II28-1966-TOM SWIFT and the Mystery Comet by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II [pseud.] [Appleton, Victor II]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Published: 1966-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

11. DEADLY WEAPONS

"ANY time you like!" Bud retorted to the student who had challenged him to a duel.

Tom sprang to his feet. "Look—this has gone far enough! Nobody fights duels nowadays."

The student eyed Tom scornfully. "I can see that you know nothing about Heidelberg."

"It's ridiculous!" Sandy insisted. "Please, Bud, can't you just apologize to him?"

"Apologize? He's the one who came barging over where he wasn't wanted!"

The blond youth plucked a card out of a pocket and handed it to Bud. "I shall meet you at the Grüne Jaeger. It is an inn on the Neckar above Heidelberg. Shall we say six o'clock?"

He clicked his heels and bowed stiffly to Sandy and the others, then returned to his own table. Soon he was laughing and talking with his companions. The tavern owner, who had bustled forward, also shrugged and walked off.

Sandy seemed on the verge of tears. Phyl tried to comfort her. Dr. Feng was the only one at Tom's table who had remained completely calm. "Most unfortunate," he murmured.

"Good grief," Tom said. "This sort of thing doesn't still go on in Heidelberg, does it?"

"Officially dueling is forbidden," Feng replied, "yet duels still take place among fraternity students. The worst that results is usually a small facial scar. I think perhaps the young man would not have issued the challenge if he had recognized me as a member of the faculty."

"Isn't there any way you can stop it?"

The professor's eyes were troubled as he tugged his goatee. "I could of course report the incident to the university authorities—"

"Nothing doing!" Bud snapped. "That creep would think I wanted to worm out of the duel." He glanced at the card and read the student's name aloud. "Wolf von Enzbach—sounds like someone out of an old Hollywood movie."

Dr. Feng looked startled. "I have heard of this fellow before. He is the son of Graf von Enzbach—what you would call the Count von Enzbach. He is also the best fencer at the university!"

"Oh, no!" Sandy gave a little wail. "Bud, you just can't go through with this!"

"Why not? What kind of a Galahad would I be if I can't fight for my fair lady!"

All the same, as they left the tavern, Tom thought his pal looked a bit apprehensive. "Sure you won't change your mind?" Tom asked.

Bud shook his head stubbornly and glanced at his wrist watch. "I still have about an hour and a half. Look, would you girls please excuse me? There's something I'd like to do."

Sandy had been whispering to Phyl. "Go right ahead—don't mind us," she replied airily. "We want to do some shopping."

Bud seemed hurt as the girls walked off. "How do you like that? Doesn't sound as if she's very worried about me getting sliced up!"

Tom grinned. "Make up your mind. Do you want her to beg you to call off the duel or not?"

"Let's say I don't mind if she wrings her hands a few times."

"Okay, I'll make a note of it. Now what?"

"How about finding a fencing master, so I can get a few tips?"

"Are you kidding?" Tom blurted.

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