The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-04-05


down the car, then deftly swung 1t
into narrow lane, a leafy tunnel
through which It crawled for min.
ute or two ere debouching 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. ORourke 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
tired to suitable distance to con-
fer; something which they did word
ily with enthusiasm and many pic
turesque gestures. At first strangely
amicable, the proceedings soon struck
snag. A serious difference of opin-
ion arose. O'Rourke OWNED that the
conference had gone into executive
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 brace of Webleys. burly pieces
of pocket ordnance with short barrels
and cylinders chambered to hold half
dozen AS cartridges. They were not
pretty, for they had seen service in
their owners hands for number of
years, but they were undeniably built
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 a
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 meeting of honor
into a massacre. They proposed to
substitute regulation French dueling
| pistoIe as conditioned bxy fba Coda
Such as that which Monsieur lie Col
onel O'Rourke might observe in Mon.
sieur billiards hand.
O'Rourke blinked and shifted at 1t.
Sure" he commended tbs magnify
ing glass need to make 1t visible to
me undressed eye. What the divvle
does 1t carry--a dried pea? What
d'they think we're here for, If not to
slay one another with due ceremony?
Ask them that, Am to salve the
vicomte's wounded honor by shifting
/ him with a spitball? | grant ye, tbs
magnificent, but It's not a pistol"
GrumbliAg, 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'Rourke, partly for ef-
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,
In the shadow of the trees near the
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 a loaded pistol from
Won Einem.
Des Trebes confronted him. white
with rage. regretting already
! (ORourke 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 ORourkes head. A
faint flush colored his face. but his
eye was cold and hard behind the
sight and the hand that held the
weapon was as steady as II supported
by an invisible rest.
1.-TWO" said Won Einem.
ORourke measured the distance
with his eye and raised his arm from
the elbow only holding the nistol with