Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-20

that a champion demanded satisfaction
for the insult he had offered her the
evening before. Captain Arbuckle was
astonished. He had played the same
game many a time at home, with no
serious consequences, 10 meet with
challenge to mortal cOmbat-on i like
provocation in the wilds of America.
But for one thing the officer would
have offered n humble apology. That
was the champion. y spirit of rivalry
took possession of him. Who was this
man who was to stand in defense of
the woman who had so impressed
him? Was he a lover, a brother or u
friend? In any event. could he. an
EDGliShmGn-the proudest race on
earth-apologize fer taking q liberty
with one born in land recently &C
quireG from savagesi
Tell your MISTRESS he said to the
negro. that viii communicate with
her rs soon as my duties as a soldier
will permit"
On his return to camp ATbuckle
found that the command had got wind
Of the Swamp Fox" and had gone in
chase Of him. TaTietJn had left an Or
der for the captain to remain in the
camp IN command Of 4 small guard
left there till the expedition returned.
This left him an opportunity to take
care of the matter he had ~ hand. He
wrote Margaret that since he had
learned that she had u champion the
fight must come off before any apology
could be made. He was impatient to
throw himself at her feet to implorc
H., l. 81,
affair should be settled as soon as pos
sibie Besides. he was now free from
any duty tat would interfere with its
settlement. Would she ask her cham
pion to name an early date, place,
weapons and other details?
4 reply came that she felt delicacy
in the identity of the man who was to
defend her being known; therefore she
stipulated that he should fight masked.
The time would be that evening Ut sun
set, in a clearing back of her fathers
house. the weapons to be cavalry
swords. There We're to be no seconds.
Her slave, Jim. who bore her messages,
would be present as n witness.
To the masking ArbuckIe declined 10
assent unless assured that her cham
pion was not n blood relative, and
when thus assured he agreed to be on
hand at the appointed hour.
He found his enemy waiting for him.
The man was tall and slender. being
dressed in citizens costume Of the day,
q broad tailed cutaway coat and
breeches. buff waistcoat, white stock
ings, large shoe buckles and a pow
dered peruke. His mask was Of black
velvet, with lace at and below his
mouth.
Jim, the colored slave, stood near
with a saber under an arm and q
small box containing articles to stop
the flow Of blood in the other. He
handed Arbuckle 4 saber. and the lat
ter advanced to the spot where his
enemy was standing. But before put |
ting himself in a posture for defense [
he said to Jim:
I'm case / am denied an opportunity |
to crave your mistress pardon by be- |
ing killed in this fight l desire you to |
assure her that had 1 lived 1 would /
have done SO.
I'm do dat, sah," said Jim, 40 1 |
reckon 20 gwine fo' to get killed. De |
man wild de udder sword mighty fine /
fencer. He killed.
A suppressed exclamation OF dissat- /
isfaction from the champion stopped I
this attempt to frighten the captain. (
and the principals in the affair. ad- (
vancing toward each other. began 10 .
fence. Notwithstanding inns enco- /
miums the unknown at once proved /
himself no match for his opponent. !
Arbuckle. perceiying this. stood strict /