River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-04-18

session upon the question OF weapons.
He treated himself to a secret grin,
having anticipated this trouble.
The choice of weapons being his,
as the challenged, he had modestly Sc
lected revolvers and had brought with
him a brace of Webleys, burly pieces
of pocket ordnance with short barrels
and cylinders chambered to hold nall
a dozen AS cartridges. They were not
pretty, for they had seen service IN
their owners hands for a number OF
years, but they were undeniably Duilt
for business. And at sight OF them
the friends of the vicomte recoiled IN
horror.
Eventually a compromise was ar
rived at Monsieur Juilliard stepped
back, saluted, and with Won Einem re-
turned to his principal, his face
mask of disappointment AS for him
self, he told O'Rourke, he was desc
lated, but the seconds of Monsieur des
Trebes had positively refused to con-
sent to turning a meeting of honor
into a massacre. They proposed to
substitute regulation French due4ing
pistols as sanctioned by the Code.
Such as that which Monsieur lie Col
onel O'Rourke might observe in Mon
sieur billiards hand.
O'Rourke blinked and shifted at it.
Sure" he contended, tits magnify
ing glass l need to make it visible to
me undressed eye. What the divvle
does it carry-a dried pea? What
d'they think we're here for, If not to
STAY one another with due ceremony?
Ask them that. Am to salve the
vicomte's wounded honor by shifting
him with a spitball? | grant We, tbs
magnificent, but It's not a pistol"
Grumbling, he allowed himself to
be persuaded. AS he had foreseen and
prophesied, so had it come to pass.
Yet he had to grumble, partly because
he was the O'Rourle. partly for eff
feet.
None the less, he consented. and in
the highest spirits left the car and
plowed through the lush wet grass
to the spot selected for the encounter,
eastern border of the meadow. Here,
the seconds having tossed for sides,
he took stand at one end of sixty
foot stretch and, still indecorously
amused received loaded pistol from
Won Einem.
Des Trebes confronted him, white
with rage. regretting already
(O'Rourke made no doubt) that he had
not accepted the Webleys. The Irish
mans open contempt maddened the
man
The seconds retired to a perfectly
safe distance, Won Einem holding the
watch, one of Des Trebes' seconds a
handkerchief. The chauffeurs threw
away their cigarettes and sat up, for
the first time reused out of their pro-
fessional air of blase Indifference.
"One," cried the German clearly.
Des Trebes raised his arm and lev
eled his pistol at O'Rourkes head. A
eye was cold and hard behind the
sight and the hand that held the
weapon was as steady as if supported
by an invisible rest.
1.-TWO" said Won Einem.
O'Rourke measured the distance
with his eye and raised his arm from
the elbow only, holding the pistol with
loose grip.
Three" said Won Einem.
The handkerchief fell.
The Irishman fired without moving.
Des Trebes' weapon was discharged
almost simultaneously, but with a ru-
ined aim; its bullet went nowhere in
particular The Frenchman dropped
the weapon and, wincing, examined So
licitously a knuckIe from which
O'Rourke's shot had struck a tiny par
ticle of skin. His seconds rushed to
him with cries. preceded by the sur
geon with bandages. O'Rourke grace
fully surrendered his artillery to JUL
lard, laughed at the vicomte again,
and strolled back to the motor-car.
Juillard and Won Einem presently
Joined him, the former insistently anx-
ious to have O'Rourke descend and
clasp the hand of fraternal friendship
with the vicomte. But the Irishman
refused.
Faith, mol" he laughed. ''Niver!
I'm too timorous man to dare it.
Sure and hasn't he Rugged both his
seconds and the surgeon. too. already?
For me own part I've no mind to be
kissed. Let's hurry away before he
celebrates further by imprinting a
chaste salute upon the cheek of our
chauffeur. Besides. I've train
to catch"