"I once got these from an of？cer in Vienna，and they have been used in more than a score of duels，I was told.One of the pistols—I can't tell which it is—has killed a dozen men，so you are going to ？ght with famous weapons."Both Arthur and Bill Sizer，as well as the groups at the window，watched the loading of the pistols with fascinated gaze.
"Bob's a queer ol'feller，"whispered Peggy McNutt to theblacksmith，who stood beside him."This dool is just one o'his odd fancies.Much he keers if they kills each other or not ！""Mr.West，"cried Patsy，suddenly rousing from her apathy，"I'll not allow this shameful thing！A duel is no better than murder，and I'm sure there is a law against it.""True，"returned West，ramming the bullet into the second pistol；"it is quite irregular and—er—illegal，I believe.Perhaps I shall go to jail with whichever of the duelists survives；but you see it is a point of honor with us all.MollySizer has seemingly been grossly maligned in your paper，and the editor is responsible.Are you a good shot，Bill ？""I—I guess so，"stammered Sizer.
"That's good.Weldon，I hear，is an expert with the pistol."Arthur did not contradict this statement，although he waspositive he could not hit a barn at twenty yards."Now，then，are we ready ？"staid West，rising."Comewith me，gentlemen.""What ye goin'to do，Bob？"asked Sizer，anxiously."I'll explain，"replied the hardware man，leading theway to the street.Everyone followed him and the crowd at the windows joined the group outside."Of course you mustn't shoot in the main street，for you might hit some one，or break windows；but back of this row of buildings is a lane that is perfectly clear.You will stand back to back in the center of the block and then，at my word，you will each march to the end of the block and pass around the buildings to the lane.As soon as you come in sight of one another you are privileged to ？re，and I suppose Bill Sizer will try to kill you，Mr.Weldon，on the spot，and therefore you will try to kill him ？rst.""But—look a—here，Bob ！"cried Sizer；"it ain't right ferhim to take a shot at me.You said fer me to kill him，but ye didn't say nuth'n about his shootin'at me.""That's all right，Bill，"returned West."You're in theright，and the right ought to win.But you must give the man achance for his life，you know.""That weren't in the bargain.""It is now，by the laws of dueling.""He—he might shoot me，"urged Bill.
"It isn't likely.Although he's a dead shot，you have right on your side，and you must be sure to ？re as soon as you get within good range.It won't be considered murder；it will only be a duel，and the law will deal lightly with you.""That's right，Bill，"asserted one of Sizer's friends."Bob West's a justice o'the peace himself，an'he orter know.""I do know，"declared West gravely.
He placed Arthur Weldon and Bill Sizer back to back in the middle of the street and handed each a pistol.
"Now，then，"said he，"you both understand the rules，whichI have explained，and the spectators will bear witness that，whatever happens，this affair has been conducted in a regular manner，with no favor shown to either.You are both brave men，and this duel will vindicatea your honor.If you are fortunate enough to survive，you will be heroes，and all your differences will be wiped off the slate.But as one or both may fall，we，the citizens of Millville，hereby bid you a solemn and sad farewell."Impressed by this speech，Sizer's friends began to shake hands with him.
"All ready！"called West."One—two—three—go！"At the word the two，back to back，started for the opposite ends of the little street，and at once the crowd made a rush between the buildings to gain the rear，where they might witness the shooting in the lane when the duelists met.Arthur had been thinking seriously during these proceedings and had made up his mind it was in no degree his duty to be bored full of holes by a drunken countryman like Bill Sizer，just because there had been a typographical error in the Millville Tribune.So，when he got to the end of the street，instead of turning intothe lane he made for the farm，holding the long dueling pistol gingerlya in his hand and trotting at a good pace for home.
Footsteps followed him.In sudden panic he increased his run；but the other was faster.A heavy hand grasped his shoulder and swung him around，while old Bob West，panting for Breath，exclaimed：
"Stop，you fool—stop ！The other one is running.""The other one！"echoed Arthur，wonderingly.
"Of course.Bill Sizer was sure to run；he's a coward，as all bullies are.Quick，Weldon，save the day and your reputation or I'll never stand your friend again."Arthur understood now.He turned and ran back faster than he had come，swung into the lane where the crowd was cautiously peering from the shelter of the buildings，and waving his pistol in a reckless way that made Bob West shudder，he cried out：
"Where is he？Where's Sizer？Why don't he show up and be shot，like a man ？"No Sizer appeared.He was even then headed cross—lots for home，leaving his friends to bemoana his cowardice.As for Arthur，the crowd gave him a cheer and condemned his opponent's conduct in no measured terms.They were terribly disappointed by Big Bill's defection，for while not especially bloodthirsty they hated to see the impendingb tragedy turn out a farcec.
In the printing of？ce Patsy was laughing hysterically as her horror dissolved and allowed her to discover the comic phase of the duel.She literally fell on Arthur's neck as he entered，but the next moment pushed him away to face the hardware merchant.
"I beg your pardon，Mr.West，"said she with twinklingeyes."I suspected you of being a cold—blooded ruf？an，when you proposed this duel；but I now see that you understand human nature better than the whole caboodled of us put together！Arthur，thank Mr.West for saving you from a ？ogging.""I do，indeed！"said Arthur fervently.