The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-02-10
Copyrisht 1909 bv Louis Joasns v.na.
cHAPTERv.

courtyard Of the Hotel d'Orient, at the
same sedate pace and with the same
surreptitious air skulked through the
town, and finally swung eastwards
upon the Route de la Corniche, sud
denly discarding all pretense Of docil'
fly and swooping onward with windy !
roar, its powerful motor purriDg like !
some gigantic tiger.cat.
II carried four; at the wheel cog.
gled and ennuied operator in shape
less and hldeous garments; In the |
tonneau its owner, a middle-aged |
French manufacturer with pouched |
eyes, q liver, lank jaws clean-scraped,
and an expression OF high-minded de.
votion to duty; Captain Won Einem in
uniform; and Colonel O'Rourke.
At the end of an hours run, dis
turbed by one or two absurdly. grave
conferences between the seconds, In
appropriate monotones, the mechani-
clan put on the brakes and slowed
down the car, then deftly swung 1t
into a narrow lane, leafy tunnel
through which 1t crawled for a min
ute or two ere debouchlng into =
broad and sunlit meadow, walled In by
woodland, conspicuously secluded.
To one side and at little distance
@ second motor-car stood at rest; its
operator had removed the hood and
was tinkering with the motor In a
most matter offact manner. In the
body Of the machine Monsieur lie VI
comte des Trebes, ostentatiously una
ware of the advent Of the second
party, sat twisting rapier.points to his
moustaches and concentrating his
gaze on infnity. O'Rourke observed
with malicious delight the nose Of the
duelist, much infamed.
Advancing from his antagonists po-
sition three preternaturally serious
gentlemen OF France in black frock
coats and straight-brimmed silk hats
waded ankle deep In dripping grass to
meet O'Rourke's representatives.
The two parties met, saluted one an.
other with immense reserve, and re-
tired to a suitable distance to con-
fer; something which they did word
| fly, with enthusiasm and many pic
turesque gestures. At first strangely
amicable, the proceedings soon struck
a snag. A serious difference OF opin-
| ion arose. O'Rourke OWNED that the
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 hall
a dozen AZ cartridges. They were not
pretty, for they had seen service In
their owners hands for a number Of
years, but they were undeniably built
for business And at sight OF then
the friends Of the vicomte recoiled In
horror.
Eventually 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 ORourke, he was desc
lated, but the seconds Of Monsieur de-
Trebes had positively refused to con
sent to turning meeting OF homo
into a massacre. They proposed t
substitute regulation French duelini
pistols as sanctioned by the Code
Such as that which Monsieur lie Co
! onel O'Rourke might observe In Nor
sieur billiards hand.
O'Rourke blinked and shifted at Il
"Sure," he contended, otis a magnify
ing glass ! need to make II visible :
me undressed eye. What the divvl
does It carry--a dried pea? VIVA
$ d'they think we're here for, II not I
slay one another with due ceremony
g Ask them that. Am TO salye tn
vicomte's wounded honor by smith
him with spitball? | grant ye, II
magnificent, but It's not q pistol"
Grumbling, he allowed himself
be persuaded. As he had foreseen an
prophesied, 30 had 1t come to pas
Yet he had to grumble, partly becans
he was the O'Rourke. partly for 9
, feet,
None the less, no consented, and
the highest spirits left the car an
plowsd through the lush wet era,
: 10 the spot selected for the encounte
In the shadow OF the trees near u
eastern border OF the meadow. Her
the seconds having tossed for side
he took stand at one end OF siIt
foot stretch and, still indecorousl
amused, received a loaded pistol fro
. Won Einem.
- Des Trebes confronted him, viii
with rage, regretting alreac
(O'Rourke made no doubD that he hs
not accepted the Webleys. The Iris
4 mans open contempt mEddened Il
man,
The seconds retired to a perfect
safe distance, Won Einem holding Il
watch, one OF Des Trebes' seconds
handkerchief The chauffeura thre