cidedly."

"This is also Joe's plan, so you will have to pay him, too."

"I don't want any money," put in our hero.

"Joe shall have ten dollars--if your plan wins out. But how is all this
to be accomplished?" continued Felix Gussing.

"We will take the earliest possible opportunity to visit Major Sampson,"
said Ulmer Montgomery.

"Well?"

"When we are all together, we'll get into some sort of an argument.
You shall call me a fool and I'll slap you in the face. Then you shall
challenge me to a duel."

"A duel! Why, sir, I--er--I never could shoot you, and I don't want to
be shot myself."

"My dear Mr. Gussing, you don't understand me. Don't you comprehend, the
pistols shall be loaded with powder only."

"Ah, that's the idea!" exclaimed the dude, much relieved.

"Yes. You see it will only be a sham duel so far as we are concerned,
but will, in the most harmless fashion possible, prove you to be a man
of honor and courage. Major Sampson's scruples will vanish, and you will
have the pleasure of gaining his daughter's hand in marriage.

"I agree, Mr. Montgomery--the plan is a famous one. Is it yours or is it
Joe's?"

"Joe's--but it will fall to me to help carry it out," said the
Jack-of-all-trades, who did not lose sight of the fifty dollars that had
been promised to him.

On the following day Felix Gussing and Mr. Montgomery took themselves
to Major Sampson's residence, where the stranger was introduced as a
curiosity hunter from Chicago.

"He wishes to look at your collection of swords," said the dude.

"I shall be delighted to show them," said the major, who was a person of
great self-importance.

"Ah, this is a fine sword from the Holy Land," said Mr. Montgomery,
handling one of the blades.

"I don't know where it came from," said the major. "It was presented to
me by a friend from Boston."

"That is a Russian sword," said the dude. "I know it by its handle."

"That sword is from the Holy Land," insisted Mr. Montgomery.

"Anybody is a fool to talk that way," cried Felix Gussing.

"Ha! do you call me a fool, sir!" stormed Montgomery.

"Gentlemen!" put in the major. "I think----"

"I am not a fool, sir, and I want you to know it!" bellowed Ulmer
Montgomery. "It's an outrage to call me such. Take that, sir!" and he
slapped Felix Gussing lightly on the cheek.

"Gentlemen, this must cease!" cried the major, coming between them. "In
my house, too! Disgraceful!"

"He has got to apologize to me!