Page:Harris Dickson--Old Reliable in Africa.djvu/55

 For the first time Shields rose from his chair, standing calm and self-possessed.

"You shall fight me." Castelleone fumbled in his pocket for a card case and tossed his card on the table in front of the Colonel.

"Of course you shall fight me," added Reifenstein.

"And you shall fight me, also," said Torreale, with the bulwark of two men between himself and danger.

Reifenstein's case held but a single card which was spoiled by a spot of ink. He apologized for its condition as he gave it to the Colonel. "That's all right," remarked the Colonel, "the name is plain enough for me to read."

In the confusion Joe Sloan sneaked through the door and escaped.

"Mr. Shields," Colonel Spottiswoode turned to that gentleman, "please give me your card and make the deck complete."

"No, sir. I have no quarrel with you." Shields shook his head and smiled. Being a hard-headed American, the affair struck him as a bit of opéra bouffe.

"I insist upon it," the Colonel said; "I want your name and address."

"Very well," Shields gave him the card, whereupon Colonel Spottiswoode remarked, "Like yourself, Mr. Shields, I see no sense in fighting over a card game."