Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-04-27
He Stopped It
BY CHAUNCEY WARDWEu
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

hind him when he heard an "Ahemr'
spoken in a soft voice.
Looking up. he saw just above the
wall face. 1t was a young. round.
rosy face incased in curly chestnut
locks and visible from chin to crown.
But below the chin was only stone
wall. The body was invisible.
Pardon me. your majesty" said n
girls voice. II have something to
ask your majesty, and If had taken
the proper steps it would be too late
to serve the purpose"
what is 1t, child?" asked the king
81 have heard that your majesty Is
greatly opposed to the practice Of duel
ing. so much in vogue just now"
surely you do not wish permission
to kill any one"
"Oh. no, your majesty, l wish yeu
to stop duel"
Between whom?"
Captain Fritz Guenther and Lieu
tenant Carl Hoffman"
What interest have you in these
menu"
Guenther. He is a professed duelist
He picked quarrel with Carl on my
account Guenther is fine swords
man and would doubtless kill Carl"
Him. grunted the king. noticing
tremor in the girls voice. This Hof-
man is doubtless either your brother
or your lover"
He is not my brother" said the
girl. blushing.
Il see. Well, shall send word to
them both that they cannot fight with
out my permission"
The girls head disappeared. and the
king went into the palace. There he
directed that royal order be sent to
the duelists that they should not fight
without his permission. for which they
must apply in person.
That evening 1t was announced to
the king that Captain Guenther and
Lieutenant Hoffman asked for an audi
ence The king directed that they be
admitted.
well, young men," he said, when
they came before him, "what can / do
for your
please your majesty" said Captain
Guenther. I'VE wish to fight duel"
"And do you join in the applicationT
asked the king Of Hoffman.
II do, sire"
Every well. The application is grant
ed on two conditions must choose
the ground and be present at the en-
counter"
so high an honor surely did not
expect" said Captain Guenther. much
elated.
"Nor l." said Lieutenant Hoffman.
XVIII your majesty graciously ap-
point the hour Of meeting?" asked the
captain.
"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning." re.
piled the king.
And the placer asked the lieuten-
ant
in the square directly in the rear of
the palace"
The duelists thought such a place
very public. especially at an hour
when many people would be passing.
but neither dared object. So they
went away. Captain Guenther delight
ed that he was to fight in the pres
ence of his king and Lieutenant Hoff-
man quite sure that his opponent
would take an the more pleasure at
killing him in the presence Of SO au-
gust witness
The next morning the regiment, act
ing as the kings bodyguard. surround
| ed the open square in the rear of the
palace, where the meeting was to take
| place. A few minutes before 10 O'Clock
| two carriages drove up to the square
each containing one Of the principals
| and his seconds. An officer Informed
them that they could not enter the
square until after the arrival Of the
king, so they waited in the carriages
| Presently the king. who had been in
| specting since early morning. rode up
to the square on horseback. The troops
made an opening for him, and, return
ing their salute. he rode on to the duel
ing ground.
| When a few minutes later the duel
lists were admitted the first thing that
| attracted their attention was a gal
| lows In the center Of the square, be
| hind which sat their sovereign on his
horse. They were puzzled. When they
came near to the king both uncovered.
and Guenther asked:
MAY it please your majesty to tell
US what this means?"
ut MEANS" said the king grimly,
"that the man who survives will be
hanged as high as Haman on that glib
bet"
! 1t was not only evident that the
king was not favorably disposed to
ward dueling, but that he would keep
his word in the present instance. The
two officers retired and spoke to thei1
seconds while the king waited. Imme-
diately the seconds went to his maj.
esty and informed him that the two
officers would not think Of doing that
which their sovereign disapproved.
Then the king rode away.
Evo1ot1rly ateacfod fho< hn v,o