The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-06-22
THE TRIO
By cuTHBERT R. KRAFT
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation, 1911.

Gerald Herbert, George Tisdale ant
I were bosom friends. 1t is not otter
that three persons become inseparable
for two are liable to pull together
leaving the third out in the cold. Oul
case was an exception. Nevertheless
our trio was broken up, not by another
man, but by a woman. She came be
tween Gerald and George directly, ther
between the two of them and me in.
directly.
One evening l got a telephone mes
sage from Gerald asking me to meet
him and George at the gymnasium a
10 o'clock. He said they were to have
q fencing match and wished me to be
umpire. At that hour We would be
alone. When got there. instead Of
finding the two together, Gerald met
me and said George would Join % In
Q few minutes. Meanwhile Gerald put
on mask. took up q foil and amused
himself stabbing the wall. Presently
George came in. I noticed be didn't
look at or say anything to Gerald.
but got ready at once for the match.
Before taking position they put the
tips of their foils under my nose and
Gerald said:
Take notice Of these foils, Charlie.
There was an accident at the -
Athletic club the other day with foils.
The button of one was snapped of
and man got hurt. Afterward II
was charged that the man who held
the foil purposely used one without
q button"
Go on" replied. 1.-THE buttons on
these foils won't come of, I'll guaran.
tee"
They set to. and the way they fenc
ed, l confess, puzzled me. Neither
seemed to be trying to pink the other.
Neither spoke to the other. They
seemed to be fencing against time.
lob, get move on you" I said II
don't propose to sit here watching you
two fellows 60 to Sleep"
go get me glass Of water" SAID
George. my threats dry az parched
corn" --~~
I went to the cooler and brought
him glass Of water. ! didn't turn
my back on them any longer than nee
essary to draw the water, but when
turned and went back to them they
both looked conscious.
Been stealing something's" I no.
marked.
There was no reply from either.
George very politely offered the glass
to Gerald. who thanked him livery
much" and declined. Somehow 1t
struck me that there was something
unusual in this politeness between the
two. They would more likely have
chaffed each other. After taking a
sip Of the water George set down the
glass, and they renewed the contest.
But what difference! Each mans
eye was fixed on the others. Each
watched for thrust as though his
life depended on 1t and parted It
when it came with all the skill he
possessed. Every minute they became
more earnest. And then I began to
notice look in their faces that sur
prised and panied me. Their accus-
toned friendliness was replaced by
hate. Their eyes began to CLEAN; the
blood mounted to their faces.
You two fellows had better stop
that fracas." I said you're getting
riled."
They paid no attention to me. In
deed. doubt If they heard me. so in.
tent were they on what they were do
ing. Presently l saw blood running
from cash on the back Of Gerald's
sword hand.
"Herc." ! cried, "stop this!'
I was rising to get between them
when Gerald made a pass, breaking
through Georges guard. and I saw
the foil so right through the 6eshy
part of Georges arm. When it was
withdrawn the sleeve was saturated
with blood.
In vain I cried to them to desist.
From friends they had become wild
animals. They paid no attention to
me. and SO maddened were they that
! did not dare to force myself between
them. fearing to get stabbed. A red
stream trickling down Gerald's leg wat
the next evidence of the seriousness Of
the contest: then when Gerald's point
was within an inch Of Georges heart
the latter in the tenth part Of second
turned 1t away. l hurried to find
something with which to beat down
the weapons and on facing the com
batants again saw a door open and
Helen Deane step into the room. What
would have needed. weapon. to &C