The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-09

that the oldest experience a duelist
ever had occurred TO me a year after
the yah did not know Majah Davis
until after peace came. Then he came
to settle in the town where | lived.
The majah had a good record as a
soldier, and it happened that we soon
became friends. The first time 1 saw
MIN noticed that the lobe Of his right
ear was partly gone, and / made up
my mind that a bullet had inflicted the
damage. or co'se ! didn't refer to
it, and it was n couple of years befo'
he made any explanation. Ore day as
be sat in my office he made some allu-
sion to his falling sight and added:
Colonel Venables. there was time
and II was not long ago that | had the
sight OF an eagle think | had the
best pair of eyes in the United States
Il made some appropriate reply. and
he went on:
"'Colonel. I'll tell you how good my
eyes were and see if you won't be as
tonished. At the battle of Cedar
Mountain | sat on my horse directing
the operations of my regiment when !
saw Yankee soldier beside a tree
half mile away While | watched
him he drew up his gun and aimed at
me. | saw that he aimed TO put a buI-
let between my eyes. Mind you. colo
mel. | saw all this as plain as | see
you. could not finch befo' my regi-
ment. and | had to sit in my saddle
and await my doom. After a few sec
onds his gun was discharged. / saw
the bullet coming straight for me. and
| watched II until II was within two
feet OF my head Then | lodged to
the left to avoid it. but did not dodge
quite far enough. and as conse-
/ quencc the bullet struck the lobe Of my
ear
| That was indeed wonderful ! re
piled, thinking he had been drinking
too much and was inclined to boast.
Yes, suh.' the majah went on, i
/ saw Tie bullet every foot of the way
/ and That's how good my eyes were
I'm rather afraid that they are losing
their sight. although saw bird the
/ nthr n" which was ut least flying q
milo h'gh.
Then surely, maiah. your eyes mus,
be all right. You are the only man
ever met who had seen a bullet In II.
tlicEt'
"'But maybe you don't believe m!
statement. colonel he retorted.
why. MS you say you saw the bul
let | am bound to believe you, although
1t was rare thing. | myself hav,
seen cannon balls flying about
Yes. sub, |. saw that bullet. an,
the man who says didn't means t.
insult me-
II tried to turn the conversation int,
other channels, but the majah was oh
stinate and perverse and would no
have 1t. After minute or two h,
said:
"'Colonel venables. | want a direc
answer from you. DO you believe tn
statement made or do you notr
"'You might have possibly been mis-
taken. maiah, ! replied.
That Is enough, colonel, he stlfii
said as he rose up. I will send
friend to YOU. sub"
There il was plain and straight, an
wit hin two hours the details of due
had been arranged We met an
fought the next morning. The maja
was a novice with the rapier, and
could have run him through within
minute did not wish him any hur
however let him Off with a scratcl
and We went our ways We woul
probably have been friends again, bu
within two weeks he caught the t.
phus fever and within few days wa
dead. After about three months
stranger entered my office one da
and said that he had come to challeng
me with a duel.
"Why, man. | never even saw yol
face befo'" replied.
But | am brother Of Majah ID
Wis. whom you fought few montl
ago You must give me satisfaction.
According to the code of honah
YOU fought duel with a man his rel
tives could take ii up as long as the
lasted II the majah's brother though
that any stain had rested upon his re
ord he had a right to challenge me.
selected pistols, and when we met
the grove | sent a ball through b
shoulder. and his bullet graZed my hi
"In about fou' weeks another strang,
entered my office His name was ID
: Wis. and he was brother to the la
one. and he had come upon the san
errand. There was no hard feeling
We spoke very pleasantly, and | agree
TO accept the challenge from him.
selected rapiers this time, and v
: wounded each other He went ava
home. and carried my arm I'm slir
fo' three or fou' weeks. Then, su
came the fourth Davis. He was
brother TO the others and a fine spoke
man. could not refuse his reques
N las,rpax- af fiffv mil,