Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-03-03


expected arrival the baroness wrote q |
note to her protector and one to the
man from whom she was being pro
tected, asking them to call upon her.
They met. The scowl that lowered |
upon Manteufel's brow was like a
thunderstorm in the Alps, Believing |
that he acted in the interest Of his |
friend instead of from the promptings
OF Jealousy, forgetting that he had not
been commissioned to pick a quarrel
with the man his friend disliked, he
walked right into trap and before he
had been in Won Gethart's presence
half an hour had in the most gentle
manly manner in the world insulted
him. 1t happened in this wise:
II do not think" said the baroness,
that your men in Germany have the
respect, the reverence, for women our
men in America have"
""You are right, baroness" said Man
teufel, looking fercely at Gethart
1--WE have here in Berlin men who
would not hesitate to take advantage
of woman left unprotected by her
husband"
"A brief silence marked this throwing
down the gauntlet, after which the
lady turned the conversation into 9th
er channels. A few minutes later &C.
thart bowed himself out, and the bar
oness indicated to Manteufel that she
would prefer to be alone. AS soon as
he had gone she called in a manserv-
ant and said to him:
Heinrich. have very delicate Job
for you"
| what is it, baroness?"
'Count Gethart and Captain Manteu-
fel are about to fight duel. wish
you to inform me as to the time and
place of the meeting"
II could not we'll do that, baroness,
except that the valet of Count Won
Gethart is my friend. This may help
me out"
AT IL midnight Baron Won Hilder-
waiting to greet him.
| -"Well," he said after exhausting or
binary matters that had occurred dur
ing his absence, ''how about this Won
Gethart? Has he been offensive In his
attentions?'
mot at all, but your friend Captain
Manteufel has been more loyal to you
during your absence than has been
necessary"
| "How soT'
'He evidently knows that you don't
like the count and has assumed to
keep him away from me-"
1902"
eyes. They met here this evening
Manteufel insulted Won Gethart, and
they are going to fight"
"SoY repeated the baron, opening
his eyes very wide.
ayes. The affair will be the talk Of
Berlin"
..Great heavenv' exclaimed the bar
1--WE must interfere"
"HowY'
II have sent Heinrich to discover
the time and place. am expecting
him back every moment"
"Himmel, may he be successful!"
It was 2 o'clock when Heinrich re-
turned. and all he knew was that a
carriage had been ordered by Count
Won Gethart to be at his door at
o'clock in the morning. But this was
not enough. The baron and his wife
ordered their own carriage to be ready
at half past 8, drove to point near
the counts residence, saw him leave
and followed him to grove near
the city, where his carriage stopped
and he and companion alighted
Another carriage had just arrived. The
baron and baroness alighted some dis
lance from the others. The day was
breaking when they saw two men tax
ing positions for duel. Then they ad-
vanced.
Gentlemen" cried the baron, will
you kindly inform me as to the cause
Of this quarrel?"
Both men, astonished. stood mute.
81 have been informed by the bar
oness," continued Won Hilderschof,
"that there has been trouble between
you two. If my wife has anything to
do with it l beg you to put up your
swords. Neither Of you need be con-
cerned about her. alone assume to
defend her"
Both the. men addressed looked as If
they wished the earth would open and
swallow them, but it was Manteufel
who seemed especially crushed. He
had gone on the field believing that
he was protecting his friends wife
but cherished hope that knowledge
Of the quarrel might never reach his
/ friend. - 49,.
t "Gentlemen." said the baroness with
| q certain sweetness that never de-
serted her, 1--WE should be pleased to
zee you both at dinner this evening"
"You are very kind, but began the
count.
Really. baroness, You must ex-
euse'-c: began the captain. But the
lady simply put them both In the DO
sition Of being ungallant IL they de-
clined, and both gave a reluctant ac
eeptanee. :. ,... III ~ <. ., =.
The party left the field in the con-
| veyances BY which they had come