Gilpin observer., 1909-05-06
Miss Margaret Mervin?"
"Yes"

"Of Philadelphia?
"Yes; Miss Margaret Mervin of Phil
adelphia. There's no misunderstand-
ing on that score"
How long have you known herr"
Il don't know that that's any of your
business; but the fact is, met her in
the Catskills last August"
THE devil! Then it's you who are
at the bottom of this! You are the
man who has come between her and
me! 1 met her whole month before
you did, and you sit there and talk
to me of your prerogatives and prior
rights! Why, confound it all, If it were
not for you she would consent to mar
ry me! and you demand that 1 shall
withdraw in your favor! Well, I'll
be"
Then you will decide the matter as
l have suggested?"
"What?"
Il say, then you are willing to fight,
to determine which of us shall retire?
The case is a simple one: Each of us
stands in the others way. With both
in the field she will have neither of us.
One of us has got to withdraw. Do you
eaten my meaning now!
Yes; and, by thunder accept your
challenged! 1t shall be fight, and
| fight to the finish; and, what's more.
We'll pull it off right here and now!"
Precisely what l have arranged for.
We can settle the matter in my back
office without attracting attention. 1
have had the room cleared for the
purpose"
Both men were we'll built and ath-
letic. Each was accounted a good
sparrer.
Fitzgerald followed his adversary
into the adjoining room. Each drew
off his coat and vest and neckwear
with studied deliberation and placed
them carefully on chair.
Cotton tossed upon the window-seat
two or three pairs of lightweight
gloves. Take your choice" he said.
Fitzgerald quickly fitted a pair to
i his hands: Cotton followed suit; and
a moment later the two men faced
each other in the attitude of battle.
their arms barred and their chests ex-
panded with deep breathing.
There was no handshake. All pre-
| liminary conventionalities were
waived. This was to be fight. pure
and simple. Scarcely had each nodded
his readiness ere the contest was on,
and in vigorous earnest.
For fully Is minutes the struggle
continued. Then loud knock at the
door brought the performance to a
sudden standstill. Both men were wet
with perspiration and painting hard.
The interruption from without
aroused the combatants to a sudden
realization of the noise they had been
making, and each involuntarily glared
| at the other and remained quiet for a
moment. 1t was an intimation to the
one on the outside to go away.
1t proved to be only the postman.
who, receiving no response after
short wait, discharged his errand by
dropping a number of letters through
the opening in the door.
| The momentary truce had made both
| men aware of their exhausted condi-
zion. A few minutes respite was eag-
srly craved by each of them to regain
his breath. 1t was with feeling of
thankful relief. therefore, that Fitzger.
aid saw Cotton stoop and pick up one
of the letters from the floor.
To conceal any evidence of desire
to gain time by so doing, Cotton en-
deavored by his manner to have 1t
| seem that his action was merely an in
stinctive response to habit. In reality
he was more nearly exhausted than he
cared to admit, and he felt 1t essential
to resort to some subterfuge TO delay
| the renewal of hostilities. With ap-
parent Observation-Disclosures he mechan.
ically tore open the envelope he held
in his hand and passed his eyes va.
cantly over the contents.
Then, suddenly, without uttering a
sound, he fell against the wall and
sank slowly to the floor, where he re-
manned motionless, his head dropping
/, upon his chest.
| Fitzgerald smiled grimly. He knew
he had landed two blows over the
heart, and he was not surprised. Min.
gled triumph and satisfaction added
a roster glow to his burning cheeks.
| With his handkerchief he calmly wiped
the perspiration from his face and
| neck and sauntered over to one of the
windows.
| AS he did so his eye lighted on the
card that Cotton had taken from the
envelope. He picked 1t up with hur-
ried, impulsive movement. and holding
1t to the light he gazed upon It as one
entranced. Afer a moment OF breath
less tension he sank Imply upon the
chair In the corner.
Cotton raised his head and looked
up. The two men stared at each other
for the space OF full minute and then
smiled foolishly. Actuated by com.
mon impulse, they repeated together.
in feeble duet. the words they had
| hoth read on the card.