Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-29

"Did he not shoot Colonel Marks, Of Mo-
bile"
eyes; and a score Of others equally va
liant as skilful, and what seems still more
singular, he has never received a scratch in
any OF his numerous battles. His friends be-
lieve that he is charmed against lead and
steel, like the great Napoleon"
"Well, we will find some other place, sug-
gested Hays; for 1 do not wish a difficulty
with such a wild beast"
but, for my part, | intend to drink in that
house, even if it should be the last cup which
l might ever hope to TASTE" affirmed Zen
Cullum, with a strange CLEAN in his burning
blue eye.
In vain the General and Captain both
warmly demonstrated against such useless te-
merity. To all their arguments and ontrea
ties the young man replied: " would blush
to my very bones, and never show my face In
Texas again, if acted as you propose
Seeing his unslterable determination, his
companions exacted promise of special for
bearance and good behavior, and the three
went on to the lions den. On q largs sign
board, fronting the principal entrance, was
written In enormous gilt letters the name Of
the estsblishment-.'J Jenny Lind Saloon, for
Ladies and Gentlemen"
The small party of Texans marched up TO
the bar, and Ben Cullum, in a courteous tone,
| called for brandy. As they touched their
glasses and glazed around the vast ball whore
numbers were dining at different tables, they
could not fail to notice the strikingt ems alton
which their advent had excited All the Wis
| ages were French, and from their dress and
general appearance, might have been sur
posed to be members Of a genteel class. But
all such indications, in city life, are deceitful
and these men of gaudy fashion and perfumed
| whiskers assembled no higher in the scale of
society than the grade of professional gam
| blers, or that of bullies and runners for dis
/ reputable houses. Some of them gazed upon
the Texans with signs of pity, offers with
staring wonder, but most with countenances
| Of unditguised contempt
Let US have three dozen fried oysters"
| ordered CallOm with smiling features; and he
| advanced to the centre Of the saloon, and
| 'eating himself by a table of mottled marble,
| picked up newspaper and began 10 glance
| over the columns with the easy air of one who
felt himself at home.
"Not there You must not take that ia
| BILE" exclaimed the proprietor of the estsb-
! lishment, in tones of unfeigned terror, rushing
| forward and indicating another position
"But why should l not remain here" ask
ed the youth in c careless voice.
| "Becauss, that Is the situation which French
| Bill always chooses, and l am expecting him
| every moment" returned the owner, trem-
| bling and actually pale with apprehension.
There is plenty Of room for both of US, ="
remarked the Texan, with unrufled equa-
| nimity.
What do you imagine that French Bill
would eat at the same board WITH an Ameri-
| can" cried the other, with a look of stupe-
| faction; as if he ubted the evidence of his
senses at such unaccountable audacity and
| preSump ion.
1t is a matter Of perfect Indifference 20
me, whether your bully dimes or not" an
swered Ben, fixing his eyes again on the news
| paper
The fellow must be crazy" muttered the
bewlldered proprietor, as he retreated behind
the bar, as if to be out of the way when the
impending explosion should occur.
Indeed, An OminOus murmur arose from all
| parts Of the hall. The man is a fool ;" OBJ
served one. "He will cut his wisdom teeth
before the day is an hour older :" added an.
other Won't Bill swear the very devil out
Ct his den when he finds the knight of the
Mexican blanket in his arm chair" exclaim-
ed third. 81 would rather sit on the brink
Of burning crater :" affirmed a fourth.
| The General and cap'a n both whispered to
their friend to retire, but he refused even as
| much as to answer their request, and they
| moved to different table, hoping that the
duelist when he should enter, would regard
the intrusion of single stranger as merely &C.
cidental, and pass it over as such
| Soon middle aged person, in gold specta-
cies, approached the young ranger, and touch
| ing his RAINBOW blanket, inquired with an as
pect of whitening irony" Ny dear boy, will
you pardon my curiosity, but is this pretty
thing you wear with SO much grace really
bullet proof 20
| You are welcome to try the experiment
| whenever you like" answered Beu, in a calm
| voice.
1T will be tried quicker than you expect"
| remarked the other, turning to the counter
| for glass Of wine.
Presently, several footsteps resounded at
the door, accompanied by shout of bolster
| Gus laughter, and q score Of visages grew pal
| lid with agitation at the bare idea of the
| coming scene, as general whisper announced
-" There he is God pity the poor Texan!'
At the instant French Bill entered, and
striding to the bar, called for champagne and
broiled chicken. General Henderson and
Captain Hays gazed upon the notorious duel
list and started, in spite of their cOolness and
courage, at the extraordinary terOcity of his
appearance He was a man of hercuIean
frame, and seemingly endowed with fabulous
strength, If Cne might judge by his enormous
breadth and bone, and the swelling volumes
| OF shows about his joints, that looked like
bundles of steel fbres, from their fmness and
| elasticity. His cOuntenance was concealed
| by perfect jungle Of black hair-all save the
uoSSOi hho UldLluS udIh eyes, anu q l0nH
nose, crooked as the beak of an eagle. Where
| ever his dress would allow it to be seen, the
sable bristling hair showed itself all over him,
even to the ends Of his fingers. In fine, he
resembled wild beast clothed in the costume
OF Frenchman.
The proprietor of the saloon whispered some
thing in the ear of the savage, and uttering a
halt-stified cry of mingled astouishment and
| rage, he turned his eyes towards the marble
table where the young ranger sat reading, ap-
parently In state of profound abstraction
Murderous passion shook the quivering bosom
of the bully like an electric storm, as he walked
with a tread like that of an elephant across
the floor, and seated himself opposite the in
truder at his usual place. He then snatched
the newspaper from the others hand, and
glanced around at the spectators with a tri-
umphant look, which implied" You see how
l insult him, and how he takes it -
Ben Cullum looked at him with a smile of
imperturbable tranquility, but spoke not a
syllable. What can he mean" murmured
Hays to Henderson. "I never saw him be-
fore receive a voluntary wrong so calmly"
French Bill then jerked the Mexican blan-
ket from the shoulders of the youth, and,
% H. l.