Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-07-15
A GAME OF BLUFF.
BY r. B. ANCETx>ON
copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciat ion.

ciat ion.
While sitting at Il table before a
cafe un the Champs d'Elysees. Paris.
slipping a glass of nl,Sinth. ! heard
voices at d table near by. Several
Frenchmen were talking, one Of whom
was dpcrying American women.
was young at the time and especially
hot headed even for Il yshlng man.
had been long enough In France-I
was studying mediri~ thereto know
the result t" be expected from quar-
rel Nevertheless | threw caution to
the winds aud. turning to the speaker.
said
''You contemptble French puppy!
If hear another word from you derog.
atory of my countrywotnen I'll break
my cane ov + your head.
The man looked at me iu aSton!sh-
mrnt. then said In the most polite
manner:
"It will not he necessary for m'Sieu
to do that 1t would make Il scene
and call the attention Of the police"
Taking card from his pocket. he
laid 1t on NY table and waited pvi
IDENTITY for me to give him mine Since
there was nothing else for me to do
! made the exchange. giving him
card on which WAS my address. Then
the party OF FrenchInen rose and went
away. leaving me To recover my sense"
Unfortunately for us Americans. W"
have advanced for beyond other races
IN true chivalry. while the chivalry OF
barhuriSm remains with them. The
proper thing for the Frenchman to
do was to anol"@ize at once for attack
ing women Yet his code compelled
him to enforce his slanderous talk nv
trying to Kill me. have never since
been able to decide whether was
called upon to resent his remarks. 1t
certainly was not very prudent to do
SO.
Within an hour one Of the party I
had seen at the cafe called upon me
with a challenge ! was not prepared
to "crawtish." so put on bold front.
But in order to gain time ! told my
visitor that. having medical examina-
tions on hand. 1t would be two days
before | could grant his principal
meeting: hr would hear from me In
due time. He was a dapner little fel-
low with waxed mustache and
goatee. In making his exit from the
room backing out with al excess OF
politeness. he brought up against tho
door. which stood open. unruffied.
however. by the incident. he recovered
his stability and took his departure.
Notwithstanding the critical position
| was in | could not refrain from
laughing.
The examinations l had referred to
were in fencing and shooting In order
to discover at which would have the
best chance for my life. repaired i'm
mcdiately t" shooting gallery and on
account OF defective vision, having to
use my left hand In fifty shots missed
the target thirty times and hit the CEN
ter once (by ACCIDENT. Not seeing any
chance with powder and ball. l re.
paired to the fencing scademy Of NJ.
FOurnier. told my story to Its cele-
brated principal and asked him II he
could put me In any condition to fight
within the limit Of time. He gave me
a foil and fenced with me for half an
hour at the end OF which time he told
me there must be something the mat
ter with my sight since my thrusts In
variably fell far short Of the mark |
told him that an accident had deprived
me Of the use Of one eye. with the ac-
companying loss of power to adjust
focus.
In that case. he said. 1t would be bet
ter for me to use a pistol, since the
distance of my enemy would then
make no difference. When l told him
that II was my right eye that was
affected and unfortunately was not
left handed. he looked very grave.
On a table was a pile Of circulars
Of the fencing academy. each bearing
half tone picture of its principal.
picked up one OF them. remarklng that
I would keep 1t for the likeness.
whpreupon NJ. Fournier opened
draw wpr In which were number or
cabinet size photographs Of himself
and. selecting one. handed It to me.
! asked him to put his signature on
II. and he wrote:
To DR.. Alexander Germain. whose skill
with the foil far exceeds mine.
GUSTAVE FOURNIER.
An idea had struck him. and the
moment ] read what he had written
II struck me. With grateful pres
sure of the hand ] left him and. going
to my rooms. placed his photograph In
conspicuous place on my mantel.
Then ] sent n message to my adver-
sary's second that | would be happy
to see him with Il view to settling the
preliminaries of a meeting
All Paris knew the face OF Gustave
Fournier. and my visitor had not en-
tered my room before he noticed the
picture and. going to it. read the pres
entation inscription. He then took
the seat | offered him with different
expression on his face.
ITO begin" | said. looking Mt him
savagely. "having the choice Of weap-
ons. l choose rapiers. prefer extra
size. extra length. II they can be OBJ
tanned. and desire that the point and
both sides Of the blades be as sharp
as they can be ground"
He listened to all l had to say with
out a remark and left me to report
the terms. He returned after awhile
with the statement that his principal
had been misunderstood: that he had
the highest regard and admiration for
American women and could not con-
sent to meet me on such an issue.
I looked much disappointed, though
I felt inexpressible relieved. However.
| told the gentleman that ] must m
course accent an apology. but warned