Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-03-31
He Stopped 1t
BY CHAUNCEY WAI2DWELL
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

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 a
girls voice. 81 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 you
/ to stop a duel"
Between whom?'
Captain Fritz Guenther and Lieu
! tenant Carl Hoffman"
what interest have you In these
menu"
mo interest whatever In Captain
Guenther. He is a professed duelist.
He picked quarrel with Carl on my
account. Guenther Is a fine swords
man and would doubtless kill Carl"
Him. 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.
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 youT
please, your majesty" said Captain
Guenther, 1--WE wish to fight a duel"
"And do you join in the applicationT
asked the king Of Hoffman.
II do, sire
"Very well. The application is grant
ed OF two conditions-I must choose
the ground and be present at the en-
counter"
$50 high an honor l surely did not
expect" said Captain Guenther, much
/ elated.
"Nor l." said Lieutenant Hoffman.
I
point the hour of meeting?" asked the
captain.
"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning." re-
piled the king.
"And the place." asked the lieuten-
I 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
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 all the more pleasure at
killing him in the presence Of so au-
gust a 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
I 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
speeding 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 few minutes later the duel
! lists were admitted the first thing that
attracted their attention was 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?"
at 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 i'm the present instance. The
two officers retired and spoke to their
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.
/ Frederick directed that the name
and residence of the girl who had
spoken TO him over his wall be learn
ed and sent her a letter thanking her
!