The herald., 1911-02-09
AN OLD
TIME DUELIST
By r. PEMBERTON SLADE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Kemper, who kept everybody about
him in state of terror on account OF
| his prediction for the code. He knew
Of every meeting between prominent
men that had occurred in the colonies
from the settlement Of Virginia. He
often declared that no gentleman
should refuse to fight when challenged
and If he did so should be posted as
poltroon and a coward.
| Kemper had never been out himself.
but averred that nothing had ever &C.
CURED to necessitate his fighting. But
IL Here he would end his prophecy
Of what he would do in case he were
insulted, but only so far as words were
concerned, for the expression on his
face was something frightful to be-
hold. Girls would clutch their lovers
arms and tremble for them. The men
themselves looked upon the threatener
with mingled fear and admiration.
II any one happened to stumble
against the duelist's foot or spill
drop Of liquid on the ruffies that
adorned his shirt front, Off would come
| the unlucky mans hat and out would
come an obseQuious BEG your par
DON" Kemper would scowl, then his
| features would relax and he would
say, Certainly; it was accidental"
leaving those present to infer that If
it had been intended 1t could only be
washed out in blood.
One day there came to the town a
quiet, unobtrusive young man who,
knowing nothing Of Kempers reputa-
ton for ferocity, was not so careful as
others in avoiding offending him.
Kemper was a Tory, while the stran-
ger was a Wing. That was at time
when the storm Of revolution was
brewing and opinions on one side or
the other were running high. One
evening Kemper was In a tavern tell
ing what he would do when it became
necessary to defend the kings sover-
eighty. whereupon the stranger walk
ed up to him. pulled his nose and said:
"Thats the way l would treat the
king"
Every one present expected to see
the stranger annihilated. Kemper
rose from his seat, made a profound
bow to the man who had insulted him
and retired from the tavern. Present
ly one of his friends returned bearing
a challenge to the stranger. 1t was
accepted, and the challenged man.
having the right to choose the weap-
ons to be used, chose pistols and in
sisted that the principals should fight
in a dark room.
Kemper declared such a meeting en-
tirely without the code The stranger
said that he didn't care If it was. He
would fight in a dark room or not at
all. Kemper then declared the affair
off. His friends were surprised. They
told him that either he must fight or
forever lose his reputation as a duel
tst Kemper demurred. Several days
passed. and the stranger who had
pulled the terrible mans nose still
lived. Then Kemper. finding that |
those who had stood In awe Of him |
were treating him with contempt,
yielded
1t was agreed that the meeting |
should take place at the tavern in a
room on the second floor and at 10 |
o'clock at night. The shutters were |
closed so that not even q ray Of star |
light could get in, and every article Of |
furniture was removed from the room.
There were two doors to the chamber. |
and each Of the principals was let in |
to 1t by one of these doors. Once in |
they were to remain standing by their
respective doors till the word "Firer'
was given by man outside with a
stentorian voice, after which each
should be at liberty to kill the other as
soon as he pleased.
Ten minutes after the signal had
been given not a sound had been
heard. But the chamber was a large
one. and the parties might in their ma
neuvers have passed each other a num-
Der of times without knowing it. Then
suddenly shot was heard. One pis.
tol had been emptied, and as each man
had been supplied with but one weap-
on with single barrel half the bat
tie had been fought. Several minutes
elapsed, and another shot was heard.
Then the doors were thrown open, and
those outside rushed in with candles.
Only one Of the participants, the
stranger, was visible. He looked as
much puzzled as the rest.
For heavens sakeT exclaimed one
OF the party. You can't have eaten
your adversary"
Eaten him? No. I explored the
room till l was tired; then heard a
shot. l didn't see the flash, for nv
back was turned at the time. or
course, after that he was at my mercy,
and since I couldn't kill an unarmed
man | concluded to discharge my pis-
tol In the air. The only way to do that
safely was to fire up the chimney"
This turned the attention Of the par.
ty to the big fireplace common in those
times. and one Of the party, holding a
candle there, exclaimed:
There's blood on the hearthw
At that moment down dropped KEN
per.
Then there was an explanation.
Kemper's pistol-it had a hair trigger
went or on account Of his nervous
- IL