The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-12-06
ADuel That Never
Came Off
By RUTH GRAHAM

able him to see the world. Luther had
inherited the faculty Of coming money
in many different ways.
When he had gathered in enough to
enable him to do what he liked he re-
solved to join the then annual heglra
of tourists-that was before the great
worlds war-to Italy.
His native shrewdness enabled him
to see how plainly the great gaping
crowd of travellers were gulled by those
who humbugged them. While in Ma
pies he visited museum containing
articles that had been exhumed from
the city of Pompeii some 1000 years
ago. \ guide was taking a party OF
Americans through the place. explain
ing what the articles were.
''Thcse are the cups he said, "out
of which the Pompeiians drank their
coffee"
Hold on there. my friend put III
Luther. II didn't reckon the people
over here in those days had coffee
You spoke too late. said tie guide.
with grin. and passed on. man'lfac-
turing other statements equally i'm
sprObable.
Persons meeting on the street in Italy
pass to the left instead Of the right. as
in America Luther WAS walking one
day on street in Rome when, on
meeting a man. he kept to the right.
The man kept to his own left. which
was Luther's right. and the two came
to standstill. There was an alterca-
ton; but, the custom OF the country be-
ing explained to the American, he apol-
ogized The italian would not accept
an apology. Re was too angry to listen
to reason. He handed card to Luther,
who. supposing an exchange OF ad-
dresses was intended. not understand
ing why, gave his own card. Then the
Italian passed on. muttering impreca
tons.
The same evening Luther received a
visit from Ricardo Visconti, who said
he bore a challenge from Signor Ed
gardo Murcili.
didn't know how they steercd over
here"
But my principal refuses to accept
al apology"
''Oh, he does! Well. you just tell
him that he can do as he pleases about
that"
You. signor." the gentleman pro-
ceeded. being the challenged party.
have the choice Of weapons
That's generous. choose feather
dusters.'
81 beg that Signor Baldwin will not
attempt to make light Of serious af-
fair. Will you fight with foils or pis-
tols?" ..rs,.' - 80 81 '"..-'
Though Luther had not been long
abroad, he had become impressed with
the fact. as lie expressed it, that Eu-
rope was big show ground for Amer
leans. and the ways of getting his
countrymen to leave their funds there
were multifarious and diverse. He
began to suspect that the challenge
was a matter of extortion.
See here, senor,' he said, whats
the damage in good American money
for passing a man on the street on the
wrong side?'
Signor ViscOnti relaxed. IF Signor
Baldwin," he said. considers the mat
ter case of indemnity rather than an
intended insult think possibly the
matter can be arranged on that basis"
Just so. How would the payment Of
a hundred francs suit your esteemed
fliend?"
"a hundred francs!" The man held
up his hands in horror at the mention
Of such small sum.
VERY we'll: name your figure
"Of course such settlement has not
occurred to my principal. shall have
to refer the matter to him."
about what do you think would be
a fair settlement?''
1T seems to me that if you pay for
the injury done Signor Murclli 1000
francs would be an equitable amount"
This satisfied Baldwin that he had
simply run mp against one of the many
ways of bleeding Americans.
"Signor," he said, 1000. francs is
5000 in American money. My life isn't
worth it. We Americans don't count
ourselves as valuable as you consider
yourselves over here. I've concluded to
fight. I'm ambitious to die in that arena
where gladiators died thousands of
years ago. reckon that, having the
choice of weapons. have the choice of
time and place. Tell Signor Murelli
that will meet him at IL midnight in
the arena Of the Coliseum
But. signor," protested the Italian.
lat that hour the Coliseum is not open
Besides. the place is too public for such
an affair"
1T wasn't too public for your ances.
tors to feed Christians to lions, was tt?'
"Ah, signor. with that have MOTH
ing to do. would suggest as a place
of meeting a spot on the Janiculum bill
across the Tiber.'
"I'll fight in the Coliseum or not at
all. Do you suppose Pm going back to
America to tell my friends that |
fought duel in shady place when
there was field at Eand twenty CEN
turtles old with the memory of thou
sands of men who had fought and died
to inspire me? No. stree. Luther
Baldwin amt any such galoot."
Luther Baldwin as he spoke the