The San Francisco call., 1913-10-04

Vernon shrugged his shoulders. and
the brows OF Bois- Rouge were lower
ed in unmistakable depreciation.
ALLOW me to point out to you.
monsieur" said the latter, that flip
pancy on an occasion like the present
is both out of place and offensive. I
presume you will choose pistols. AS a
friend I should advise it," he added.
pointedly.
NO, no. messieurs," was the little
mans energetic rejoinder. Il have no
, desire to be shot down like pigeon.
If your principal is the man report
gives out to be. he will accept my
conditions, strange as they may
seem"
He searched in one of his pockets
and extracted from it a diminutive
round box.
Behold. messieurs"' he exclaimed.
triumphantly. holding it UP between
his finger and thumb-"my weapon
Bois-Rouge shrugged his shoulders
pityingly, and Vernon gave a short
laugh.
HIS WEAPONS
'No. messieurs." resumed the doc
In this box are two pills. One is quite
harmless, and may be taken with inn
punity, but death, sure and sudden.
follows half an hour after swallow
ing the other These are the weapons
with which l shall fight the chevalier.
The pills are exactly similar in size.
weight and shape. / could not dis
tinguish between them il / wished.
AS ] have made them myself, it is
only fair that my opponent should
have the first choice This 1 agree to
and by that arrangement there can be
no opportunity for trickery on my
part Messieurs. / should be greatly
obliged If you would return to your
principal and put before him the
terms of our encounter"
The other two stood up simuita-
neously
Impossible. monsieur" vociferated
Vernon. Poison is the instrument of
the assassin. Diable, we cannot SUBJ
nit such conditions of combat to a
nobleman of France"
Nevertheless, monsieur" replied
the Doctor. returning the box TO his
pocket, and spreading the palms of
his hands outward to express finality.
such are the only conditions under
which ! shall be prepared to meet the
Chevalier," and, smiling. he politely
bowed them out.
When they told him of the result OF
their interview the Chevalier laughed
long and loud.
"IIa, ha." he cried. slapping his
knee with his open hand. Il begin
to love this friend TO impatient heirs.
this fat little lord of life and death"
"Of course you will refuse these
these preposterous terms?" remarked
the elegant Vernon in tone which
left the matter decided.
THE traditions of duellin and the
honor of gentlemen forbid such de-
basement" observed the Comte du
Bois- Rouge sententiously.
Leblanc toyed with the stem of his
wine glass before replying. When
he looked up, his lips were tight set
and the mirth had died out of his
eyes.
my friends,s' he said calmly. Il
shall meet Monsieur Dumas on his
own terms"
They were assembled in the Doc
tors private room-six men in all;
the two principals, Vernon and the
Comte. and two other gentlemen,
friends of the Doctor.
with an amused smile, the Chew
alier eyed the box containing the two
pills placed before them on little
table.
you wish me to choose first2' he
q1ieried.s turning to his adversary.
1.-THE doctor bowed.
Were I to make the first choice,
monsieur be explained. and picked
the harmless pill, 1t might afterward
be said that / had distinguished in
some way between them
without the slightest hesitation, the
chevaIier approached the table and
took one of the small white pellets
between his finger and thumb. Fas-
cinated, the others watched his move