Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-12-16

kQOWu ab u uSuIeE, Willie llllOTu Culuc
from the south, where dueling was
quite common, and he was an expert
with both sword and pistol.
"No, SIR" he said at last. "YOu have
insulted me. accused me, and my honor
must be indicated"
With that he turned and went back
to his companions.
Nothing of the con- ersation had been
heard by them, and when Travers
arose and walked toward the desk to
pay his reckoning no one was aware
that a pantomime was to be enacted.
AS he was walking leisurely past the
table where his adversary sat the lat
ter put out his foot, and Travers STUN
bled against 1t.
"You did that on purpose, sir" he
said.
"As you please to consider it, SIR"
Travers drew glove from pocket
and struck Tilford with 1t lightly on
the cheek. Then he passed in the
same leisurely manner out Of the din
Ing room.
When Tilford's second returned to
him with Travers' reply to his chal-
lenge, the southerner knit his brOws.
By asserting to his enemy's plan he
had given Travers the chance of place
and weapons. The conditions named
ny the latter were pistols, In dark
room, each party to be supplied with
an unlimited number Of weapons.
This placed them on an equality. and
Tilford lost the advantage of his skill
and reputation as a duelist.
Tilford was an impostor and swim
dler. He had forged letters OF intro
duction and had played young Van
Zandt with marked cards. Believing
that his true character would soon
come out, he desired. IL possible. to get
the money IN Mrs. Van Zandt's check
and disappear. But in playing gen
tleman's game he had left the check
with Travers. He sent word to his
adversary that he would apologize for
tripping him and take Mrs. Van
Zandts check to her and tear 1t to
pieces in her presence If this would be
agreeable to Mr.. Travers.
Travers was unwilling to trust him
with the check so long as 1t was good
at the bank. but he took sufficient
time to go there and request that 1t
should not be paid IL presented. Then
he sent It to Tilford, stating that his
proposed terms were accepted. But be-
fore Tilford had time to try TO get the
check cashed Travers went to the
bank and was there In conceament
when Tilford hurried In and present
ed the check. Truvers confronted him.
"You scoundrelr he said. "Sign n
receipt for the amount you claim from
young Van Zandt and give it to me.
with this check. or go to jail
Tilford threw up the game and
agreed to the conditions. When the
receipt had been drawn and signed
and the check returned he was per
mitted to leave the bank and the city
and was never seen In New York
again.
The same evening Mr.. Travers was
announced in the drawing room or
Mrs. Van Zandt.
"Have you paid my sons indebted
nessT she asked.
II have. madam. There is the re-
ceipt."
He handed it to her. She cast her
eyes over 1t and was folding 1t when
he handed her her check. She looked
at It, surprised, then ut him for an ex-
PLANTATION.
There was no legitimate debt" he
said, due from your son to this man
Tilford. who was an impostor ana II
swindler. He returned your check and
signed a receipt for the amount he had
claimed in preference to going to jail
"How did you prove him such"
81 gave him my opinion of one who
would take money In such fashion
from minor He still pretended to be
a gentleman and agreed to surrender
the check to you in person. Instead OF
doing so, he presented it Mt the bank.
I had taken the precaution to stop
payment on the check and was ut the
bank to receive the rascal when he
came to draw the money. ! gave him
his choice between exposure and Its
consequences and giving me, for you.
these two papers"
Mrs. Van Zandt's eyes were dimmed
with tears. She yearned to throw her
self into her lovers arms, but those
were times of great formality.
"Mr. Travers." she said, as soon as
she could control her voice. 1T seems,
sir, that my sons interests are safer IN
your hands than in mine"
With great composurc he encircled
her waist and took her hand: then he
drew her to him and kissed her.
"Ah, madam. you have made me the
happiest Of men"
Primitive Fishhooks.
What sort uf books did our ancestors.
our really "pT1:c ancestors, Use "wheh
wild i'm woo, the noble savage ran|
am inclined IA agree with the Ameri-
can view that the earliest type or
hook. il hook it can be called. WAS
STRAIGHT bit of Hint buried In the bait.
When the iieh had swallowed the bit
of meat. or whatever the bait was. the
tightening Of the line pulled the flint
acros, It's throat. and. rs 1t stuck there.
the fish could he hauled ashore with
out more ado Perhaps some bright
innoyat0r OF that misty past one day
tried bit of Hint which had double
curve like n pair Of buffalo horns and
found It effective and perhaps out OF
that developed the genuine double
hook. which seems to have been very
early form. And perhaps the single
hook came into being because it was
realized that one bend was as efficient
as two for most purposes.
Telegraph.
Historic London Street.
rS.iaa, .tr,.t ic nue of thp most In