two ex-
perts. When / said I 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 / en-
tered the hall a little before the hour
appointed I 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:
In contests between strong men
sometimes the button VIII be broken
of one OF the foils. I 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
/ 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 ii. Meanwhile the fencing
master went to another part of the
room, where suddenly he dropped
something which made clatter, and |
turned my eyes I'm his direction. When
/ turned them back to the fencers l
saw that they had suspended the con-
test. One OF them was standing i'm
position; the other was just stepping
into position. Somehow / 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-
verSaTy- 1t was not long before / saw
blood O0Zing from the sword arm o.
one Of the fencerS. / looked at Che
fencing master. suppOsing he would
call halt. Certainly, as he had fear
ed, a button had been broken OF foil.
BE could not but see the blood, bat DE
paid 10 attention TO it. Presently more
blood Spurted, this time from the si,0ul-
der Of the other fCncer. and the two
were bleeding profUsely.
Wha ever had been the intent at the
beginning. I 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 brilli8ncy. Presently be
who was wounded ia the shoulder re
ceived another wound in the side This
time the fencing master started 10 III
terfere. but the wounded man waved
him away. and the fighting went on.
/ concentrated my vision TO discover
the condition OF the fOils Had both
buttons been broken? ImpoSsible,
There was some trickery, some method
of making the weapons effective. Then
] 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 l could see that
there was no button on either. but a
~
were a veritable duel.
/ now began 10 notice the personnel
Of the contestants. They both appear
ed 10 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 the door few open and
a young woman, evidently q lady OF
high degree. rushed in and up 10 the
fencers, where she stood glaring at the
short brunette. then turning a 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 Outwiued me
and the police In bringing your victim
10 a fencing academy. NJ. Renard." 10
the fencing master, Il am aStonlshed
that under cover Of teaching your art
you should permit your place TO be
used for murder! Yes. murderi This
man lie Gro, l am told, was formerly
one Of the best fencerS in Paris. Should
] reveal this outrage you would be
obliged 10 leave the city. Gentlemen,
give me your weapons"
They were handed to her. She ex-
amined their points and threw them
on the floor. Then, putting her arm
through his whom she called Paul, she
walked away with him.
] tried hard to elicit an explanat ton.
but signally failed. The affair never
leaked out