Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-08


prig and a fool he would have seen
that his adversary. though living
among a people still smarting under
the effects of a war in which he had
| opposed them, was sure in the end to
get the advantage. Instead of having
such discernment his consummate ego
! tism led him further in his idiotic
! course He conceived the idea OF get
ting rid of the colonel by ridicule- He
would accept his challenge and turn
the affair into a mockery.
He succeeded in convincing some of
his friends that this was the best and
only way out Of the matter both for
Colonel Meredith and the town. he
persuaded one Of his friends TO offer
! his services to his enemy on the ground
that he felt that the colonel was
right in demanding satisfaction and
should have fair play. The colonel &C
cepted the offer. and in this way the
editor controlled both seconds so far
as making the affair a sham was con
| cerned, though the colonerS second
had been assured that the plan was
merely TO satisfy the colonel without
resorting to bloodshed.
The intention being to make the af-
fair an imitation duel, it was not hur-
ried, as such matters usually are. In
deed, some of the Confederate veter-
ans, hearing that a duel between the
ex-Federal officer and the editor was
about to take place, went TO Morrill,
and protested. Morrill, told them that
no harm was to be done the colonel
and the proposed fight with blank
I no M
to settle the matter The veterans
withdrew and held a consultation.
Finally one of their number, who had
become more friendly with Colonel
Meredith than the others and knew
more about him and his affairs, said:
Leave the matter to me-"
This was done, and as a body the
veterans took no further action.
On the morning the duel was to
come off Morrill, was in fine feather.
No one except the two seconds and
one or two of his intimate friends
knew that the affair was to be a
sham The editor intended after 1t
was over to put himself right in the
matter of fighting an old man by pub
fishing a ludicrous account of the
meeting, announcing that there had
really been no fight at all. He had
written the article, into which he had
thrown all his ability as a comic
writer. and had it locked in his desk
| ready for use.
At 3 o'clock In the morning he
arose, dressed himself, bid a mock
heroic adieu to his aunts, to whom he
told his secret, and in due time car
rhge drove up with his second, and
the two men went to the place APP
pointed for the meeting. Morrill,
showed his indifference to danger-as
it was supposed by those who under
stood the fight was to be to the death
by laughing and joking with the sec
onds. The ground was being paced
off when a carriage was driven up,
and a young man in a dark blue I'M
dress uniform alighted. Making
straight for Colonel Meredith, he put
out his hand and said:
How do you do, uncle?"
The colonel not recognizing him, he
| continued: II am your nephew, Ed
! ward Turnlee, just graduated from the
| Naval academy. A Confederate vet
eran who knew all about my father
| telegraphed ne that you We're to fight
! a young man and suggested that l. a
young man, should take your place. /
am here for that purpose"
The change in the spirits of the man
who was to be the hero Of this sham
affair was instantaneous. He turned
white as a cloth and trembled like
leaf
My dear boy" said Colonel Mere
dith, sit is very good of you to come
all the way down here to take your
uncle's place. and it proves you to be
worthy of my dear sister and your
brave father, but / claim the right TO
settle this matter with Mr.. Morrill, my
self"
But the colonel was too old to stand
against the young midshipman. The
latter insisted upon seeing the pistols
loaded and that they contained ball
cartridges. Then he told the seconds
that he was ready.
But Mr. Morrill, was not ready. He
told the secret and asked to have the
affair called off. To this young arm
lee would not consent without an am
pie written apology for his past Of
lenses. Such an one was drawn up
and signed, and in the next issue Of
the Banner it appeared for the edifca-
ton Of the good people Of the place
who had been gradually dropping the
enimosities occasioned by the war and
were ready for different conditions