The Detroit times., 1913-10-22
4 CHAPTER XVIII.
piatoia For Two.


Z Courtiandt knocked on the studio
door.
Come In"
He discovered Abbott, stretched
out upon the lounge, Idly picking a.
the loose plaster In the wall.
Hello said Abbott careiessiy
Help yourself to q chair.
Instead. Courtlandt walked aDout
the room. aimlessly. He paused al
the window; he picked up sketch
and studied II at various angles; ne
kicked the footstool across the moor
not with any sign of anger but with
a seriousness that would have caus'
ed Abbott to laugh. had he been look
ing 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
alyzeHthis peculiar cardiac condition.
He only knew that at one time ne
hated the man. and that at another
he would have laid down his life for
him. Perhaps 1t was rather passive
jealousy which he mistook for ha-
tired. Abbott had never envied
Courtlandt his riches; but often the
sight of Courtlandt's physical super
iority, his adaptability, his knowledge
of men and affairs, the way he had
of anticipating the unspoken wishes
OF women. his unembarrassed gallan-
try, these attributes stirred the envy
of which he was always manly
enough to be ashamed. Courtlandt's
unexpected appearance in Bellaggio
had also created suspicion which
he could not minutely define. The
truth was. when a man loved, every
other man became his enemy, not ex-
cepting her father; the primordial In.
stinct has survived all the applica-
tions 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"
''Oh. he did,"
IL think you had better write him
an apology"
Abbott sat up. He flung the piece
Of plaster violently to the floor "Apol-
ogize? Well. like your nerve to
come here with that kind of wabble
4 Look at these lips! Man. he struck
him down."
1T was a pretty good wallop. con.
sidering that you couldn't see his
face very we'll In the dark. | always
said that you had more spunk to the
square inch than any other chap |
know. But over here. Studs. as you
know, it's different You can't knock
down an officer and get away with It..
80, 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. For
tunately, no one heard of the row."
"I'll see you both farther" wrath
fully. Look at these lips, say"
ga Before he struck you, you must
have givcn provocation."
"Sha'n't discuss what took place.
Nor will apologize"
81 That's final?"
"You havo my word for It,
"Well, I'm sorry. The Barone Is
decent sort. He gives you the pref
erenco, 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 att"
1.-The Barone has asked me to be his
second. And | have despatched a
note to the colonel. advising him to
attend to your side. | accepted the
Baroness proposition solely that I
might get here first and convince you
that an apology will save you heap
of discomfort. The Barone Is a first
rate shot, and doubtless he will only
dial and several weeks In the hospital,
70 say nothing Of devil OF a row
with the civil authorities. In the
army the Italian still fights his duello.
but these affairs never get into the
newspapers, rs In France. Seldom,
however. Is any one seriously hurt.
They are excitable. and consequently
n good shot Is likely to shoot wildly
at pinch. So there you are, my
boy"
Are you in your right mind? Do
you mean to tell me that you havo
come here to arrange ducl?" asked
Abbott. his voice low and a bit shaky.
ITO prevent one. SO, writc your
apology Don't worry about the NOR
al side of the question. It's only
fool who will offer himself rs a tar
get to man who knows how to shoot.
You couldn't hit the broadside OF q
barn with shotgun"
Abbott brushed the dust from his
coat and got up. "A duol!" He
laughed bit Historically. Well, why
not? Since Nora could never be his,
there was no future for him. Ho
might far better serve as a target
than to go on living with tho pain
and bitterness In his heart ivory
well. Tell the Darone my choice is
pistols. He may set tho timo and
place himself"
60 over to that desk and write
that apology. n you don't, promise
on my part to tell Nora Harrigan,
who. dare say, Is at the bottom OF
this, innocently or otherwise"
"Courtlandt!"
Il mean just what say. Take
your choice. Stop this nonsense your.
self like . reasonable human boinr.
or lot Nora Harrigan stop It for Won
There VIII be no duel, not n cnn
help IT,"
Abbott saw instantly what would
happen. Nora would 20 10 tho Darono
and bog OF for him. "AIl right, IN
write that apology, Put listen: Won
will knock hereafter when you enter
any Of my studios. You've kicked