Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 949 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“Very well, Dick,” he said, ‘I will not inter- fere unless it becomes necessary.” Somers, adding: ‘*T have some letters to write, and you have | oon to make—I think, so you had better be off, ** You will remain here to-night?” ** 1 shall,” ““Allright. Dll attend to having you called. ** Good-night!” ** Good-night!” : It was a quiet, ordinary parting between two friends, yet neither underrated the danger, and, during the balance of the night, Decatur was strangely thoughtful. There was a large gathering at the Mackays that evening, and many eyes were turned upon the young lieutenant, when he appeared in the drawing-room. Already there were rumors of a duel between some English and American officers, and Deca- tur’s preoccupied air lent color to one story that he was one of the principals, anc Eugenie the cause. This story, circulated rapidly, soon reached the cause, who was by no means pleased with the notoriety she was attaining, and when De- catur approached she asked: ‘*1Do you know that there is an absurd rumor that you are going to fight a duel?” ‘‘Dame Rumor plays sorry tricks with Truth,” was the careless reply, adding: ‘* Have you seen anything of Laurie?” ‘‘Then it is true?” angrily, and disregarding his question. The tone was a new one, and Decatur looked at the fair speaker in surprise, ‘*T presume, then, the rest of the story is true?” continued Eugenie, ‘*T don’t understand you, but it probably is not. ** What is the rest?” Expecting that Somers would be wounded certainly in the second, if not in the first, duel, Decatur felt sure he would be called upon to give the promised satisfaction, in the third, and was looking for Laurie, wishing to have him for his second, e had paid little attention to Eugenie’s words until struck by the tone of her last ques- tion, Eugenie’s reply to his inquiry came like a thunderbolt: ** The stery goes that I have been made the subject of a drunken brawl, with the result that you are to fight a duel—thus increasing public nterest in the disgraceful affair.” ‘*Can you name one man who repeats that foul lie? .I wish to get at the originator, that you may be satisfied it is untrue,” Decatur spoke quietly; Eugenie, still angry, was deceived, and quickly replied: ‘* There stands Don Antonio—ask him!” Don Antonio was a Spanish nobleman, who had been last among those fighting for Eugenie’s favor to surrender to Decatur. The latter now unjustly suspected that the Spaniard had told the story to injure him, whereas Don Antonio had jestingly asked if Eu- enie had heard that her many admirers were urious Over the success of Decatur. That was the whole story, but immediately after came the rumor of the duel, and, unfor- tunately, Eugenie connected Don Antonio with both. Leaving Eugenie, Decatur, full of wrath, went straight to the unsuspicious Don, with whom he had but a slight acquaintance, Fall of extravagant and unmeanin the Don expressed great joy on beho tur, ending with the usual wish: ** And may you live one thousand years!” “You will live about one thousand minutes, unless you can explain what you have been tell- ing Miss de Morny!” was the fierce, though ap- parently friendly and loud-spoken response, ‘ What do you mean, sir!” haughtily demand- ed the Don, adding: ee ve told Miss de Morny nothing but the ** You lie!” hissed Decatur. ‘““Where and when you will,” he continued; *“you can have satisfaction for that, but endea- "The spe Ket speed b ) er ed out of the room as he ut- tered these almost whispered words, but many eyes had been upon him, and when the Don's hand fell upon his sword-hilt at Decatur’sinsult- liteness, ng Deca- ing words, every one knew what happened. Another duel!” laughingly med one of the English officers, who had consented to act as ri second to three meetings next morning, add- g: | | The Three Lieutenants. ‘* These Americans are fire-eaters!” 15 ‘Again the stern, deadly preliminaries are Eugenie heard the words, and an hour later | gone through, but this time both men fall—and ‘*Let- us hope it will not,” quietly returned | Decatur received a letter from her, CHAPTER XXII, DESPERATE DUELING, ‘‘___Front to front > : o sring thou this fiend— Within my sword’s length set him; if he ’scape, Heaven forgive him, toot” MACBETH. THE glances shot at him, as he crossed the Mackays’ drawing-room, revealed to Decatur that the object, or subject, or both, of his con- versation with Don Antonio, were no secret to many of the assemblage, Cursing his hot-headedness, in thus giving ground for further gossip, Decatur left. the house to seek Somers as a counselor, and Laurie as a second. He wondered where the latter was, and learned only on informing Somers of what had occurred between Don Antonio and him- self, Guessing something of his friend’s error, Somers said: ‘You can’t fight the Don to-morrow—that’s certain. ‘* Now, promise me not to fight until I can have two minutes’ conversation with him and our second, and J’ll tell you where to find aurie,”’ ‘** Nothing derogatory in promising?” demand- ed D cowie S ‘* Nothing—positively.” ‘** Then I promise,” ‘* Very well, You'll find Laurie with Captain Dare. He returned to the P this morning, and can be of no use to you untill am out of my oy in *‘.But how amI to arrange with the Don?” half-angrily asked Decatur. ‘** Easily enough, Ill write to-night, saying he can send his man to me to-morrow.” ‘* But before your letter can be delivered to- morrow—” Decatur stopped short, somewhat confused, but Somers understood what he was about to say, and replied: ‘Very true, Steve, but if Iam dead, as you were about to remark, will not that be ample excuse for referring the Don’s second to your friend Laurie?” ** Yes, I suppose so.” Just as this reluctant reply was uttered, one of the inn servants tapped on the door, ‘‘ A letter for Lieutenant Decatur,” be an- nounced, handing the billet to Somers, who had answered his knock, ‘‘The Don’s in a hurry,” remarked Decatur as he took the letter, but'a minute later turned pale—so pale that Somers forbore questioning when the missive was crushed into a ball and tossed into the fire. The letter was from Eugenie, and read: ‘‘I cannot consent—or appear to do so—to your efforts to make me the talk of the town, by chal- engi every gentleman who speaks of, or to, me, and must, therefore, ask to be released from our engagement.”’ It was a stinging letter, and, for several min- utes, Decatur'sat like one who had received a stunning blow, ‘That was from Miss de Morny, and ends our ang 38 erp he said, very quietly, as, after a few minutes, he arose and bade his friend good-night, Somers shook his hand, in silent sympathy, and Decatur retired to his room. It is five o’clock in the morning, in a field near the garrison barracks at Malta. Four men are engaged in conversation, while four more—three together and one alone—stand apart from them. The first four are Decatur and the English | seconds, who have just arranged the order of firing, and only await the arrival of the two ‘surgeons to begin. In a few minutes, the surgeons appear on the scene, and Decatur immediately places his friend on the mark—with his back to the rising sun. The English officer is already in position, the word given, and both men fire. Both stagger back, wounded, but neither falls, and a hasty examination reveals that each is only slightly wounded. ‘Quick! Get your man in tion!” ex- claimed Decatur, as soon as the extent of Somers’s injury bad been ascertained. Again-Decatur had won the choice of posi- tion, and the second English officer stood with the sun in bis eyes. ge’. had, ay KSI er eee By both are badly wounded. ‘“* My friend is unable to stand—” begins De- catur. ‘‘ And, of course, this must end right here!” interrupts one surgeon. ‘‘Oh, no! . I promised these gentlemen that I would see the affair to the finish, and, if you will attend to my friend, I will fill his place with the third gentleman,” The first two officers had purposely claimed precedence, because the third was a noted duel- ist, an exceedingly bitter man, but he was not to be cheated out of his revenge, and although all protested against it, claimed his shot, ‘*T will wait, if necessary,” said he, ‘‘ until he can stand, and then I will kil/ him!” **Not at all necessary,” came the response from Somers. ‘‘ Why not settle it now? Ican sit up.” ** Nonsense!” exclaimed Decatur. ‘* No nonsense, Steve! I positively will give this gentlenian his shot, and you must not inter fere—except to help me. : ‘‘ Stand with your leg to my back.” Remonstrance was useless. Somers firmly in- sisted on fighting to the bitter end, and the pro- Sessional duelist took his position, while his crippled opponent leaned against Decatur’s knee —the latter being half-kneeling. Decatur was mad with rage, and as the other took his position, shouted: ‘*You cur! Unless your shot kills both, you shall meet me!” (The picture is not at alloverdrawn. Richard Somers fought the three duels, and the last one in precisely the position described). Nothing but Somers’s demand for it could in- duce the English second to give the word. ‘*Tt’s murder!” he protested, ‘** Never mind, give it!” ordered Somers. It was given, and as the echoes died away, the rofessional duelist breathed his last, while Somers, with a low moan, sunk back in Deca- tur’s arms, ‘*He was not hit this time,” declared the sur- geon. ‘‘ It’s the strain on his nerves and loss of blood.” ** Happy to hear it!” simultaneously exclaimed, both of Somers’s late opponents, while their second joined in expressing relief that the gallant fellow had not received a third wound, Decatur, of course, was more relieved than any one else, to hear the surgeon’s declaration and thanking the English officers for their kin expressions, had Somers removed to the nearest inn. Before noon the true story of the three duels— that is, that Somers had insulted the English officers, and that Decatur had acted as his sec- pref pretty well known throughout the city. Decatur was made aware of this through the arrival of Laurie at the inn about the same time that Somers became fully conscious—one o’clock in the afternoon. “How did 1 find you?’ echoed Laurie. ‘“ Why, if you had hired the town-crier, your whereabouts couldn’t be better known.” ** Send for Don Antonio!” whispered Somers. ** Now leave me with the surgeon,” he con- tinued, as Laurie started off, and, after some persuasiou, Decatur consented to leave the room when the Don should be announced, CHAPTER XXII, THE BEGINNING OF THE END, ** Dear, if you knew what tears they shed, Who live apart from home and friend, To pass my house, by pity led, Your steps would tend.” On arriving at Mr. Mackay’s residence, Laurie found Don Antonio—as he had been assured by ecm that there ‘‘ the Spaniard surely would 1 The Don, however, was not in the happy frame of =p that bhi jealous, 7% nog successful, rival sup e was, n the contrary, he was emia ania toring to avoid saying any- thing regarding his impending duel with De- catur, while the whole Mackay family, backed by Eugenie, clamored for information. Laurie knew nothing of what bad taken place the previous evening, and, therefore, was not at all surprised at pale, anxious and tearf Eugenie’s inquiry: ‘*Is Mr. Decatur safe?” But he was surprised at the way the Don was attacked, when, after assuring Eugenie that De- catur was unin , Laurie continued: ‘In fact I am a messenger from him—or J J s. Sdn ’ a®F ’ Eel: ; Fe ,¢ ‘ ’ x » © AT oe oe . oa ate d we “9 . , j °F eos Tey ante < i * } = q + ‘ ComICcboc ae ua. < . 4 Jats (7 me 4 = , et} ; Z eat |, raueeey fd ae myn tAD ‘2 - 7. , « »*. ' ON | ) 4 ‘ » H * é © “as?