"Why, Mr. Pate," said he, "there will be no duel if Botts does not send the challenge. Could you not use your influence with him, and induce him to heap coals of fire on Bragg's head by forgiving the injury?" "And I promise you," said Belton, "that if the duel does come off, it shall not have a tragical termination. I will not advise Bragg to fire in the air; for a friend of mine once did so and shot a boy, who was perched among the boughs of a cherry-tree, through the calf of the leg. Since then I have always been opposed to the absurd and dangerous practice of firing in the air. Seconds, however, can usually prevent bloodshed, unless their principals are exceedingly savage and sanguinary. But I think that the suggestion of my friend Seddon is a good one. You should hurry back, and endeavor to prevent Botts from sending the challenge." "I will do so! I will do so! God bless you both!" And with this benediction Pate hurried away in extreme agitation. FOOTNOTE: [1] This happened in Maryland many years ago. CHAPTER IV. "Your friend Mr. Pate seems to be a very humane and benevolent man," said Seddon, when the peacemaker had taken his departure. "None more so," said Belton. "Pate is not more remarkable for his extraordinary genius than for the vast quantity of the milk of human kindness which he has in his composition. It was the activity and originality of his mind, controlled by the benevolence of his disposition, which caused him to become the founder of a secret order, which will some day make his name illustrious in the annals of the benefactors of the human race." "To what order do you allude?" "To the M. O. O. S. S." "What do those letters signify?" "The Mystic Order of Seven Sweethearts." "The Mystic Order of Seven Sweethearts! Why, Toney, you are joking! Who ever heard of such an organization?" "No joke at all. You have heard of the Order of Seven Wise Men, have you not?" "Why, yes; but that is an organization founded on principles of benevolence,--somewhat like the Masons, or Odd-Fellows, I suppose." "And so is the Mystic Order of Seven Sweethearts. It is founded on principles of benevolence. Its object is the welfare of woman." "In what way do they propose to promote so desirable an object?"