Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-20
The Argus Daily Story
The Code Duello-By Arnold D. Ewing.
Copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Bureau.

that death for him was almost GER
tain. There was a far away look in
his eve. such as a man might have
who breads TO leave those he loves
and who love him. While l had been
prejudiced against him a few hours
before. now took him into my heart.
While l was regarding him a car.
rage rolled up and out stepped Jerrold
and his second and his own surgeon.
The colonel as the challenged party
had chosen Derringer pistols, which
were used at that time In duels. The
seconds paced of the ground. and
since it was long before sunrise and
cloudy at that there was no toss up
for choice OF position. Colonel Ringold
stood In one spot until his second
placed him In the position from which
he was to fight. 1t was but q few
PAGES from where he stood. but I no.
ticed when he took them the same
limp was apparent as when he had
entered the cafe the previous evening.
Just before the first fire. when all was
ready except to give the signal, NORTH
mer whispered in my ear:
whatever you discover keep It to
yourself"
He then took position midway be-
tween the two at the side and. holding
a handkerchief in his hand, dropped It,
Jerrold fred in the air; the colonel's
bullet grazed his adversary's sleeve.
To my surprise-Mortimer did not
appear to share 1.-THE colonel called
for another shot. The two were again
placed In position. the signal given, and
two shots rang out Jerrold was I'M
hurt: the colonel fell. ran to him;
but, getting up with difficulty, he mo-
toned me to keep away. Standing as
firmly as before. he called for a third
shot.
If was puzzled at seeing him fall
and then get up. his antagonist was
amazed. Not a drop of blood was to
be seen, though his trousers were torn.
When the two were standing waiting
for the next signal glanced at Jer-
rold and saw at once that something
was the matter with him.
have since thought that ut the mo-
ment the signal for the third shot was
given Jerrold was suffering from indie
cision. He had gone on to the field
intending to wing his advisory and
was now undecided whether to kill
him or not. Indecision at critical
moment is usually fatal 1t delayed
Jerrold's shot. At any rate. it was not
fired till after he had received the colo
nel's bullet in his lungs. His struck the
MI hof hn hou
ing pulled the trigger of his pistol spas
medically with a bullet in him.
Jerrold's surgeon ran to him. I, not
knowing at the time where Jerrolds
bullet had gone. advanced toward the
colonel to see If he had been hit He
stood motionless, not appearing to be
aware Of my presence. Noticing the
tear in his trousers and lifting the
cloth, l made the discovery that Nor
timer had cautioned me against bring
ing to the attention Of others.
At that moment the sound Of gal
Looping horses was heard. and carriage
dashed up to the dueling ground. Ont
jumped a young man. not more than
twenty years old. who at glance took
in the situation, then, rushing up to
Colonel Ringold. threw his arms about
him.
ooh. father he exclaimed. "Why
did you do it?'
Because / didn't wish to lose my
boy"
1t was a strange scene, Jerrold sit
ting on the ground, leaning against his
second. coughing up blood and look
ing at the father and son embracing
each other. Then doubtless the cause
of the insult of the night before was
apparent to him. He had insulted the
younger Ringold. intending to show his
skill in killing him, and was to have
fought him on this same morning. But,
insulted by the boys father, whom
he did not know, he had put off the
duel with the one to accommodate the
other
All was so plain now that the wound
ed man must have surmised II. But
he said nothing. He was taken In his
carriage to a hospital. and was pleas
ed to hear afterward that. after having
recovered. the affair had made a
changed man of him. and he had re-
solved never to fight another duel.
Mortimer. by his diplomacy. as he
called II, saved the Colonel's life. When
bearing the colonel's challenge he pre-
vailed upon Jerrold. for Jerrold's own
good. to wound the colonel In such a
way that he could not continue the
fight for he represented the colonel TO
be an obstinate and determined man,
who. once In a fight, would continue 1t
till he was put hors de combat. Jer-
rold. having another duel on hand to
follow in the wake Of the first and
fearing TO excite antagonism against
himself. fell in with the idea Morti-
mer suggested that Jerrold. when con
WINGED that his enemy would kill him
II he could. should break his leg SO
that he could not stand upon It to CON
tinue the fight, Mortimer knowing that
one leg would be advanced and receive
the bullet and that that leg was the
wooden enc. 1t was a makeshift at
best and resulted in Jerrold's discom-
future.