Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-08-22
The American
Code
u Did Not Please French
DueliStS
By George c. Conant

road kings to finance them, Those In
the west e~pc, iaON were paid for by
the farmers living a3nny the proposed
line. who subscribed each for small
lot of the stock.
Zeke futile, Kentucky farmers
hoy, returned from the war between
the Quilted States aud MeNiyo. where
he had served rs Il volunteer IN Il rifle
corps composed chiefly OF hunters. to
iud a railroad projected that was to
run close 10 his fathers farm Xcke
became much interested IN the pro-
posed road, which would enable his fa-
Their 10 gct his products TO market and
thus utilize them, The young man was
a good talker and made tour along
the route that had been laid down by
the engineers, for the purpose of per
suading the farmers to subscribe for
the stock of the company.
He met With remarkable success.
This was owing to natural gift he
possessed for demonstrating the advan-
tagcS that the railroad would bring to
the farmer rather than to any especial
willingness on his part TO take his
money out VI the wooden stocking I'm
which he kept 1t and put II into the
shares of the road. When sufficient
/ track had been laid to warrant mort
gage those interested began to look
about for funds to be obtained In this
way. At that time I per cent was the
prevailing rate of interest In America.
which was much higher than that paid
abroad. II was therefore decided to
attempt 10 place the stock of the road
in Europe. When the directors came
to look about them for man to dem
onstrate the enterprise to foreigners
they naturally pitched upon Zeke Tut
tie for the purpose
Xeke accepted the work offered he
was to receive his expenses ana II
CommisSion-and, making the journey
to New York by stagecoach. canal and
other primitive methods OF conveyance,
crossed the ocean in sailing vessel
and one day appeared In Paris with his
charts and printed information setting
forth the advantages Of his railroad.
He found certain bankers who were
so favorahly impressed with his argu-
| ments that they consented to offer his
bonds to the public. One day while
they were making their preparations
to open the subscription books a man
called on Mr.. futile and solicited an
advertisement of the sale for his paper.
the Courier DIES -. futile declined
to advertise.
The next morning an article appeared
In the Courier DIES --- warning persons
not to subscribe for the bonds OF the
American railway since the road had
not yet been built.
Unless this article were retracted by
the newspaper that published II Tut
ties scheme for placing his bonds
would be a failure. He called at once
at the Office of the Courier des - and
asked to see the manager. Tuttle was
long, gaunt, rawboned American OF
the backwoods type. dressed In store
clothes he had bought for the occasion
The manager was a carefully dressed
Frenchman of aristocratic mien. An
Interpreter was called, and Zekc en-
tered protest against what he called
blackmai. The manager said some.
thing in French to the interpreter. who
asked futile to follow him and led
him to the office of nm elegantly dress.
ed man who sat in n luxurious chair
reading one Of Alexandra Dumas nov
els. The interpreter said something In
French to this gentleman, then said to
Zeke:
This Is NJ. Cavillac. re fighting edi-
tor of our journal You having in
suited us by accusing us Of levying
blackmail upon you. have been in
structed TO bring you here Zat you may
repeat your charge II you so choose to
do"
81 don't talk any French" replied the
westerner, but that's what we call
such rascaly proceedings In pure
American"
The reply was transmitted to NJ. Ca
villac. who gave the following rejoin-
der to Mr.. futile:
This journal, like others, is liable 10
print something that will displease
bOile one i VI lit DullOHC VI SuiiNIS
Ing such or defending It's honor a gen
tieman IL appointed to receive and give
challenges 10 and from those who are
offended or offend. Since you have ap-
piled an offensive epithet to what has
been said I'm the columns OF this paper
NJ. Cavillac begs that you will do him
the honor Of giving him satisfaction In
mortal combat"
well. I'll be Jineed"' was Tutte's
exclamation. I'm goldurned II
haven't n mind to satisfy him by
slapplng his jaw"
"Zat would be ont Of order" said
the Interpreter ale Is armed and
would shoot YOU"
For a moment futile was thrown, 50
TO speak on his beam ends, but he
coon rallied,
what kind ~ n mortal combat IL r.
Bowie knives"
what you call Eat? II Is not known
In Paris But | have 20 inform you,
monsieur zat since you are n chal-