Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-07
The Argus Daily Short Story
Saved His Nose-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Prsss

ucers, IaIo It down before the one who
/ had perpetrated the insult. 1t read,
Ward Claybourne, Kentucky. U. S. A."
Gentlemen" he said. you have
made a mistake in these people whom
fish; the others are countrymen of
mine. You are right in assuming that
| they do not fight. They are brought
up in different school. Fortunately
for them. however. my education in
your line has not been neglected.
will trouble you for written apology,
which 1 will be happy to transmit TO
the lady you have insulted."
The man who had received the card
motioned TO one of his comrades, who
I asked Mr.. Claybourne's address and
promised to bring a reply Immediately.
Having given it. the Kentuckian with
drew. His challenge. for that IS what
1t amounted to. somewhat sobered the
officers. especially the one who had re-
ceived IT. He was a good swOrdsman,
but he knew nothing about the Amer
lean. He had read in some book that
Eentuckians were very expert with n
weapon called the bowie knife. but
was not aware that that period had
long passed He knew also that an
apology was due from him. But. being
an army man. he dared not refuse
challenge. His second called on Clay
bourne and said that if an apology
was due it was due to the young LADY
and not to him. He would therefore
accept the challenge.
1t so happened that the Hathornes
and Claybourne were stopping at the
same hotel Miss Hathorhe, Sir Give
and one or two Americans were
sitting In the lounging room talking
over the disagreeable incident of the
evening when Miss Hathorne saw one
of the officers she had seen at the
Hofbrauhaus come into The hotel In
a few minutes she saw him go out
accompanied as far as the door by the
young man of the third table There
was a puzzled look on her face for a
few moments: then she paled. Could
II be that this man who had flushed
when the officers we're looking at her
had taken up the matter in her de-
fenseI
After the officers departure she saw
Claybourne go into the writing room.
Excusing herself to those with her, she
went i'll there. He was sitting at a
desk writing, the only person in the
room. She stood looking at him
through a very large ard very beau
tiful pair of eyes He rose and stood
deferentially.
Are you English?" she asked
American"
would you mind assuring me that
the visit just paid you has nothing to
do with meT'
CIaybourne was stumped. He made
no reply.
"Is there to be-a duelf" she went on.
This is very unfortunate" was the
only reply.
81 forbid you to fight ON my ae-
count
ut would be impossible for me to
obey your order"
Il will go to these men and forbid
them as well"
She looked so resolute that Clay
bourne was troubled. He feared TO
be placed in a false position.
Il see only one possible way out OF
IT." he said. Il am writing a tele-
gram TO a friend in Berlin to come
and be my second. L Will tell him 10
say something TO the man / have
challenged that may influence him.
He doesn't know that l am student
at Heidelberg. a member Of corps
there and that / have vanquished
every man who has been brought
against me-
Don't send your telegram. This
news can be conveyed without your
Berlin friend Ny brother
Would not do at ALL"
my father
Worse"
"Give me the address Of this officer"
'TmpossIbleT'
Give II 10 me-" she repeated I'm |
neriously. Il I'm the cause Of this !
quarrel What Sht have you 10 take