Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-02-18
He Fulfilled the
Conditions
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

Worlu, ne went abroad. In Paris he
met Joel Halsted, fellow townsman.
who introduced him to Jules Laboudier.
and he kindly consented TO pilot the
two Americans among the sights of
Paris and the vicinity. One day after
having visited Versailles the trio re-
turned tired and hungry, and Labou-
der led the way to a cafe in the
champs Elysees for dinner.
How these two plain inhabitants of
the western world ever secured the
services of so elegant a gentleman as
Laboudier to show them about is a
mystery, though possibly the fact that
Nudge paid the bills had something to
do with it. Seeing that Nudge was I'M
accustomed to the tone of high life in
Paris, the Frenchman took Halsted
apart and told him he feared that his
friend might through ignorance put
him to the blush But Halsted quieted
his fears, and the three continued the
sightseeing copartnership.
During the dinner in the cafe in the
Champs Elysees party sat at the
next table to Nudge and his friends,
one of whom was a dapper gentleman
five feet five inches high. with wax.
ed mustache and imperial, who SEEM
ed to be the center of attraction of
those with him. When Nudge arose
from his chair this gentleman turned
to look at him with wondering eyes.
When Nudge finally finished going up
toward the ceiling the Frenchman ex-
claimed loud enough for all to hear:
La tour d'Eiffell"
Now. Nudge was sensitive on one
subjeet-his height. He knew that the
Frenchman had said something detri-
mental, but, not understanding French,
was not aware that he had been COM
pared with the Eiffel tower. He glared
at the man who had criticised him,
supposing the remark to be more in
sulting than it really was; then, max
ing one step, he covered the distance
between himself and his critic and,
taking him by the coat collar, held him
dangling in the air for moment, then
let him gently down on the floor.
The Frenchmans face was as. red
as turkey cocks comb, and his eyes
fairly scintillated sparks. Laboudier's
countenance was equally expressive,
though in a different way.
What have you DONE" he cried to
Nudge. do you know who that gen.
tleman isT'
THAT sawed off chap! Why, reck-
on he's a dwarf escaped from dime
museum"
He is NJ. GARNER, the best swords
man in France"
THAT doesn't make any difference
to me. I'm not a soldier"
The outraged Frenchman whipped
out card with his name ON it and
flung it down on the table before
Nudge. Lahoudier picked it up and,
joining the other party, held CONVEX
sation in French, which his friends
did not understand. Presently he re-
turned and said that he had endeavor-
ed to explain that Nudge was an
American unacquainted with the man.
ners and customs Of Europeans and
tried to excuse him on that ground
He had finally induced NJ. GARNER to
accept an apology.
Apology for whatT' asked Nudge.
"Mon dieu. For holding him up in
the air like jumping jack!'
Didn't he insult me first?"
HE simply compared you to the
Eiffel tower"
HE did, did he. If I'd known that
I wouldn't have let him down so
easy"
Then if you will not apologize you
must fight
Fight. With that little chap! Why,
I'd eat him up in two minutes"
"My dear NJ. Nudge, you do not
understand You must fight him I'M
der the code"
whats the code!"
"Why he'd challenge you. Therefore
you have the choice of weapons-pis-
tolls. foils. any weapon you like. You
also have the choice of the time and the
place of the combat"
"Oh, | have, have L? Well, l choose
fists, | to stand on the ground, my
enemy to fight me through a second
story window. l don't want to take
any advantage of him because he isn't
as tall as | am. He can't help his
shortness any more than l can help
my longness."
monsieur, you do not understand
our Partisan customs. You cannot
fight with the fists. The code does not
allow. The weapons must be some
thing that will kill"
IN. Laboudier." Nudge replied, Il
consider it my duty under the cir
cumstances to fight this NJ. GARNER
But since you say that, according to
YOUR code, l can choose time, place
and weapons choose any place In
the Seine where the water is exactly
five feet five inches deep, the weapons
to be pickaxes."
The Frenchman gasped. Then he
p,.otacted Rut Mudge was not to be