THE MAN REFUSED TO FIGHT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 569, 21 May 1913, Page 2

THE MAN REFUSED TO FIGHT.

A big Frenchman was talking in loud and blustering tones about his many achievements in duelling as he travelled, in company with several passengers, in tho smoking compartment of one of our railway trains. In the corner opposite to him sat a small man quietly reading a magazine. and to him ke leaned over and arrogantly said :

"Monsieur, what would you do if you were challenged to fight a duel ?'

"I should refuse," was the unhesitating reply. "Ah ! ah ! I thought as much. Refuse and be branded a coward ! But if a gentleman offered you the choice of a duel or a public whipping ; then what ?"

"I'd take the whipping." "Ah ! ah ! I thought so from your looks. Suppose,, monsieur, you had foully slandered me?" "I never slander."

"Then, monsieur, suppose % man had coolly and deliberately insulted you ; what would you do ? ' ■''l'd rise up this way. put do..n my book this way, reach over li',:o this, and take him by the nose, and give it a proper sort of twist just so !"

When the little man relinquished his grip of the big man's nasal organ, his neighbours slid away in abject terror, to escape the bullets which would surely be flying at o nce >" but there was no shooting. The big man turned crimson—then white — then looked the little man over and remarked :

"Ah—certainly—of course that's it—exactly !" And then the conversation too'.v a turn on the prospects of war with Turkey.