Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-22
CHAPTER XVIII.
COURTLANDT knocked on the
" studio door
PIstOIs for Two,

SluulO uOOls
Come in"
He discovered Abbott, stretched out
upon the lounge, idly picking at the
loose plaster in the wall.
"Hello!" said Abbott carelessly.
Help yourself to a chair"
Instead. Courtlandt walked about
the room, aimlessly. He paused at
| the window; he picked up a sketch
and studied ii at various angles: he
kicked the footstOol across the floor
not with any sign Of anger but with
a seriousness that would have caused
Abbott TO laugh, had he been looking
at his friend. He continued, how
ever to pluck at the plaster. He had
always hated and loved Courtlandt,
alternately. He never sought to an
alyze this peculiar cardiac condition
| He only knew that at one time he
hated the man, and that at another
| he would have laid down his life for
| him. Perhaps it was rather a pas
sive jealousy which he mistook for
| hatred Abbott had never envied
| Courtlandt his riches; but often the
| sight of Courtland's physical superb
! GRITTY, his adaptability, his knowledge
of men and affairs, the way he had of
] anticipating the unspoken wishes of
| women, his unembarrassed gallantry,
! these attributes stirred the envy Of
! which he was always manly enough to
! be ashamed. Courtlandts unexpected
| appearance in Bellaggio had also ere
| ated a suspicion which he could not
infinitely define. The truth was, when
a man loved, every other man became
! his enemy, not excepting her fathr;
! the primordial instinct has survived
! all the applications of veneer. SO,
! Abbott was not at all pleased to see
| his friend that morning.
At length Courtlandt returned to
the lounge. THE Barone called upon
me this morning"
ooh, he did?"
II think you had better write him
an apology"
Abbott sat up He flung the piece
of plaster violently to the floor.
apologize? Well. l like your nerve
to come here with that kind of wab-
BILE. Look at these lips! Man, he
struck me across the mouth, and
knocked him down."
ut was a pretty good wallop, con-
sidering that you couldn't see his face
very we'll in the dark. l always said
that you had more spunk to the
square inch than any other chap
I know. But over here, Studs, as
you know, it's different. You
can't knock down an officer and get
away with it. So, you just sit down
at your desk and write little note
saying that you regret your hastiness
I'll see that 1t goes through all right
Fortunately, no one heard of the
row."
"Tll see you both farther wrath
fully. Look at these lips, l say!'
Before he struck you, you must
have given provocation.'
"Sha'n't discuss what took place
| Nor will l apologize
That's final?"
you have my word for it."
well, I'm sorry. The barone is a
decent sort. He gives you the prefer
ence, and suggests that you select
pistols. since you would be no match
for him with rapiers."
"Pistols!" shouted Abbott. For
the love of glory. what are you driv'
ing at?''
"The barone has asked me to be his
second And I have despatched q
note to the colonel, advising him tc
attend to your side. | accepted The
baroness proposition solely that
might get here first and convince you
! that an apology will save you heal
Of discomfort. The barone is first
rate SilOl, anu dOuDlltSS lie al OlAAg
wing you. But that will near
scandal and several weeks in the
hospital, to say nothing of a devil OF
a row with the civil authorities. Ir
i the army the italian still fights his
| duello, but these affairs never get
| into the newspapers. as in France
Seldom, however, is any one serious
| ly hurt. They are excitable, and con-
sequently a good shot Is likely tc
shoot wildly at pinch. So there
you are, my boy"
Are you in your right mind? Dc
you mean to tell me that you have
come here to arrange q duel?' asked
| Abbott, his voice low and BIZ
shaky.
ITO prevent one. So, write YOU
apology. Don't worry about tn,
moral side of the question. It's only
a fool who will offer himself as {
| target to a man who knows how Il
! shoot. You couldn't hit the broad
! side of barn with a shotgun"
Abbott brushed the dust from hi
| coat and got up. "a duel!" HI
laughed a bit HISTORICALLY. Well
why not? Since Nora could never b'
his, there was no future for him
| He might far better serve as a large
| than to go on living with the pail
/ and bitterness IN MS nedIJ. Yer.
well. Tell the Barone my choice i
pistols. He may set the time ant
| place himsel."
"Go over to that desk and writ
/ that apology. If you don't, I promis
on my part to tell Nora Harrigan
who, ! dare say. is at the bottom o
this. innocently or otherwise"
"Courtlandt!"
81 mean just what I say. TAX
your choice. Stop this nonsense your
self like a reasonable human being
or let Nora Harrigan stop 1t for you
There will be no duel, not il I cal
help it,"