Arms and the Woman

"Well," I mused, "there's consolation in knowing that in two hours I

shall be either dead or alive."

I flung the cane into the corner. To pass away the time I paced back

and forth. It passed too quickly; and it was not long ere I heard the

clatter of the returning cavalrymen. Some one knocked at my door. I

swung it open and--was thrown to the floor, bound and gagged in a tenth

of a minute.

"Put him on the bed," whispered the leader of my assailants. When this

was done the voice added: "Now you can go to the stables and wait there

till I call you."

It was the innkeeper. He surveyed me for a moment and scratched his

chin.

"Will Herr keep perfectly quiet if I take the handkerchief from his

mouth?" he asked.

I nodded, bewildered.

"What in tophet does this mean?" I gasped. I did not say tophet, but

it looks better in writing.

"It means nothing and everything," was the answer. "In the first

place, Herr will fight no duel. The man with whom you were to fight

was sent on an errand to this out-of-the-way place as a punishment for

dueling at the capital. I know him by reputation. He is a brawler,

but a fair swordsman. He would halve you as I would a chicken. There

is another who has a prior claim on him. If there is anything left of

Herr Lieutenant at the end of the fray, you are welcome to it. Yes,

there will be a duel, but you will not be one of the principals. It is

all arranged."

"But I do not understand," I cried.

"It is not necessary that you should." He laughed and rubbed his hands

in pleasurable anticipation. "There is a young man downstairs, who

arrived a few moments before the lieutenant. He has a special affair.

There were words. Herr Lieutenant is mad enough to fight a whole

company."

"Then, why in heaven's name am I up here in this condition?" I cried.

"Let me go and be the young man's second; though I can't for the life

of me see where he has come from so suddenly, and I might say,

opportunely. Come, cut me loose."

"It is too late!"

"Too late?"

"Yes. Herr Lieutenant has been informed that you ran away."

"Ran away!" I roared. "You told him that I ran away? Damn your

insolence! I'll break every bone in your body for this!" I cried,

straining at the ropes.