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

able him to see the world. Lllller Htu
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 a 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 in
Luther. II didn't reckon the people
over here in those days had coffee
You spoke too late said the guide,
with a grin. and passed on. manufac-
turing other statements equally i'm
probable.
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 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 adj
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 q challenge from Signor Ed
gardo NIurcili.
II apologized for that matter.
didn't know how they steered over
here
But my principal refuses to accept
an apology"
ooh, 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. l choose feather
busters"
81 beg that Signor Baldwin will not
to make light of serious af-
fair. Will you fight with foils or pis-
tOls?" . @-a,- - =. .... = r..
Though Luther had not been long
abroad, he had become impressed with
the fact. as he expressed it. that Eu-
rope was a big show ground for Amer
leans. and the ways Of getting his
countrymen to leave their funds there
We're multifarious and diverse He
began to suspect that the challenge
was matter of extortion
"See here senor," he said whats
the damage in good American money
for passing man on the street on the
wrong side?'
Signor Visconti relaxed. IF Signor
he said, considers the mat
ter case of indemnity rather than an
insult think possibly the
matter can be arranged on that basis.''
Just so. How would the payment of
a hundred francs suit your esteemed
friend?"
"A hundred francs!" The man held
up his hands in horror at the mention
IF such small sum.
Every well: 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
=, fair settlement"
1T seems to me that if YOU nav 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
500 in American money. My life isn't
worth it. We Americans don't counr
as valuable as you consider
yourselves over here. I've concluded to
light. I'm ambitious to die in that arena
where gladiators died thousands of
FEARS ago. reckon that, having the
choice of weapons. have the choice of
line and place. Tell Signor Murelli
hat I will meet him at II midnight in
he arena Of the Coliseum"
But, signor," protested the Italian.
at that hour the Coliseum is not omen
Besides the place is too public for such
IN affair.""
ut wasn't too public for your ances.
ors to feed Christians to lions, was ity"
"Ah, signor. with that have moth
ns to do. ] would suggest as a place
# meeting spot on the Janiculum hill
lcross the Tiber"
It'll fight in the Coliseum or not at
ILL., Do you suppose Pm going back to
America to tell my friends that
ought a duel in shady place when
here was a field at hand twenty cen
urles old with the memory of thou
ands of men who had fought and died
o inspire me? No, stree. Luther
amt any such galoot."
Luther Baldwin as no epol,o w.