Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-04-26
THE TRIO
By CUTHBERT r. KRAFT
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

I were bosom friends. 1t Is not often
that three persons become tnseparaoie,
for two are liable TO pull together
leaving the third out In the cold. Cur
case was an exception. Nevertheless !
our trio was broken up. not by another >
man. but by a woman. She came be- =
tween Gerald and George directly. then ,
between the two Of them and me In
directly.
One evening I got a telephone mes
sage from Gerald asking me to meet
him and George at the gymnasium at
10 O'Clock lie said they were to have
a fencing match and wished me TO be
umpire. At that hour we would be
alone. when | got there. Instead OF
finding the two together, Gerald met
me and said George would join US In
few minutes. Meanwhile Gerald put
on a mask. took up foil and amused
himself stabbug the wall. Presently
George came in. l noticed he didn't
look at or say anything to Gerald.
but got ready at once for the match |
Before taking position they put the |
tips of their foils under my nose and /
Gerald said:
Take notice OF these folls, Charlie
There was an accident at the -
Athletic club the other day with foils.
| The button of one was snapped or
and a man got hurt. Afterward II
was charged that the man who held
the foil purposely used one without
a button"
Go on" replied. The buttons on
these foils won't come of. I'll guaran-
tee"
They set TO. and the way they fenc-
ed. I confess. puzzled me. Neither
seemed to be trying to pink the other.
Neither spoke to the other They
seemed to be fencing against time
, -'Oh. get n move on you? said Il
don't propose TO sit here watching you
: two fellows go to sleep"
Go get me a glass of water" said
\ George. My throats dry as parched
, corn"
I went to the cooler and brought
him glass of water. / didn't turn
: my back on them any longer than nee
a essary TO draw the water. but when
. turned and went back to them they
both looked conscious
n Been stealing someth'ngT l re-
: marked.
q There was no reply from either
a George very politely offered the glass
to Gerald who thanked him very
much" and declined. Somehow Il
struck me that there was something
u unusual in this politeness between thu
9 two They would more likely hav'
z chaffed each other. After taking ;
8 sin of the water George set down tn
g glass. and they renewed the contest.
3 But what n difference. Each man
& eve was fixed on the others. Eacl
9 watched for thrust rs though hi
g life depended on It and parried
9 when Il came with all the skill h
x possessed. Every minute they becam
9 more earnest. And then l began I
y notice q look In their faces that SUI
9 prised and palned me. Their accu,
~ toned friendlineSs was replaced b
hate Their/eyes began to CLEAN; III
-, blood mounted 10 their faces.
ne "You two fellows had better sto
l! that fracas." I said. You're gettin
~ riled''
% They paid no attention to me. II
~ deed. doubt II they heard me. so Ii
tent were they on what they were d.
ing. Presently ! saw blood runnin
from n cash on the back of Gerald
sword hand.
- Here" cried. "stop this!'
was rising to get between the
when Gerald made pass. breakir
through Georges guard. and ! sa
the foil go right through the hesf
part of Georges arm. When 1t WI
rks withdrawn the sleeve was saturat'
ars with blood.
a, t. xo{n I Grind m them TO deSi.
,eu From friends they had become wi
ass animals. They paid no attention
his me. and so maddened were they tn
.ral did not dare to force myself betwe
len. them. fearing TO get stabbed r
ami. stream trickling down Gerald's leg W
OF the next evidence of the seriousness
his the contest: then when Geralds pol
ON was within an inch of Georges he'
ced the latter In the tenth part OF a seco
turned IL away. hurried TO II
any something with which to beat do
liar the weapons and on facing the co
nee batants again saw a door open q
hat Helen Deane step into the room. WI
Iece / would have needed. weapon. to
The complish this girl did by her sim
lder presence. The men lowered .nelr ~
ner, HOW dlu you GET Oh ~ 'niS' "S'
ngs Gerald
fore Your sister overheard"
for well"
hold "Drop those foils. both of you.
ting you value my acquaintance.
,rful The foils ratified on the floor.
rim. 81 have known you three friends
ions d long while" Helen continued
will admit that one of you i love-"