The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-28
How He Killed
His Antagonist
By EDWARD TOMLlNSON
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

II citation, 1911.
My friend DR.. Wobel, German by
birth, is one of the most quiet, modest
little men l ever knew. He has 9
large practice with women and chill.
dren-not that he knows any more
about the diseases peculiar to them
than other doctors, but he Is so gentle
In his manner that he cures them sim.
ply by sympathy. He has also a way
of being very impressive. He tells
them that the medicine he gives them
must be taken at regular intervals ON
the stroke of the clock.
One day l met a man who had
known Wobel in Germany. He told
me the doctor had served as sur
geon in the Franco-Prussian war and
had been considered by his compan-
ions a very brave man. He had
fought duel with a captain Of artil-
lery and killed him.
When Wobel came to my house
again told him what this person had
said He seemed very much embar-
raised, coloring to the roots Of his
hair.
TELL me about the duel" l said. II
wish to know how you killed the cap
TAIN
II didn't kill anybody" he said. 1T
Ill toll WI 0nnfnG0
you If you will agree not to mention
the matter to me again or to any one
else. l am what you see me, quiet
man with great deal Of feeling.
When the Franco-Prussian war broke
out l had just been graduated from
the. medical college. My father, who
had paid for my education, insisted
on my going with the army as a sur
geon. I felt that would be out of
place in war and would gladly have
stayed at home, but by father was a
stern man. and dare not disobey him.
1--WE marched rapidly across the Dor
der. The corps that was with saw
very little fighting during the whole
war, 80 I was not called upon to at
tend men on the battlefield My COM
rades saw at once that was Of a
tinlid disposition and soon began to
rally me on my unf1tness for war.
From rallying me they came to taunt-
ing me, and from haunting me some
Of them finally insulted me. | was be-
tween two fires. In the German army,
where duelling is prevalent, If did not
resent at least one Of these insults !
might better leave the service. II I
challenged one Of those who insulted
me I had not sufficient bravery to
stand up to be shot at.
"In either event it was case of
want of courage.
"One day this captain whom l have
been supposed to have killed called
me a coward before the whole mess,
and the medical director, hearing Of 1t.
told me that l must either challenge
him or resign. I could not bear to
leave the service under such con-
temptuous circumstances, so. after
struggling with myself for whole
night. sent the captain a challenge.
He accepted at once, and from that
moment my comrades changed their
treatment of me- restoring ME to their
friendship and associating with me on
terms Of equality.
81 knew this would not last. for |
was sure that when should meet my
antagonist would quail and that
would throw me back to my previous
condition. I was the most miserable
man In the army. l counted the
hours between the present and the
time of the meeting-not that wished
them to pass. but that l dreaded the
approach Of what might deprive me
of life.
lone thing gave me hope. Before the
time appointed for the meeting arrived
we began desultory fighting with the
French. Since l was not exposed. the
ambulance corps bringing all the
wounded to us at the rear, rejoiced.
thinking that If this continued there
would be no opportunity for the duel.
But one evening l was informed that
the next morning at daylight the cap
tain and l were to 60 just beyond the
picket line and have it out. This was
the most terrible thing that could have
happened. l was not only liable to be
shot by the captain, but by the enemy.
There was no necessity to arouse me
In the morning. for did not sleep q
wink all night. 1 crawled out of bed.
put on my uniform and followed my
second. l. found the captain waiting to
kill me. It had been arranged that we
should fight with rifles at hundred
PAGES. We were placed In position. l
trembling in every limb. After much
dickering between the seconds all was
ready and the word was given to fire.
81 was conscious Of but one circum-
stance-that is, aiming at the top OF a
tree behind my enemy and some forty
or fifty feet above his head. At the
signal I pulled the trigger. All was a
blur before me- The first thing l knew
my second seized me by the arm and
hurried me away.
"Am l hurtY asked.
"'You hurt! Why, man, you shot