The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-01-23
He Fulfilled the
Conditions
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

Cyrus Nudge was an Indianian six
feet four inches high. Having inherit
ed some NEAR aud desiring to zee the
world. he went abroad. In Paris be
met Joel Haisted. a fellow townsman.
who introduced him to Jules I.aboudier,
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-
dier 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 Ut 20 elegant a gentleman az
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 N.
accustomed to the tone Of big. life in
Paris. the Frenchman took Halsted
apart and told hin, he feared that bis
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 u party sat at the
next table to Nudge and his friends.
one Of whom was a dapper gentleman
FIVE feet Eve inches high. with a 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 Frenchnlan ex-
claimed loud enough for all to hear:
LA tour d'Eifel"
Now. Nudge was sensitive on one
~subject-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 Ei6el tower. He glared
at the man who had criticised him.
surprising the remark to be more in
sulting than 1t 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 q moment. then
let him gently down on the door.
The Frenchman's face was 40 red
- Q turkey cocks comb. and his eyes
fairly scintillated sparks. Laboudier's
eountenance III equally expressive.
though In q different way.
"What have you done7' he cried to
Nudge. do you know who that gen.
tSeman III"
'~That sawed or chap! Why. I reck-
on he's a dwarf escaped from q dime
museum"
HE IL M. GARNER, the best swords
man in France"
That doesn't make any difference
to me. I'm not 4 soldier"
The outraged Frenchman whipped
out q card with bis name on It and
lung 1t down ON the table before
Nudge. Lab0udier picked 1t up and.
joining the other party. held a CONVEX
sati0n 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 what?' asked Nudge.
"Mon dieu: For holding him up in
the air like a jumping jack"
Didn't he insult me trst?"
HE simply compared you to the
Eifel tower"
HE did, did he! If I'd known that
l wouldn't have let him down SO
easy"
''Then if you will not apologize you
must fight"
Eight! 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 IN
der the code"
whats the cOde?'
"W'hy. he'd challenge you. Therefore
you have the choice Of w~eapons-pis-
tolls, f0ik. any weapon you like. You
also have the choice of the time and the
place Of the combat"
"Oh, ] have. have 1? Well. l choose
lists. l to stand on the ground. my
enemy to fight M through a second
story window. don't want to take
any advantage Of him because be isn't
as tall az | am. He can't help his
shortness any more than a help
my longness."
Monsieur. you do not understand
u Partisan customs. You cannot
tight with the fists. The code does not
allow. The weapons must be some
thing that will kill"
M. L%aboudier." Nudge replied, II
consider it my duty under the cir
cumstances to fight this NJ. GARNER.
But since you a that. according to
your code. ! can choose time. place
and weapons choose any place In
the Seine where the water Is exactly