Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-09
The Argus Daily Story
The Lost Whip-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau


and not expect to enforce 1t on the
field of honor. Before bedtime you
shall hear from me. Good night"
Raising his hat, the speaker turned
and walked away.
During the evening Fitz Maurice took
Miss Emmons away from the others
and said to her:
what do you propose to do about
making known the fact that we saw
Dargan pick up Miss Chalmers riding
whip"
Nothing. 1 never interfere in 9TH
er peoples affairs"
every well; then she must remain
ignorant that she is in no way bound
to bestow upon him the reward offer
ed"
"She won't anyway unless she
wishes to do So. If you think she
should know the truth, why don't you
tell herr"
Because certain conditions have
arisen that should I do so I would
render myself liable to the contempt
of my associates. Nevertheless tomor-
row 1 may tell her. l wish you to
promise me that If I do not you will
do so.'
Explain"
mot till tomorrow"
every well. If you don't tell her
tomorrow promise you will"
The next morning Beatrice Chalmers
awoke before daylight and lay think
ing about the peculiar position in
which she had been placed by the loss
of her riding whip. She was pledged
to marry Dargan, whom she did not
fancy, and considered that she had re-
ceived slight from Fitz Maurice.
whom she did love. What would be
the next development?
1t was soon to become apparent She
heard footsteps on the stairs, though
they were barely audible. Had her
sense of hearing not been very acute
she would not have heard them. She
listened and after awhile door soft
ly closed directly below her room.
Getting out of bed, she looked through
her window and saw in the gray of the
morning FitZ Maurice and one OF the
men guests, who carried box under his
arm, crossing the open space lying be-
tween the manor house and the road.
| That was quite enough in those days,
when the code duello was in vogue, to
tell her what had happened. She dress
| ed herself. opened her door and went
out into the hall. A door opposite was
opened, and Miss Emmons, in night
dress, called to her. She went into
Miss Emmons' room and learned that
she had seen Dargan leave the house
on the opposite side. Miss Emmons
thought it high time that she take an
interest in 'other peoples business"
and told her hostess all she knew
about what was about TO transpire.
"Get on your clothes, quick" ex-
claimed Beatrice, in a fiutter, while
/ go to the stable and bring a pony
carti" ,r---s
Within ten minutes Beatrice hurried
up to the door as fast as her pony's
short legs could carry her. Miss EN-
mons got in, and the two drove Off at
gallop in the direction the latter had
seen Dargan go. There had been a
duel before in the family, and Beatrice
surmised that this one would occur at
the same place. When they reached
it the two principals stood waiting
while the seconds were measuring the
ground.
"Gentlemen," said Miss Chalmers as
she refined in near them, there is no
occasion for this fight. / am in a po-
sition to answer for the dishonorable
act of one of the principals and the
honorable conduct of the other"
Dargan, who saw that he had lost
his case, turned pale.
Mr.. Dargan, not only did Mr.. Fitz
Maurice see you pick up my whip soon
after l had lost 1t, but Miss Emmons
saw you do the same thing"
and" interrupted Dargan, with a
contemptuous glance at Fitz Maurice,
''he induced Miss Emmons to tell you
in order to stop
mo such thingw- cried Miss Chal-
mers angrily. HE pledged her to tell
me after this affair should be all over
Isn't that SO, Carey?"
'It is"
1--WE both heard you go cut" contin-
ed Beatrice, land followed you to pre-
I vent splitting of blood and to exonerate
Mr.. Fitz Maurice. Mr.. Dargan, am
astonished at your course. l need not
add that feel neither inclination nor
compulsion to hold to my part of a
silly contract"
Dargan turned and walked away
from the field. 1t had not occurred to
him that Miss Emmons had also seen
him pick up the whip, and. confident
that he could kill Fitz Maurice, he ex
pected to cover up his dishonor with
: the latter's death. He did not go tC
D the manor house, but sent a negro fol
: his belongings. He was never again
heard of In Virginia, but visitors from
q there TO New Orleans learned that ht
4 was an adventurer and a duelist OF
4 considerable distinction.
Miss Chalmers married Mr.. Fit,
e Maurice, who during the Revolution
became one of the principal figure,
g who resisted the entertainments o.
/ King George III. and brought about
y American independence.