The Elbert County tribune., 1912-03-15
with malicious delight the nose OF the
duelist, much infiamed


with malicious delight the nose OF the
duelist, much infiamed.
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 suitable distance to con-
! fer: something which they did word
| lily. with enthusiasm and many pic
turesque gestures. At first strangely
amicable, the proceedings soon struck
snag. A serious difference of opfn-
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 n 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 a number of
years. but they were undeniably built
for business. And at sight of them
the friends of the vicomte recoiled in
horror.
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 O'Rourke. he was DESC
lated, but the seconds of Monsieur des
Trebes had positively refused to con-
sent to turning a meeting of honor
into massacre. They proposed to
substitute regulation French dueling
pistols as sanctioned by the Code.
Such as that which Monsieur lie Col
onel O'Rourke might observe in Mon
sieur Juilliard's hand
O'Rourke blinked and sniffed at it.
Sure" he contended. "'tis magnify
ing glass / need to make II visible to
me undressed eye. What the divvle
does 1t carry--a dried pea? What
d'they think we're here for. II not to
slay one another with due ceremony?
Ask them that. Am | to salve the
vicomtes wounded honor by shifting
him with spitball? grant We. it's
magnificent. but It's not pistol"
Grumbling. he allowed himself to
be persuaded. AS he had foreseen and
prophesied. SO had 1t 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 a sixty.
foot stretch and. still indecorously
amused. received loaded pistol from
Won Einem.
Des Trebes confronted him. white
with rage. regretting already
tO'Rourke 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 O'Rourke's 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 If supported
by an invisible rest.
Two" said Won Einem.
O'Rourke measured the distance
with his eye and raised his arm from
the elbow only. holding the pistol with
a loose grip.
Three" said Won Einem.
The handkerchief fell.
The Irishman fired without moving.
Des Trebes' weapon was discharged
almost simultaneously. but with a ru-
ined aim; its bullet went nowhere in
particular. The Frenchman dropped
the weapon and. wincing. examined So
licitously a knuckle from which
O'Rourke's shot had struck tiny par
ticle of skin His seconds rushed to
him with cries preceded by the sur
geon with bandages. o'Rourke grace
fully surrendered his artillery to JUL
lard. laughed at the yicomte again,
and strolled back to the motor-car.
Juillard and Won Einem presently
Joined him. the former insistently anx.
ious to have O'Rourke descend and
clasp the hand of fraternal friendship
with the vicomte. But the Irishman
refused.
Faith. mol" he laughed. "Niverl
I'm too timorous a man to dare it