The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-27
low a Duelist
Was Eliminated
3, ELINoR MARSH

40 was one vast uueiing ground \
q, was especially in vogue in the
A practice Of this sort is. of
sure to be abused A good
..man who desired to be nd Of
10 stood in his way would pick a
,rsl with him and XIII him. Then.
hare were men who had a pas
tor killing other men.
mo- Louise d'Alger. girl OF that
\ very beautiful. much beloved.
resident of Paris. One of her
owes young man of great prom
ras killed in duel. and bis death
,srpd her very bitter against the
am She could not understand
when a man was challenged by |
.srson who was perfectly capable Of
,no him and intended to kill him |
victim should be considered bound
honor to accept the challenge. New
,aoless such was the custom of the
q and the challenged party had to
.0sa between death and social ruin.
!, This time in Paris was man who
been "out'' a great many times
always killed his antagonist.
.rcelv a week passed but 1t was an
,nnced that some man prominent So
M had fallen before bis sword. A
ror fell upon mothers. sisters and
-erp lest one whose life was precious
them would be added to his victims.
! time It was hoped that some
a more sldllful than he would put
q ont of the way. But not one Of
most admirable fencers in Paris
emed disposed to tackle him. and he
/ not trouble any Of them.
louise dAlger declared that any
cans of getting rid of the Scourge,
he was called, would be excusable
nj wondered why some man did not
M him in the back. She was told
sst one who would do that would be
sgarded as a murderer
aBut," she replied. .he commits muir
er all the while"
aTrue. but there is no law to punish
linz should any one stab him In the
kck the person doing so would fal
nder the ban of the statute covering
murder. Besides, he would be ostra
tsed by his friends"
There seemed no justice, but grea
Injustice, in this to Mile. D'Alger, ant
Inc could not divert her mind from
eeling that such an enormity was SUI
Iered to exist merely by opinion. Sh
hooded upon it till 1t seemed to he
hat she must do something to stop tn
kourge's murders. just as Chariot
Corday at later period rid Franc
h Marat.
Nile. D'Alger possessed a forum
md. though she was not noble. bel
|, high position in Paris society. On
hy the elite received invitations to
BAN to be given by her. What wa
he Scourge's surprise to receive a
invitation. He was not accustomed
receiving invitations unless he droppe
hint to some man of the family abot
b entertain that he would like on
Then the bid was forthcoming. for
refusal would be regarded 40 an Il
suit and would cost a life. tt
scourge was much fiattered at recei'
ing Mile. D'Algers invitation witho'
any action on his own part Then. to
be inferred that possibly she had falle
IN love with him.
When he appeared among Mile. D'A
gers guests every one was astonishe
The hostess had no man relati'
through whom he might have fore
an invitation, and 1t was not to
expected that she would invite him
her own free viii All eyes we
turned upon her when the duelist
entering the ballroom stepped up
her to make the formal greeting q
the hostess, and every one marveled
her cordial reception of him.
The Scourge was beside himself W
pride and arrogance at having been
vited to the house Of lady OF pro
hence In face of the prejudice, as
called it. Of all Paris. The first I
dances he chose for partners SO
lady who had a brother, well know
that she would not dare refuse d
Later he made his bow to the host'
She smiled upon him graciously
took position on the floor beside mn
Every eye was turned upon the
pie. Mile. D'Alger's views with reg
to dueling were well known. and
one knew Of any way by which
could force such cordial treatm
Could IT be that she had been fasci
ed by this man on account Of the ?
er he possessed through his sworus
When in the dance the Scourge
bis partners hand In his he felt SC
thing prick his finger. BE paid nc
tention to 1t. Indeed. he could not
do so under the circumstances. ]
he was seen to stagger and raise
hand to his head. Instead OF conc
ing his partner to another iocai1t
the room he tottered away BY him
but before he had gone a dozen
sank down upon the floor. A {
formed about him. all wondering
could have happened to him
Nile D'Alger called for lackeys
directed them to carry out the I
man who was already dead
turning to her guests said:
Let not this episode interfere
-FOUR amueemonfr