The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-12-13
By EVERETT. M'CLOUD

AegHn at twenty-five. From a man OF
impulse he had developed into a man
9f thought and well considered action.
He rose rapidly In the esteem Of the
French medical staff and before long
was made the medical director Of an
army division. la " g
At a period when the French were
hard pressed by the Germans in the
iatter's efforts to capture verdun Jer-
negan was directing the distributions
sf surgeons upon different parts Of the
held, vainly eudeavoring to make the
klnited number at his command SUI
fice. when q young French surgeon
named Dorvieux came In with q hot
complaint against one LIE Fevre, q fel-
low surgeon, who had ordered him OF
tho feld for what lie Fevre considered
gross neglect of a wounded a
"Doctor." said Deryieux to Jernegan,
II propose to challenge LIE Fevre to
tight. and It Is necessary for me to se-
cere your permission in the matter"
"qo to the 'front.'" replied Jernegan
sternly, "where the Germans r now
launching an attack, and If you are not
killed I will give LIE Fevre q chance at
you"
When the attack was repulsed Der.
vieux returned to his superior. Jerne-
9an was so absorbed In his duties and
responsibilities that he did not recog:
nze him.
"Wel." he said. what can 1 do for
you1" ~
II wish your permission, doctor. to
aght a duel"
SWELL, you can't get it. There are
enough of our surgeons killed by the
enemy without their killing each other.
Dueling under such circumstances is
roprehensible."
"But, doctor, l have heard that You
fought a duel while In the American
~my and at the front"
The doctor was taken fat aback by
tbs. He made no reply for a few mo
nents. He was thinking. Finally he
said:
sCome to me with your adversary to
MORROW after we have got some Of
these wounded men of to hospital, and
1 will see what l can do for you"
The next afternoon the two antago-
Hsts reported at Jernegan's headquar-
tors and stood before him scowling at
each other. Jernegan endeavored to
impress upon them tho folly of dueling.
especially when there was plenty OF
necessary fighting on hand. but the
custom has never been stamped out in
france, though many efforts have been
made to eradicate it. Finally recog-
ulzing the futility of his efforts, the
American said to his subordinates:
Franco cannot spare any Of her sur
aoous now. but since you gentlemen
must show your pluck you may do so
Uder q plan by which only one will
O. Under the code both may be
Killed or at least disabled. Under my
Han one will surely die, while the other
VIII still be ft for duty"
The doctor pledged both parties to
aetde BY bis plan. then produced two
tablets. which he placed upon 4 table
bofore him. They were exactly the
s4me size, shape and color.
eOne Of those pills." said Jernegan,
contains q deadly poison: the other is
harmless. You may each select one"
Nov, gentlemen" continued the
1sdical director. taking out his watch.
'1Cesently I will give the signal for
~ combat BY directing each one OF
yQu to swallow his tablet"
There Il nothing so wearing as indie
oAsio0. Very 500 both disputants be-
Gsn to show signs Of nervousness. But
tAe signal did not come. Dervieux's
hand wherein lay his tablet began to
trombie. and LIE Fevre showed signs OF
weakness In his legs.
Doctor" said Dervfeux. you must
hAve kept Us waiting half an hour. Is
t necessarily"
= have kept you only ive minutes"
w4s the reply.
weakening.
Surely. DOCTOR" he said, 1--WE have
boen waiting an hour. How much
Soger are you going to keep usT'
you have been holding those tablets
just twelve minutes" replied the doc
tor. by the bye. I forgot to ask you
4 he who must die desires any word
sent home and what disposition is to
10 made Of the body?"
By this time neither of the duelists
was in a condition to give such direc-
lions. Jernegan kept them in suspense
In all twenty minutes. then, seeing that
both were In a mental agony that
might produce serious results, said:
Gentlemen. how would you like to
make m referee in this matter?"
The officers consented. lie Fevre
said that Dervieux, as the challenger.
must speak first. Dervieux consented.
and Jernegan took both tablets and
swallowed them.
'"They were made Of powdered crack
srs," he said. land are harmless. And
now, DR.. Dervieux. please state your
complaint against DR.. LIE Fevre.'
The case was stated. and the referee
decided It to the satisfaction Of both
PARTIES, who shook hands and returned
. tasir R!!.spsr 4stass.