Graham guardian., 1916-01-14
He Fulfilled the
Conditions
BY ESTHER NANDEVEER

feet four inches high Having inherit
ed some means and desiring to see the
world, he went abroad. In Paris he
met Joel Halsted, fellow townsman
who introduced him to Jules I.abOudier.
and lie 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 Lntou-
der led the way TO 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 IInlsted
apnrt and told him he feared that his
friend might through Ignorance put
him to the blush. Rut HaIsted quieted
| his fears, and the three continued the
| sightseeing CopnrtnerShip.
During the dinner in the cafe In the
Champs EIysees party sat Mt the
next table to Nudge and bis friends,
one of whom was dapper gentleman
ed mustache and imperial, who seem
| ed to he 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'Einely'
| Now, Nudge was sensitive on one
| subieCt-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 I've more in
sulting than 1t really was; then, max
ing one step. lie covered the distance
| between himself and his critic and.
| taking him by the coat collar, held him
| dangling III the air for moment, then
let him gently down on the door.
The Frenchman's face was as red
as n turkey cocks comb, and his eyes
fairly SCintilated sparks. Laboudier's
| cOuntenance was equally expressive,
though in different way.
What have you donef" he cried to
Nudge DO you know who that gen
tleman Isl"
THAT sawed Off chap! Why, | reck.
on he's n dwarf escaped from a dime
museum"
He is NJ. GARNER, the best swords
man in France"
THAT doesn't make any difference
TO me. I'm not soldier"
The outraged Frenchman whipped
out card with his name on 1t and
flung it down on the table before
Nudge LAboud!er picked 1t up and,
joining the other party, held a conyer-
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 what" asked Nudge.
Mon dieu! For holding him up in
the air like jumping jack!
Didn't he insult me frstT
"He simply compared you to the
Eiffel tower"
HE did, did he! II I'd known that
wouldn't have let him down SO
easy"
Then IL you will not apologize you
must fight"
Fight! With that little chap! Why,
Id eat him up in two minutes!'
my dear NJ. Nudge, you do not
understand. You must fight him un
der the code"
whats the codeT'
"Wby. he'd challenge you. Therefore
you have the choice Of weapons-pis-
lOlSr lOilS, any "thlOu sON INV AVO
also have the choice OF the time and the
place Of the combat"
"Oh, have. have II Well, choose
fists, l to stand on the ground, my
enemy to fight me through a second
story window. | don't want to tnke
any advantage of him because he isn't
as tall as | am. He cant help his
shortness any more than I 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 viii kill"
M. IabOudier." Nudge replied, ~
consider 1t my duty under the cir.
cumstances to fight this NJ. GARNER.
But since you say that. according to
your code, 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 picka1es,"
The Frenchman gasped. Then he
protested. But Nudge was not to be
moved from his position. II complied
with the conditions Of the code as II
had been explained to him. What IL