The Meeker herald., 1912-05-04


replied that he would be At home ON .
certain date. arriving on \ midnight
train.
The evening Of Won Hilderscboffs
expected arrival the baroness wrote
note to her protector and one to the
man from whom sae was being pro-
tected. asking them to call upon her.
They met. The scowl that lowered
upon Manfeufel's brow was like
thunderstorm In the Alps. Believing
that he acted in the interest Of his
friend instead Of from the promptings
Of jealousy. forgetting that he had not
been commissioned to pick quarrel
with the man his friend disIiked, he
walked right into trap and before he
had been In Won Gethart's presence
half nm hour had in the most gentle
manly manner in the world insulted
him. 1t happened in this wise:
II do not think" said the baroness,
that your men In Germany have the
respect. the reverence. for women our
men In America have"
you are right. baroness" said Man
teufel, looking fercely at Gethart.
1--WE have here In Berlin men who
would not hesitate to take advantage
If woman left unprotected by her
husband
A brief silence marked this throwing
down the gauntlet, after which tho
Indy turned the conversation into 9TH
thart bowed himself out, and the bar
oness indicated to Manteufel that she
would prefer to be alone. As soon a.
he had gone she called in a manserv-
ant and said to him:
Heinrich. have very delicate Job
for you"
What Is 1t, baronessr'
Count Gethart and Captain Manteu-
fel are about to fight duel. ! wish
you to inform me as to the time and
place Of the meeting"
II could not well do that, baroness,
except that the valet Of Count Won
Gethart is my friend. This may help
me out
Al IL midnight Baron Won Hilder-
schoff returned and found bis wife
waiting to greet him.
well" he said after exhausting or
binary matters that had occurred dur
ing his absence. ''how about this Won
Gethart? Has he been offensive in his
nttentionsT
mot at all, but your friend Captain
Manteufel has been more loyal to You
during your absence than has been
necessary"
"How soT'
ale evidently knows that you don't
like the count and has assumed to
keep him away from me-"
1907"
Eyes. They met here this evening
Manteufel insulted Won Gethart. and
they ARE going to fight"
$50" repeated the baron. opening
his eyes very wide.
YES. The affair Will he the tclk Of
Berlin"
Great heavenr' exclaimed the bar
on.
: 1--WE must interfere"
"Howf"
"I have sent Heinrich to discover
the time and place. I am expecting
him back every moment"
AIlAmSls AAlHy hC LG buSSGcohhts
1t was 2 o'clock when Heinrich re-
turned. and all he knew was that
carriage had been ordered by Count
won Gethnrt to be at his door at 4
O'clock In the morning. But this WINS
not enough. The baron and his wife
ordered their own carriage to be ready
Mt hnlf past 3. drove to point near
the counts residence, saw him leave
and followed him to grove nedr
the city. where his carriage stopped
and he and II companion alighted.
Another carriage had just arrived. The
baron and baroness alighted some dis
lance from the others. The day was
breaking when they saw two men TAX
Ing positions for duel. Then they ad-
vauced.
"Gentlemen." cried the baron. Twill
you kindly inform me Ms to tho cause
of this quarrel?''
Both men, nstonished, stood mute.
~ have been informed by the bar
oness." continued Won Hildcrschoff.
that there has been trouble between
you two. II my wife has anything to
do with 1t beg you to put up your
swords Neither of you need be con-
cerned about her alone assume to
defend her"
Both the men addressed looked rs II
they wished the earth would open and
swallow them, but 1t was Manteufel
who seemed especially crushed. He
Ind gone on the field believing that
he was protecting his friends wife