The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-06-06
with malicious delight the nose Of the
duelist, much infiamed.

Win mdllCiOuS ueilBul the uOS6 Oh 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 a 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
a 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 q secret grin,
having anticipated this trouble.
The choice Of weapons being ais.
as the challenged, he had modestly Sc
lected revolvers and had brought with
him a brace Of Webleys, burly pieces
OF pocket ordnance with short barrels
and cylinders chambered to hold half
a dozen 40 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.
Eventually a compromise was ar
| rtuad of AHnn,- T,{IIlo-l nn-I
back. saluted. and with Won Einem re-
turned to his principal, his face q
mask of disappointment. AS for him
self. he told O'Rourke, he was deso-
lated, but the seconds of Monsieur des
Trebes Rad positively refused to con-
sent to turning a meeting OF honor
into a massacre. They proposed to
substitute regulation French dueling
pistols al sanctioned by the Code.
Such as that which Monsieur le Col
onel O'Rourke might observe In Mon
sieur billiards hand.
ORourke blinked and smiled at II.
Sure" he commended. tits a magnify
ing glass l need to make It 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
STAY n another with due ceremony?
Ask them that. Am I to salve the
vicomte's wounded honor by shifting
him with a spitball? 1 grant ye. tbs
magnificent. but tbs not a pistol"
Grumbling, he allowed himself to
be persuaded. AS he had foreseen and
p~rophesied, so had Il 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 a stand at one end Of a sixty
foot stretch and, still in~decorously
amused. received a loaded pistol from
Won Einem.
Des Trebes confronted him, white
with rage. regretting already
(O'Rourke made no doubt) that he had
not accepted the Weoleys. The Irish
mans open contempt maddened the
man.
The seconds retired to a perfectly
safe distance, Won Einem holding the
watch, n of Des Trebes' seconds a
handkerchief The c~hauffeurs 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 II 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 F~renchman dropped
the weapon and. wincing. examined so
licitously a knuckle from which
| O'Rourke's shot had struck q 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 vicomte again.
| and strolled back to the motor-car.
Juiilard and Won Einem presently
Joined him. the former insistently INK
ious to have O'Rourke descend and
clasp the hand OF fraternal friendship
with the vicomts. But tho lrfshman
refused.
Faith. mol" be laughed "Niverl