The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-28
A TEST OF NERVE
BY JOHN D. SWAIN.
(Cppyright.l

Indt rattle not unlike that OF mus
kerry ran round the table as we Sc
our untasted glasses on the board.
was at General Delmar's right, ant
| remember how the saber scar crep
out on his face-the old scar which
had not noticed for years. Across tn,
table, through the haze of tobacco
smoke, Colonel Gray's fierce eye.
glanced, and his flushed face con
trasted oddly with that OF the gen
eral.
1t was the junior officer who spoke
first.
He was curious chap-this Col
onel Gray-from the West. He al
ways appeared to be laboring under
suppressed excitement while in actor
he was cold and calculating.
Il am of course, ready to give vol
satisfaction, General Delmar" he said
1t was full moment before the gen
eral replied, his cold, blue eyes mean
while sweeping the table,
Fortunately, We are all gentlemen,
he said. This insures discretion anC
sets our minds entirely at rest as tc
any unpleasant notoriety. You may
co. nodding to the stewards, who
stood about the room, mouth agape.
After they had retired he continued:
Since Colonel Gray has been SO good
as to leave the arrangements to me,
Will, with his permission, waive the
formality of seconds. have an idea
which am sure will appeal to his love
or adventure, and will, | think, not
only satisfy honor, furnish an inter
esting study, and yet avoid the court
martialing of the survivors for viola
ting the regulations against dueling.
In fact, | am 80 thoroughly con.
WINGED of Colonel Gray's personal cour.
age" concluded the general with a
graceful gesture, that believe there
Will be no survivor, Gentlemen, may
hope that you will accompany me
for a short walk"
With a great deal Of curiosity and
some trepidation, we filed out into the
night, preceded by the tall thin form
OF the old general.
The path taken by General Delmar
led US to an old shanty in corner of
the drill-field; arrived there, he lighted
tin lantern which hung by the door,
and led the way within, where was
nothing save few kegs of blasting
powder, belonging to the engineer
corps, and some tools.
One Of the kegs the general rolled
to the center of the room, placing a
couple Of boxes beside it. He then
carefully loosened the plug in the key
and inserted a fuse, winding the other
end about the middle Of the candle
which he removed from the lantern.
Sticking the candle into an empty
bottle. he set it on the keg, and turned
toward Colonel Gray, who had been
watching the proceedings with great
interest, and who seated himself in
reply to a courteous gesture OF his CD
ponent
The general sat down also, and con.
tinued in pleasant, conversational
tone; II think you understand nv
idea, Colonel Gray? Unless this can
die is extinguished before it burns
down to the fuse, the keg of powder
Is going to ignite. One of us two mus
blow the candle out within, say, the
next twenty minutes 1t will not be
me, Colonel Gray"
Gray threw his head back and
laughed
Splendid, my dear general, splen-
did" he exclaimed. I'VE will have a
grand final blowout together"
Harris" said the general to the
genial cavalry major, Just keep these
papers, will you? And my watch. And
toast US good and plenty tomorrow
night" he added, handing Harris a
roll of bills.
Can | be of service to YOU Colonel
Gray?" asked Harris.
Not sou on me-" he smiled. No.
even scrap of Daper-except a bill
from my tailor"
Now, gentlemen" said the general
Il thank you for your attentions. and
shall ask but one further favor; that
you return to the mess.room and avail.
the explosion. Then come and search
let US say, the survivor. Good
highland good-by,"
Solemnly enough we babe them
both adieu and departed, secretly re-
lieved to get away from the vicinity
of that cursed candle and fuse ar
rangement.
1t was exactly nine when we sat
down again at table, and for at least
five minutes no one spoke. This was
a long pause for the officers mess at
Camp Sutro.
At last flesh and blood could stand
1t no longer. Burly Captain Jones
who had been pulling away at a huge
unlighted cigar, blurted out: Three
TO two or the general"
"Shame!" cried one or two; but
there were several takers, and we
grasped eagerly at the relief to our
nerves. The captains wager was GOV
cred quickly enough by the western
men, and after that even money pre-