Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-04-08
He Stopped 1t
BY tHAUNCEY WARDWELI.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

hind him when he heard an "Ahem"
spoken in soft voice.
Looking up, he saw just above the
wall a 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 a stone
wall. The body was invisible.
Pardon me, your majesty" said
girls voice. 81 have something to
ask your majesty, and If l had taken
the proper steps 1t 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 you
to stop a duel"
Between whomY
captain Fritz Guenther and Lieu
tenant Carl Hoffman"
what interest have you in these
men,"
mo interest whatever in Captain
Guenther. He is a professed duelist.
He picked a quarrel with Carl on my
account Guenther is a fine swords
man and would doubtless kill Carl"
HIN" grunted the king, noticing
tremor in the girls voice. This Hoff-
man is doubtless either your brother
or your lover"
HE is not my brother" said the
girl, blushing.
II see. Well, l 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 a royal order be sent to
the duelists that they should not fight
without his permission, for which they
must apply in person.
That evening it 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 you?'
please, your majesty" said Captain
Guenther, I'VE wish to fight duel"
"And do you join in the application ?"
asked the king Of Hoffman.
Il do. sire"
Very well. The application is grant
ed on two conditions-I must choose
the ground and be present at the en-
counter"
so high an honor l surely did not
expect" said Captain Guenther. much
elated.
Nor l." said Lieutenant Hoffman.
"Will your majesty graciously ap-
point the hour of meetingT asked the
captain.
Ten o'clock tomorrow morning." re-
piled the king.
"And the placer" asked the lieuten.
ant
I'm 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
|
ed that he was to fight in the pres
ence Of his king and Lieutenant Hoff
man quite sure that his opponent
would take all the more pleasure al
killing him In the presence Of so au
gust a witness.
The next morning the regiment, act
ing as the kings bodyguard, surround
| I'd in 70 NJ
palace, where the meeting was to taxi
place. A few minutes before 10 o'clocl
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 tn
square until after the arrival Of thu
king, so they waited in the carriages
Presently the king, who had been in
specting since early morning, rode VI
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 tina
attracted their attention was a gal
lows in the center of the square, be
hind which sat their sovereign on hi
horse. They were puzzled. When they
came near to the king both uncovered
and Guenther asked:
MAY it please your majesty to tel
US what this meansT
1T means" said the king grimly
"that the man who survives will b'
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 keel
his word in the present instance. The
two officers retired and spoke to theil
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 tina
which their sovereign disapproved
Then the king rode away.
Frederick directed that the name
| nd "a II l..