The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-08

had participated In several, both as 4
principal and second. If they desired
it he would be happy to manage a
meeting for them
''Yo' see," he added, 'if the lady !
hears that you have had a street fight |
about her she'll turn you both down. !
But II she hears that yee have fought |
for her in a gentlemanly way she'll be /
much flattered, and the man that wins |
will have a tol'able good show"
This settled the matter. Mr.. Thiba- |
deaux took charge Of the affair entire
", making all necessary arrangements, |
providing a second for each principal |
and sending to neighboring town for |
"sawbones." The time appointed |
was the next morning at Z o'clock,
the place to be where Cy Atkins had |
met the subject of the dispute. Mr.. |
Thibadeaux said that In Louisiana, |
where he had picked up Ills knowledge |
Of the code. It was considered bad taste |
to talk about such affairs, and they |
were usually kept secret In this way
a vulgar crowd was avoided. and II
tnC uEul was a luus ~ was
deemed more respectful to her.
A bit of gunplay in the street would
not have necessarily called together
crowd. but such a novelty as duel
was sure TO do so. 1t did not get out In
Shakedown City that an affair accord
ing to the code, arranged by a promi
nent Louisiana duelist, was to take
place. until late the night before the
meeting. Consequently the lady who
was to be fought for went to bed OBJ
livious to the fact that two men were
to meet the next morning at Z o'clock
in mortal combat to decide which
should give way to the other in an eff
fort to obtain her favor. Indeed. hav-
ing looked over Shakedown City and
not being pleased with 1t, she had de.
termined to make an early start the
next morning for the place from which
she had come.
The secret Of the duel was dlvulged
by one of the seconds at the Golden
Eagle saloon about midnight, and
most of those present organized a
small game to last till morning with
the intention Of adjourning from the
sitting to the dueling ground to wit
ness real high toned shooting match
as practiced In the state of Louisiana.
Such an affair had never been known
in Shakedown, and, though the cltl-
Zens had heard of the code duellO, their
knowledge Of 1t was very hazy.
About half past G each principal in
the coming affair, attended by his sec
ond, left his residence and proceeded
to the ground. The master of cere-
monies was accompanied by the sur
geon, recent medical graduate, who
had gone west to establish practice,
but had never seen gunshot wound in
his life. At the same time crowd
emerged from the Golden Eagle saloon
and tramped down the read. Arrived
at the appointed spot, Mr. Thibadeaux
marked of the ground, taking care
that neither of the disputants was
placed so that the sun would shine In
his eyes. He made the distance thirty
PAGES, which, he said, was usual in
such affairs. Each man was handed a
| ACNOiNCI NhuL DaoSVu ihHpNNNtoh w
both seconds and stood ready for the
signal to fire. Mr.. Thibadeux said
that dropping a handkerchief was the
most approved method. But there
were very few handkerchiefs In the
party and they so soiled as not to be
surely distinguished by the principals.
Therefore It was decided to drop hat.
Meanwhile horse and buggy was
seen emerging from the town, and just
as the seconds handed the principals
their weapons the vehicle drew up In
the road beside the battle-ground.
whats goin' on?" asked u woman
who was driving.
Mr.. Thibadeaux, lifting his sombre-
no, advanced to her and explained that
a duel was about to be fought about
woman.
what woman2"
zone that came to town yesterday,
nam"
"Wel, what has she got to do
with IT."
The matter was briefly explained to
her.
During the conversation the princi
pals stood looking at the lady. recog
nizing her as the person about whom
they had quarreled. The crowd, too
turned their faces from the disputants
and gaped at her.
"See here, you galoots over therer
she called. "You don't want t. f1ghi
about me. got husband and thret
children. And II l was single
wouldn't marry either Of you. My
husbands sick, and Hilton, where We
live, is run down. / come over yert
to see II there was a better chance t
make a Twin. / wouldn't live in the
town II you'd give 1t to me, and
wouldn't marry any man in 1t II
was single. SO there! Git up, Sal"
And, giving her horse the whip, she
passed on down the road.
! The duel was called of, all adjourn
ing to the Gold Eagle saloon, wher'
the principals shook hands and calleC
on all present to nominate their pizen
Then Mr.. Thibadeaux, calling thu
crowds attention by an ahemi said:
Scents, move that a committee b,
appointed to go to Hilton and repre-
sent to the lady the advantages Of thi
place. which she has turned down, anC
|, assure her that If she will remov,
here with her family she will be takel
care of. Since the committee must b.
: provided with funds, propose a col
: lection"
The proposition resulted In the re