Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-25
The Argus Daily Story
A Unique Duel-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1912, by Associated Literary Bureau

to the messenger. who took it back to
the man George had sprinkled Then
the Germans withdrew.
Georges resenting the insult to the
young American was plain to all her
party. Soon after the officers depart
ed the old gentleman went TO him and.
in the young lady's name. thanked
him and begged that he would not per-
NIT the matter TO go any further. to
which George replied that anything
further would depend on the man
whose insolence he had resented The
gentleman asked his name and ad-
dress, which he gave.
Before going to bed that night
George received a call from the OH
Ger to whom he had given his card,
bearing challenge from the man who
had offered the flower to the American
girl. The messenger brought with him
an interpreter. and through him George
said that he would fight, but only on
his own terms-viz, that the two men
take position on either side of open
ground. surrounded by trees, at q dis
lance of a thousand yards. the weap-
ons to be rifles, and after a given sig
nal either should be at liberty to shoot
the other
The expression on the faces Of the
Germans was curious to behold The
interpreter fired protests In English.
while his companion fred them in Ger
man. They might as we'll have struck
the sides OF an ironclad man-of-war as
| George Harris. After awhile they
| withdrew to report to their principal
! Harris knew his enemy must fight him
on his own terms or leave the army
In disgrace.
After a number Of visits from the
Germans they yielded to the inevitable
and accepted the conditions. The meet
! ing was to take place at farm near
Berlin surrounded with trees, during
the afternoon Of the next day. In the
morning George was the recipient of a
bouquet of flowers with card on
which was engraved Miss Louise
Marston." 1t also bore the words: 1T
Is my wish that if it can be honorabiy
done there be no meeting between you
and the German. He Was doubtless
tpsy and unaccOuntable for his act"
To this George made no reply, for be
could not do so without giving away
the coming contest.
Shortly before the fight It became
known in the barracks Of Sweinheart's
regiment-that was the name of the
officer who was to be one OF the princi-
pals-that Harris was soldier of
the recent American conflict and the
duel was to be fought on the usual
plan Of duels in the American army.
The consequence was that when the
fight opened the tanks OF the combat
ants were covered by a crowd OF Ger
man officers assembled to see the in
teresting spectacle.
George took position behind a low
stone wall and for awhile amused him
self raising his hat for bullets. They
came quick enough. but none Of them
struck the hat Sweetheart after one
of his shots, thinking he had killed his
/ antagonist, was incautiOus enough to
raise his head above a fence behind
which he had taken position. A ball
whistled within a few inches Of his
ear, and he ducked.
Harris now withdrew behind bushes.
and his next shot came from among
, ! tIlt ILLUS vi a lItt- LIS SliClhyp SSC
ing the smoke, fred at it, but Harris,
:, as soon as he had pulled the trigger,
. dropped to lower branch and the ball
\ went several feet above his head. But
:, he drew another by putting his hat on
the muzzle of his rifle and holding 1t
higher still where there was an open
q ing In the branches.
Sweetheart was next in evidence In a
q barn which he reached by moving be-
=, hind the fence that led to it. A puff
:, of smoke appeared in n loft window,
!, and bullet came dangerously near
. Harris. Thus far he had been merely
: amusing himself and the Germans
: looking on. but now he began to watch
=, closely for an opportunity to wing a
. man he did not wish to Kill
In the tree where Harris was perch
= ed was a dead branch. detached. but
hanging to another branch by fork.
, Harris succeeded in getting 1t into a
: position where he could let it fall TO
the ground. Holding the branch with
one hand and extending his rife with
his hat on il to an opening. he drew
a shot and at the same moment let go
. the branch.
: The German officers, thinking the
falling branch was Harris body, set
- up shout Of triumph. hearing which
:, Sweetheart thinking the affair ended,
exposed his full length at the barn
= window Harris. taking a careful aim,
= dropped him. shooting him in the leg.
This finished the fight. The Ger
: mans, seeing their man fall. rushed to
- his assistance, and Harris descended
. from the tree.
The exhibition greatly interested the
= German officers present, and Harris
- was made quite a lion Of by them, he
- ing invited , their barracks and enter
- tanned lavishly.
:. OF course Miss Marston heard all
about the affair and sent for Harris 10
come and receive her thanks in person
: The version Of the story she told IL
. Berlin made him vertable hero. but
he said he didn't see why doing sucf
= trick in Berlin should cause such al
.k,n1, dot & vim