" asked the seconds.

"I am," answered Ulmer Montgomery, quickly.

"Then I shall be," put in Felix Gussing. "And now that this affair is at
an end, Mr. Montgomery will you shake hands?" he added.

"With pleasure, Mr. Gussing!" was the reply. "I must say in all
frankness I am sorry we quarrelled in the first place. Perhaps I was
wrong about the sword."

"And perhaps I was wrong."

"Both of you were wrong," put in the major. "I hunted up the letter that
came with the blade. It is an old Spanish weapon. Let us all call the
affair off, and Mr. Montgomery shall come to Clara's wedding to Mr.
Gussing."

"With all my heart," cried Montgomery, and there the little plot came to
a finish.

CHAPTER XX.

ATTACKED IN THE DARK.

"Joe, the plot worked to perfection!" said Felix Gussing, on the day
following. "I have to thank you, and here are twenty dollars for your
trouble."

"I don't want a cent, Mr. Gussing," answered our hero. "I did it only
out of friendliness to you. I hope you have no further trouble in your
courtship."

"Oh, that was all settled last night. Clara and I are to be married next
week. We are going to send out the cards to-day. You see," went on the
young man in a lower tone. "I don't want to give the major a chance to
change his mind, or to suspect that that duel was not just what it ought
to have been."

"Does he suspect anything as yet?"

"Not a thing."

"Then you are wise to have the wedding as quickly as possible."

"When we are married I am going to let Clara into the secret. I know
she'll enjoy it as much as anybody."

"Well, you had better warn her to keep mum before her father. He looks
as if he could get pretty angry if he wanted to."

"As you won't take any money for this, Joe, wouldn't you like to come to
the wedding?"

"I'm afraid it will be too high-toned for me, Mr. Gussing."

"No, it is to be a plain, homelike affair--Clara wants it that way.
The major has some country cousins who will be there, and they are very
plain folks."

"Then I'll come--if Miss Sampson wishes it."

So it was arranged that Joe should attend the wedding, and as he was in
need of a new Sunday suit he purchased it at once, so that he could use
it at the wedding.

"You're in luck, Joe," remarked Frank, when he heard the news. "And that
suit looks very well on you."

In some manner it leaked out among the boys that Joe was going to the
wedding, and two days before the affair came off Jack S