Con Artist v. Conductor (Symphony)

The workmen hammer away. Pepple sits in his adirondack chair, reading and smoking.

The Conductor (Symphony), or Conductor of Symphonies arrives.

This is a Dueling Clock, says the Con Artist.

Bull, says the Conductor of Symphonies.

Bull?

Bull.

The Con Artist scratches his chin. Bull, he repeats. Huh.

That's a non-magnetic compass, says the conductor. Shot by a bullet.

The Con Artist folds his arms.

Look at me, says the Conductor of Symphonies. Do you think this is my first duel? My second? My fifth? See my arm.

(He shows him his arm, scarred.)

I've been in nine duels, says the Conductor, from Pennsylvania to Prague, I've looked down the barrel of nine revolvers.

The Con Artist smiles. Well, he says happily, you can't expect a man not to try to get a bit of a leg up on the competition, can you?

The Conductor of Symphonies wipes his nose. He selects his pistol.

They raise their guns, their guns go off.