WHAT HE WOULD DO.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1508, 13 October 1883, Page 4

WHAT HE WOULD DO.

It was in tho smoking car. There was one chap who was blustering a great deal and telling of how many duels he had fought, and behind him sat a small man reading a magazine. " Sir!" said the big man as he wheeled around, " what would you do if challenged f " 'Refuse," was the quiet reply. " Ah! I thought as much. .Refuse and be branded a coward! What if a gentleman offered you the choice of a duel or public horsewhipping, then what?" " I'd take th e whipping." "Ah—l thought so-thought so from the looks of you, Suppose, sir, you foully slandered me 1" " I never slander." " Then, sir, suppose a man had coolly and deliberately insulted you; what would you do f " I'd rise up in this way, put down my book this way, and reach over like this and take him by the nose as I tike you, and give him a threequirter twist—just so I" When the little man let go of the big man's nose the man with the white hat on began to crouch down to get away from bullets, but there was no shooting. The big man turned redthen pale—then looked tho little man over and remarked: " Certainly of course—that's it exactly!" And then tho conversation turned on the general prosperity of the conntry.