The Tupelo journal., 1911-04-21
AN OLD
TIME DUELIST
By r. PEMBERTON SLADE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

In q olQen time, Wnenu uellng was
prevalent among the higher classes.
there lived IN a small town In Mary
land q young man named Arnold
Kemper, who kept everybody about
him In a state of terror on account OF
his prediction for the code. He knew
Of every meeting between prominenk
men that had occurred In the colonies
from the settlement Of Virginia. Rs
often declared that no gentlema2
should refuse to fight when challenged
and II he did SO should be posted AZ I
p~oltroon and q coward.
Kemper had been out himself.
bu. averred that nothing had ever oc
Cured to necessitate his fighting. But
r. Here he would end his prophecy
II what he would do In ease he werr
hsulted, but only Sc far as words wer
concerned. for the expression on hi
face was something frightful to be,
ho.d. Girls would clutch their lovers
arms and tremble for them. The men
themselves looked upon the threatenM
yi.h mingled fear and admiration.
If any n happened to stumble
against the duelist's foot or spill 4
drop of liquid on the rufies thar
adorned his shirt front. off would como
the unlucky mans hat and out would
come an obsequious beg your par
DON" Kemper would scowi, then his
features would relax and be would
say, Certainly; it was accidental
leaving those present to infer that II
1t had been intended it could only be
washed out in blood.
One day there came to the town a
quiet. u~nobtrusiye young man who.
knowing nothing of Kemper,s 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 a time
when the storm of revolution was
brewing and opinions on one side or
the other were running high. One
eyRping Kemper was In a tavern tell
ing what he would do when it became
necessary to defend the kings sover-
eighty. %whercupon the stranger walk
ed up to him. pulled his nose and said:
That's the way l would treat the
king" y
Every one present expected to see
the stranger annihilated. Kemper
rose from his seat, made a profound
bow to the msn who had insulted him
and retired from the tavern. Present
" one of his friends returned bearing
a challenge to the stranger. 1t was
accepted. and the challenged a
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 be didn't care II 1t was. He
would fight in n dark room or not at
all. Kempcr then declared the affair
of. His friends were surprised. They
told him that either he must fight or
forever lose his reputation as a dueh
list. Kemper demurred. Several days
passed. and the stranger who haA
pulled the terrible mans nose stu
lived. Then Kemper, finding that
those who had stood In I'VE Of him
were treating him with contempt
Yielded.
II was agreed that the meeting
should take place at the tavern in a
~on- ~ <ln cDnor1 ANor onI NJ IN
o'clock at night. The shutters were
closed so that not even a ray OF star
light could get in. and every article Of
furniture was removed from the room.
There were two doors to the chamber,
az sd of the principals was let in
to 1t by . Of these doors. Once n
they were to remain standing kg fhet
respective doors till tho word 'Firese
waA g = 6 San outside with .
xa3t Sofce, after which each
Ezuld 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
ieard. But the chamber was a large
me. and the parties might in their ma
leuvers have passed each other a nun
Der of times without Knowing It. Then
suddenly q shot was heard. One pis
lol had been emptief. snd as each man
had been supplied with but n weap-
on with a 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 MS the rest.
For heavens sake" exclaimed one
Of the party. You can't have eaten
your Adversary"
rEaten him? No. explored the
room till | was tired: then ! lizard g
shot. diln':. see the fash, for u.
back was turned at the time. OF
course, after that be was at my mercy,
ard since | couldn't kill an unarmed
man | concluded to discharge my pia
foa ii the air. The only way TO do thai
safely was to fire up the chimng."
This turned the attention OF the par
" to the big fireplace common In those
times. ard one of the party. holding
eantle there, exclaimed: