The Detroit times., 1913-10-22


will even laugh with me-"
Permit me to doubt that" angrily.
He threw open the door.
Courtlandt was too wise to argue
further. He had obtained the object
OF his crrand. and that was enough
for the present Sorry you ore not
open to reason. Good morning"
When the door closed, Abbott
tramped the floor and vented his tenn
per on the much abused footstool.
which he kicked whenever 1t came
In the line OF his march. In his soul
he knew that Courtlandt was right.
More than that. he knew that present
ly he would seek him and apologize.
Unfortunately, neither OF them
counted on the colonel.
Without being quite conscious of
the act. Abbott took down from the
wall an ancient dueling-p pistol, cock
ed It, snapped 1t, and looked It over
with an interest that he had never
before bestowed on 1t. And the colo
mel, bursting into the studio. found
him absorbed In the contemplation of
this old death-dealing instrument.
"Ha!" roared the old war dog Had
an idea that something like this WAS
going to happen. Put that up. You
couldn't kill anything with that I'M.
less you hit EN- on the head with It.
Leave the matter to me. I've q pair
OF pistols, sighted to hit q shilling at
twenty yards. or course, you cant
hight him with swords. He's one oe
the best In all Italy. But you've just
n kA vv,lx vl-
tolls. Nine times out OF ten the tyro
hits the bullseye, while the crack
goes wild. Just you sit Jolly tight.
Who's his second Courtlandtf"
Yes" Abbott was truly and CON-
pletely bewildered.
He struck you FIRST, I understand.
and you knocked him down. Good,
My tennis-courts are out OF the way.
We can settle this matter tomorrow
morning at dawn. Ellicott will come
over from Cadenabbia with his saws.
He's close-mouthed. All you need TO
40 Is to keep quiet. You can spend
the night at the villa with me. and
I'll give you a few ideas about shoot.
Ing pistol. Here; write what I die
tate" He pushed Abbott over to the
desk and forced him into the chair.
ABBOTT wrote mechanically. as one
hypnotized. This colonel seized the
letter. mo fiowery sentences; a few
words bang at the mark. Come up
10 the villa as soon as you can. Well
Jolly we'll cool this Italians blood I"
And out lie went. banging the door.
There was something Of the direct.
ness OF bullet in the old fellows
methods.
Literally. Abbott had been rushed
on MS feet. The moment his confu.
sion cleared he saw the predicament
into which his own stupidity and the
amicable colonel's impetuous good Of.
fees had plunged him. He was horri-
meu. Here was Courtlandt carrying
the apology. and hot on his heels was
the colonel, with the final arrange
ments for the meeting He ran to the
door. bareheaded, took the stairs
three and four at bound. But
the energetic Anglo-Indiau had gone
down In bounds also: and when the
distracted artist reached the street
the other was nowhere to be seen. An.
parently there was nothing left but 10
send another apology. Rather thar
perform SO shameful and cowardly an
act ne would have cut OF his hand.
Inc Barone. pale and determined
passed the second note to Courtlandt
who was congratulating himself 1nre.
maturely as will be seem ON The
peacerui dispersion OF the war-clouds.
You Will excuse me-" he said meek.
y. He must see Abbott.
moment" interposed the Banone
coidiy. II 1t Is to sock another apol.
ogy. IT Will DO useless. refuse to an.
cept. MT Abbott will fiSht. or 7 wiI,
puoiiciy brand him. tho frst opportun.
ity. as a coward"
Courtlandt bit his mustacbe ",,
that case. shall go Mt once n r,oi
Caxley-Webstor." WI
Ihank you. shall BIO in INV mon,
at the villa tho creator part Of tha
DAY. The Barono bowed
Courtlandt caught the colonel, q. =.
was entering his motor boot no
Come over to tifIn."
very well; can talk here bette,
than anywhere else"
when the motor began ito r.....
Courtiandt pulled the colonel ove- 80
nlm ~
done?" you nave
Done" dropping his eye-glass
les. knowing that Abbott wou,d
nave no earthly chance against tha
itahan. ! went to him and forced hin,
20 write an apology. And you have
kite" s"'' 'nan
Inc coioners eyes bulged. Dem Il
why didn't the young fool tell me? p:
your hurry probably ratified him.
but what are we going to do, I'm
not going to have the boy hurt
love him as q brother; though. tust
now. he regards me as a mortal an.
envy. Perhaps I am" moodily. az
have deceived him. and somehow--
blindly It Is true-he knows II. 7 am
as full OF deceit as q pomegranats r.
Of seeds"
Have him send another apology"
The Barone IL thoroughly enrsred
he would refuse to accept II, and said
Co."
Well. dem> me for q welI-meanins
meddler!"
With pleasure, but that will not
stop the row. There In way out, but
1t appeals to me as damnably low"
oh. Abbott will not run. He isn't
that kind"
mo. he'll not run. But II you will
agree with me, honor may be salts.
fed without either OF them getting
hurt"
Women beat the devil don't they?
What's your plan?"