Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-02-06

and slipping away on some cnanged
and continually changing course. For
an hour they lodged and turned and
twisted back and forth and around and
hunted each other among the orderly
palms. They caught fleeting glimpses
Of each other and chanced flying shots
which were without result. On a
grassy. shelter behind tree Sheldon
came upon where Tudor had rested
and smoked cigarette. The pressed
grass showed where he had sat. At
one side lay the cigarette stump and
the charred match which had lighted
1t. In front lay scattering OF bright
metallic fragments. Sheldon recog-
nized their significance. Tudor was
notching his steel jacketed bullets or
cutting them blunt. 20 that they would
spread on striking-in short, he was
making them into the vicious dumdum
prohibited In modern warfare. Shell
tlou knew now what would happen to
him II a bullet struck his body. 1t
would leave tiny hole where 1t en-
tered, but the hole where 1t emerged
would be the size Of a saucer.
He decided to give up the pursuit
and lay down In the grass, protected
right and left by the row Of palms,
with, on either hand, the long avenue
extending. This he could watch. Tu-
dor would have to come to him or else
there would be no termination OF the
affair. He wiped the sweat from his
face and tied the handkerchief around
bis neck to keep of the stinging gnats
that lurked In the grass. Never had
be felt so great disgust for the thing
called adventure" Joan had been
bad enough with her Baden-Pow and
long barreled Colts, but here was this
newcomer, also looking for adventure
and finding It In no other way than by
Juggling d peace loving planter into an
absurd and preposterous bushwhack-
ing duel. If ever adventure was well
damned It was by Sheldon. sweating
In the MINDLESS grass and fighting
gnats. the while he kept close watch
up and down the avenue.
Then Tudor came. Sheldon hap
pened to be looking in his direction
ut the moment he came into view,
peering quickly up and down the ave-
nue. before he stepped into the open.
Midway he stopped. as If debating
what course to pursue. He made Il
splendid mark. facing bis concealed
enemy ut 2OO yards distance. Shell
don aimed ut the center OF bis chest.
then deliberately shifted the aim
to his right shoulder, and. with the
thought. THAT will put him out OF
business" pulled the trigger The bull
let, driving with momentum sufficient
to perforate q mans body mile dis
tant. struck Tudor with such force
as to pivot him. whirling him half
around by the shock Of its impact and
knocking him down.
"Hope haven't killed the beggar."
Sheldon muttered aloud. springing to
his feet and running forward.
A hundred feet away all anxiety on
that score was relieved by Tudor. who
made shift with his left hand and
from his automatic pistol hurled q rain
of bullets all around Sheldon. The
latter lodged behind palm trunk.
counting the shots. and when the
eighth had been fired he rushed In on
the wounded man. He kicked the pis'
tol out of the others hand and then
sat down on him In order to keep him
down.
"Be quiet" he said. 1--WE got you
so there's no use struggling"
Tudor still attempted to struggle
and to throw him Off.
"Keep quiet. tell you." Sheldon
commanded. I'm satisfied with the
outcome, and you've got to be. So
you might as well give IN and call this
affair closed"
Tudor reluctantly relaxed.
Rather funny. isn't 1t. these modern
duels?" Sheldon grinned down at hin
as he removed his weight. Not q bi
dignified. II you'd struggled mo
ment longer I'd have rubbed your fac'
In the earth. I've a good mind to d.
It anyway. Just to teach you that duel