Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-03
The Daily
Short Story
THE RIVALS.
By Elmer Marsh.

Jim Farleign received permissIop
from his father to gre house uar,,
during the Christmas holidays al that,
country place, and /, who was ys,r
| chumny with Jim, was OF course fnv,.
sd. They called the place Vieudela.r
There was everything there TO maj
life enjoyable; ballroom, a b,lli.-ss
room, a swimming tank and a gymr,s
iuD.
We were q young party, the mm,,
ages averaging %, the girls ~
There was a belle among the p,,s.
Eva Trowbridge The principal n.
son for her being belle was beeans.
OF her very lovely disposition. II VA
natural for her to be considerafa y
everyone. This included me. but si,rs
her kind OF treatment Of ne was a.
same as the others, I didn't put !.
down for a preference, though I wouls
have been glad to think that was sss
prime .favorite.
| Some Of the other men didn't tai.
my view In respect to themselves, AMI
there were two guests who were nadlr
in love with her. They were Jaci
Pierson and Ned Armstrong.
Jim Farleigh was fond OF boxing
fencing and other athleti exports. and
had reserved a corner Of the gymnas.
ium for the use of the gloves and the
foils. One morning when / was in
the gymnasium doing some stunts IN
the parallel bars, Pierson and Arm
strong came in and walked straight
to the reserved corner. They called
to me as they passed and gave me Ia
understand that they were going Ia
fence, and wished me to act as umpire
noticed that each had a fol- under
his arm which he stood in convent
ent place against the wall.
took g. seat where could watrh
the fencing. They took of their coats
and vests, and each taking foil from
the rack, put themselves In position
for the fray. wondered why they
had brought in foils and used 9TH
ers. But this was a passing thought
with me. Before beginning to fght
Jack Pierson examined the button on
/ the end of his foil, and coming to ne
asked me If / didn't think it nigh.
break of IL tried too severely.
looked at It, and told him it was per-
fectly safe. Ned Armstrong did tbs
same. and also approved his foil
They fenced for while, but Il
didn't seem to me that either was do
: ing his best work. Finally Jack pro
posed to rest for a while and smoke
n a cigarette. Neither one Of Us had
any cigarettes, but my case was In nv
coat pocket at he other end of the
t, gymnasium. went for it and, return
/, ing, each one OF us took a cigarette
7, and lighted 1t. The fencers took oniy
{, a few puffs, when they threw theirs
g away and again placed themselves on
g guard
a While previously they had fenced
e, languidly, now every nerve. every mus
Gle, was at tension. They could not
have been more alert II they had been
a fighting for their lives.
T, The two men were quite evenly
d matched, and I should have enjoyed
II the contest had it not been that did
It not like the spirit with which they
2 were fencing. Instead Of friendly con
IT test. it seemed a serious one. Their
/ faces were red and their eyes gleam-
r ing.
lie Finally I arose from my seat and put
N myself between them. So great was
N their antagonism that I was In some
danger Of being punched by their
foils. Finally / succeeded in stopping
10 them. and they lowered their weapons.
z, IF you fellows can't fence in a
a. friendly way" said, you had better
a stop. If one OF you should hurt the
Ie other, it would be poor return for Jim
V, Farleigh's hospitality
lg Instinctively I looked at the ton
ne OF Jacks foil, and could not see the
o. button seized the foil and held /.
z. near enough to observe the tip. There
at was no button on it. It was sharp az
a bayonet. I took up Ned's foil, and
it was the same.
On What does this mean? p I asked an
n griIy.
L. Neither answered.
r You men," continued, have dis
al graced yourselves in fighting on the
I'D premises OF your host. And you have
Ii roped me into your ignominious con.
as duct You intended if either was hurt
he to call on NE TO prove that an accident
re occurred through the breaking Of 8
er Toll. You sent me for cigarettes, and
til while my back was turned you took uf
those foils that you had brought wifi
you, and then began to fight in earn
gy est. Give them to me-
ok took the weapons, and as I did ST
I'd heard steps behind me. Turning. I saw
nd Eva Trowhridge and another Of TIT
ay girl guests.
40, Il Just got wind of the affair."" she
Mt, said, and that it was about NE de
vn sire to say to you, Mr.. Peterson and
in Mr.. Armstrong. that 1 concur with tn
~ words spoken by your umpire If you
sr- don't hasten to take your departure
st. nom this place at once, I will go nj
bic self"
Then, turning TO me, she said feel
ingly; y shall never forget Tx
In favor you have done me in stoppins
IA this disgraceful, this stupid affair"
atty She put her hand on my arm an
G. walked with me ont OF the room.
on The two men who had offended he
cal by fighting for her made excuses an
an. left immediately l suggested to be
am and to her friend to say nothing Of III
It's matter, and | think it got no further.
From that moment received ever
encouragement from Miss Trowbrdig
ISL and was overjoyed to take advantag
nj of It. She Is now my wife.
IN