Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-04-03
How fight fair?'

Why, I'd ask him to measure off fifty
PAGES, to walk backwards FIVE and twenty
, PAGES, and let me do the same
And do You think he would do it's
Yes, do, for lie is man. have often
wished to meet that fellow in the field, for
what l most want in this life is its excite
ment and to be killed by the hand of man
like Flower, or to escape by killing him in
fair fght--eithcr way would be something
to suit me-
'Millighan,' said Flower slowly 4 believe
every word you utter. Now listen to what
| am going 10 tell You. am George
F2ouer!'
Millighan started. He gazed on Flower
whose eye was rivited OH that of his adver-
; sary. Millighans carbine dropped from his
hand, but he did not change color or betray
alarm.
Pick up your piece, said Flower point
ing to the carbine and assuming proud
and careless attitude. L am all that you
have said of me Milighan. l might have
shot you like dog befo,e Ispoke just now;
but | would now do that, for you are man
as well as myself, and you are as brave as
generous. Pick up your piece and walk
backwards five and twenty PAGES; but let
us shake hands first.
Millighan took Flowers hand and sighed
as he shook it.
DO you surrender suggested Flower
half fearing that Millighan would do so and
break the very charm that bound him to tie
man.
Surrender cried Millighan with smile
and a sneer 'No! I'll never do that And
knowing You to be brave foe, have still
a chance for. shoot as straight as you do
Bat tell me in earncs; are YOU George Flow
er? Yes, You must be. But hear this--
(his blood began to warm if You are not
we must fight this day, for after to-day We
cannot live together
Millighan took up his carEine satisfied
himself that there was powder in the pan,
and with his lefl thumb he pushed tie cor
ner of his flint around SO as to insure igni-
ton when he drew the trigger.
Flower placed his carbinc against a huge
sto2e, then pat his hands into his pockets
and looked at Millighan.
Il am George Flower, said he, and who
but George Flower, would deal with YOU as
[ do? Don't let us talk much or | NAV
forget my mission and become a bush ram
ger myself
And Flower took up his carbinc, and ex-
amined the powder in the pan and touched
the flint as Milighan had done.
Flower, for Flower You must be- said
Milighan, grant me if YOU shoot me one
desire, that has haunted me. | do not
dread death but l have horror of burial
If fall suffer me to lie on the very spot
Let the eagle come and feast upon my car
cass, pluck these eyes from their sockets
and the skin from this brow-let me lie
here in this lonely region, and let my bones
bleach in the sun and the rain fall and the
moon and stars shine upon me
My Godl' exclaimed Flower, scizing
Millighan by the hand, the same dread
has always haunted me, if fall by your
hand let me rest here, with my head pill
lowed upon this gun. Let no man living be
shown the spot where fell.
Take your ground sail Millighan, Il
am ready
There is my hand said Flower, and
should we meet in another world we
shall not be ashamed of one another. my
boy
Tears were standing in the eyes of both
as they parted. Each stepped backward
pace for pace, Millighan followed by his
little terrier Nettles.
When they were about fifty yards apart
they halted and looked at each other for
several minutes. both simultaneously lev
eled their carbincs But each was not dis
posed to fire first. At last Millighan dis
charged his piece. lie aimed at Flowers
head. His bullet whizzed past ii, and car
Iied away part Of the lef. whisker. Flow
er fred and Millighan fell fat on his face
The ball had entered his left breast. Flow
er ran to the spot TO catch any last word
that Millighan might desire to breathe
But Milighan was dead.