Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-11

Mr.. Chambers. Mr.. Chambers de-
manded satisfaction for the insulting
letters Mr.. Brewer had sent him.
Il should be happy to give Mr..
Chambers satisfaction" said tife lat
ter. but our code In the south In such
matters forbids my meeting him."
How so. subj"
''No meeting can take place under
the code of this state and several 9TH
er states wherein one of the princi-
pals owes the other money. l am the
owner of a note drawn by Mr.. Cham
bers. it having been made payable to
me. Therefore must decline to meet
the gentleman. Good morning."
"And yo' wish me. sub. to report to
my principal that yo' decline to meet
him?"
$50 long as there Is any indebted
ness between u.s."
Good mo'ning. sub. / shall bea' yo'
message" And. making a profound
bow. he withdrew.
In half an hour the major returned
with a check for the face OF the note.
Mr.. Brewer received 1t with thanks
and put it in his pocketbook.
"And now. subj" said the messen-
ger. 81 presume there is nothing to
prevent ou arranging TO a meeting
between yo' and my principally"
Nothing except the interest"
"The INTEREST,""
"Yes. sir. the interest. The note has
run six years, and l believe a legal
interest In this state makes Mr.. Cham
bers indebted to me for the sum Of
$500 AS If paid today"
The visitor stared ut the speaker in
establishment.
do yo' mean to say. subj" he said
when he had recovered himself. that
Mr. Touchard would mention such q
thing as interest between
81 have written your principal that
Mr.. Touchard has nothing to do with
this matter. If Mr.. Chambers intends
to shield himself behind Mr.. Touchard
instead Of facing me like q man
Enough. sub. shall report 20
words to my principal" And without
waiting to hear any more Mr.. De Fon-
tayne walked rapidly out of the Office.
A third interview took place as soon
! as the messenger could reach his prin-
cipal and return. De Fontayne found
Mr. Chambers very hot for Brewers
blood, and on learning that the credi-
tor had intimated that he was shield
ing himself behind his old friend Tou-
chard the debtor became rabid. Dash
ing across the street to a bank. he
made note for the amount Of the in
terest due on his former obligation,
drew q check and gave 1t to his second
to take at once to the northern gutter
snipe.
"And now. SUBJ" said Major De Fon
tayne. "my principal having discharged
his Indebtedness, thus removing any
barrier against his meeting yo' under
the code. there cannot possibly be any
reason why we should not proceed with
the preliminaries. demand the name
of q gentleman with whom l can ar
range them"
lone moment. major. Will you kind
ly be seated? desire to write note.
The major sat down, and Brewer
took up a pen. but laid 1t down and
took a decanter and some glasses from
cupboard.
81 have some good old Kentucky
; bourbon here. Major. cannot ask {
gentleman to wait on me without Of
fering him refreshmenG"
De Fontayne was somewhat stagger
ed. but poured out a glass of the II
: quor and drank it. He supposed Brew
: er was writing letter to friend ask
ing him to be his second In the com
ing affair Of honor. Brewer wrote twt
or three notes and tore them up. Ev
. cry time he tore up a note De Fon
tayne poured out another drink. Fl
: naIly Brewer finished a note that seem
3 ed to meet his appreciation. Handing
1t to De Fontayne. he said:
Major. wish your opinion as gen
I tleman if that IS likely TO be a salts
factory note to your principal"
4 De Fontayne took the note and read
Permit me. my dear Mr. Chambers. 4
s offer my heartfelt and humble apolog,
[ for any word | may have written you II
the matter of my professional duties
They were induced by a belief that yol
were not the man OF honor | have foun'
you to be- II appears that as soon as
= request for payment OF your debt due 4
your old friend Mr.. Touchard was pre-
sented In due form you responded immedi
n ately. 1t gives me pleasure TO recall ever,
opprobrious epthet ! have either writer
> or spoken / am your obedient servant.
: MARTIN BREWER
=, Mr.. De Fontayne read the letter will
: eyes wide open. Siuce he evidentl
Z did not know what TO say Brewe
= helped him by suggesting that befOr
) be departed be take another drink. Il
u which he brewer, would be happy +
:, join bin.
u Since there was nothing further to b
= said or done about the matter IL wa
: dropped Brewer became intimate 4
= Chambers family and finally marrie
d his daughter. His father-in-law TO til
day of his death never saw the poin
u in the transaction whereby his son-ir
law had collected debt from him