The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-11-28
A reliminary Test
of Skill
By MARK HAMMERTON

Il lieutenant in the German army. Hs
was very young, his beard just sprout
ing, and since there had been no wal
between Germany and any other pow
er since long before he was born he
had had no way OF letting of his sur
plus vim. We were in a beer garden
and he had been sitting at q table neal
one at which / sat with party OF
American friends.
Getting up from his able. he walked
past us. and. my foot being in his way
he took pains to stumble against it
Then. glaring down at me. he said in
English:
Il yill pig stick you"
What does the fellow mean"
You've been challenged to fight a
duel said Washburn. an attachc at
the American legation He had lived
in Berlin number Of years and knew
the ways OF the inhabitants.
'IIe can send all the challenges be
pleases." | said. "I'll pay no attention
TO them
''In that case Washburn replied
you must give up the social stand you
have prepared TO take in Berlin
shouldn't like to put you forward AS
have promised unless you either fight
young Donhof. whom everybody
with the imperial family. or find some
way out Of the matter"
What way out OF the matter is
thcre?"
I'm think it over. I've helped sew
eral Americans out Of such scrapes.
by the bye think I'll try the plan by
which | saved Albertson from getting
n sword thrust between his ribs
what plan?"
II didn't explain it till the affair was
settled. nor will l tell you. Put your
self in my hands. ask no questions, and
think | can bring you out Of this with
honor. probably with eclat-"
! assentcd. and he took Il mesSag ge
from me to Donhoff. / was an Amer
lean. and Americans did not fight
duels. However. | was willing to fight
under certain conditions. or. ra tier |
would prove myself more skillful than
he. We would fire at n hens egg at
twenty PAGES. If he hit the egg oftener
than !. | would stand up and permit
him to shoot at me rs long as he liked
If hit the egg more times than he. he
WAS to submit himself as target for
me-
The hot headed youngster accepted
the conditions. Indeed. he was rather
pleased at the novelty of the plan.
Washburn arranged for a test Of skill
in II fencing academy and brought a
basket Of eggs to the place. which were
tu serve as targets. The affair being
IN unusual oac. none Of the safeguards
common in duel prcliminaries We're
taken Washburn fixed the target. sus-
pending the egg by Il thread. Donhof'
and | tossed for order Of trial. and
won. Each principal was to deliver
five shots. and the one who shattered
more eggs than the other won.
The day before the test could
scarcely hit barn door. but l prac-
ticed sufficiently to hit an egg at least
once in five shots On the trial spat-
tered the contents twice. Donhoff. who
ike all German army officers was a
good markSman. looked upon my work
with evident contempt. l missed the
first and second shots. and as soon as
| hai Iopo Nn bn cao,oo1 tn Ioeo oil ~,
tereSt in the contest. He had doubtless
made 4 previous trial and discovered
he could hit the egg every time.
had been instructed by Washburn
that when beat Donhoff-and Wash
burn assured me that if his plan
worked would-I was Immediately to
renounce my right to make Il target
of him. Washburn hung an egg for
him. He fired somewhat carelessly and
missed. He was surprised especially at
seeing the egg vibrating from the wind
Of the ball. He fired Il second shot. this
time aiming carefully. Again he miss
ell. ana again the egg danced. If now
he hit the eGg ut every remaining shot
he could still beat me. Though he took
long time to aim before the third
shot. he missed il.
He could now only tie me. But he
had become SO irritated with himself
that he was not capable Of doing as
good work as before. He missed the
fourth and lifth shots, the egg at each
successive shot vibrating less. indicat-
ing that his aim had grown less accu-
rate. On missing the fifth shot he
threw his pistol down with an oath.
Washburn shot me glance, and
cried. II renounce the right I have
won," and. Fastening to Donhoff. put
out my hand. He took it, muttring
imprecations on himself for having
been so clumsy. Then he and his party
thanked me for my magnanimity and
left the academy.
by Jove. exclaimed Washbrn.
sinking into Il chair. IF those fellows
had exercised one-tenth the care they
would have taken in an ordinary duel
| would have had to leave Berlin"
"What do you mean?" asked.
You fred ut solid egg. Donhoff at
shell from which had drawn the
contents. No ball will hit an empty
eggshell The wind will drive it aside
every time"