The Meeker herald., 1912-12-21

barrassing position. To this the baron
replied that he would be at home on .
certain date, arriving on . midnight
| train.
The evening of Won Hilderscho6s
expected arrival the baroness wrose .
note to her protector and one 10 the
man from whom SEE was being peo-
tered. asking them to call upon her.
| They met. The scowl that lowered
upon Manteufel's brow was like
thunderstorm In the Alps. Believing
| that he acted In the interest Of his
| friend instead Of from the prompttngs
of jealousy. forgetting that be had not
been commissioned to pick quarrel
with the man his friend disliked. no
walked right into trap and before no
had been in Won Gethart's presence
half an hour had In the most gentle
manly manner In the world insulted
him. 1t happened in this wise:
81 do not think" said the baroness,
THAT your men In Germany have the
respect. the reverence. for women our
men in America have"
"You are right. baroness" said Man
teufeI. looking 6ercely, at Gethart.
1--WE have here in Berlin men who
would not hesitate to take ad 7antaGe
| II a woman left unprotected BY her
husband"
A brief silence marked this throwing
down the gauntlet. after which the
lady turned the conversation Into 9TH
err channels. A few minutes later &c
thart bowed himself out. and the bar
oness Indicated to Manteufel that she
would prefer to be alone. A. soon ~
he had gone she called In a mansefv'
ant and said to him:
"Heinrich. have very delicate job
for you
..Nhat is 1t. baronessT'
| "Count Gethart and Captain Manteu-
fel are about to fight duel. l wish
you to inform me as to the time and
place of the meeting"
81 could not well do that. baroness.
except that the valet Of Count Won
Gethart is my friend. This may help
me out"
AT IL midnight Baron Won Hilder-
schofY returned and found bis wife
waiting to greet him.
WELL" he said after exhausting or
binary matters that had occurred dur
ing his absence. "how about this Won
| Gethart? Has he been Offensive In bis
attentions?'
mot at all. but your friend Captain
Manteufel has been more loyal to you
during your absence than has been
necessary"
"How soT'
"He evidently knows that you don't
like the count and has assumed to
keep him AWAY from me-"
1907"
Eyes. They met here this evening.
Manteufel insulted Won Gethart. and
they are going to nght."
"soy' repeated the baron. opening
his eyes very wide.
| yes. The affair win b the talk Of
Berlin
"Grsat hssvenr' exclaimed the bar
on.
1--WE must interfere"
"Howr'
IT have sent Heinrich to discover
the time and place. am expecting
him back every moment"
"Himmel. may he be successful"
| 1t was Q o'clock when Heinrich re-
turned. and all he knew was that a
cnrrIare had been ordered by Count
von Gethart to be at his door at 4
o'clock In the morning. But this WIS
| net enough. The baron and his wife
ordered their own carriage to be ready
Mt half past 3. drove to point near
the counts residence. saw him leave
and followed him to grove near
the city. where his carriage stopped
and he and companion alighted.
Another carriage had just arrived. The
baron md baroness alighted some dis
lance from the others. The day was
breaking when they saw two men tax
Ing positions for duel. Then they ad-
vanced.
Gentlemen" cried the baron, twill
you kindly inform me as to the cause
Of this qunrrel?'
10th men. astonished. stood mute.
II have been informed by the bar
oness." continued Won Hilderschoff.
that there has been trouble between
you two. II my wife has anything to
do with 1t I beg you to put up your
swords. Neither Of you need be con-
cerned about her. alone assume to
defend her"
Both the men addressed looked a. II
they wished the earth would open and
swallow them. but it was Manteufel
who seemed especially crushed. He
had gone on the field believing that
he was protecting his friends wife
but cherished hope that knowledge
Of the quarrel might never reach his
friend.
Gentlemen" said the baroness with
certain sweetness that never de-
serted her. 1--WE should be pleased to
see you both at dinner this evening"
You are very kind. but began the
count.