Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-02
Very well, sir. I'll send my second to yours

face just as Pm going to yours"
Sir" said Jim, with an air of dignity, "you
entirely mistake the nature of our contemplate
ed meeting, fight only with the weapons of
| a gentleman-pstols or swords ?"
Why you blasted cowardly skunk" cried
the enraged bully, "you don't mean to say
| that you refuse to fight me 2"
shall not disgrace myself by resorting to
the vulgar practice of settling such affairs, arm
only will suit" said jim s
Well don't you call these arms ?" said
Mills, throwing himself in an attitude, and
displaying pair of limbs of that name
You understand me-" said Jim, and saying
this he left the store
Those present now persuaded Mills to ac-
cept the challenge, and one of them, great
wag, volunteered to act as his second
The two seconds met, and secretly resolved
to amuse themselves at the expense of those
two pests of B.
The hour fixed upon for the meeting was 2
o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, and
the distance agreed upon was only ten yards
They met, and Judging by their features, one
would have supposed they would rather have
been somewhere else, and under different cir
cumstances, they looked really miserable.
AhS SNNO'do OASS iAoiN 'AOIOhlOu w ChuCd-
vor to reconcile the two young men, but nei-
ther would withdraw word both yearned
for blood, if their assertions could be relied
upon.
They finally took their places, pistols in
hand, and hearts in their throats-the second
who was to give the signal to fire, approached
the surgeon, and said
" suppose you have your implements han
I,-i in, O,nnutotiou ic ~
Yes, sir" replied surgeon Thompson, who
was aware that the pistols were not even load
ed with wads, though in the present case, had
| they contained balls they would have been
just as harmless in the hands Of those two lub-
berly towards.
Had it been {" fist fight" Mills would have
fought Rankins with pleasure, but he had a
horror OF powder and ball-he would not have
accepted the challenge had not Bill Krane, his
second assured him that Rankns would not
stand fire, so here he was now in a horrible
s,tultion, with the eyes of twenty-five or thir-
ty of his acquaintances upon him, who wOud
be so many witnesses against him if he did not
acquit himself manfuIly.
The remarks of his second relative to the
GmputatIon of limbs were as daggers to his al
ready excited feelings, and the effect of those
apparently sincere words told with equal effect
upon the other boaster-both were az pale as
sheets.
" Gentlemen, are you ready ?" asked the
second.
Yes" stammcrcd Rankins with nervous
trepniation. Mills would not trust himself
with his voice, SO he merely inclined his head
" At the word three YOU will please to
fire." said the other, now prepare fer victory
or death ~
The two wretched men stood daring at each
other with blanched cheeks and dlated eyes
at the word 0ne," they started coayulSjvety,
aud both turned IA shade paicr. When "two"
was pronounced they presented an appearance
at once pitiful and ludicrous. Mills perspired
like an over worked slave--hs mouth stood
open with fear, and his unoccupied hand open
ed and shut again in nervous manner.
Rankin's face was actually greenish white,
his knees smote together, and finally his hat
fell off-his hair stood on end 1t could not
be decided then WHICH of the two was the most
frightened. ....s r..... .f ..
Suddenly both seemed to nerve themselves;
they assumed more determined demeanor,
and looked less mortified The spectators
thought they would now really fire, a fact
which before was very much doubted.
At the word :" three" they both raised their
pistols, and then simultaneously dropped their
arms again, and, pistols in hand they took to
their heels in opposite directions. 1t now ap-
peared evident to those assembled, that the
look of firmness which the ducllists" " exhi- |
bited previous to their giving out the word
three" was only a determination to run, in
case the other persisted in remaining firm, but
unfortunately, both were too cowardly to see
how much courage the other possessed, hence
the result above.
Now it occurred to Rankins, at the moment
be turned his back, that Mills also took to his
heels, SO in order to maintain his reputation
as a brave man. he turned back agair after
running a dozen PAGES or so. But unfortunate
ly for him, Mills became possessed Of the same
idea and acted upon it likewise, so vhen the
valiant challenger presented his pistol-duel
fashion. he was Mortified to behold the rcdOubt-
able challenged party apparently ready to fight
it out. Both were horror struck, and the eff
feet was instantaneous, but it operated in two
distinc: ways on the individuals most concern.
ed Mills fed a second time, this time, how
ever, dropping the pistol the waggish second
picked up the weapon, and discharged it after
the fugitive.
This capped the climax Mills thought his
opponent shot at him, and he redoubied his
speed executing some superior feats of running.
Rankins when he heard the report of the ps
tol took it for granted that he was shot, and
with a howl of terror be sauk upon the ground
When he returned to consciousness he found
himself alone all had left the spot he re-
turned to the tavern through some byway, and
next morning. the first stage conveyed him to
distant town. ..H ..... -.# e. ...s .t .f9.
He was never again seen in b, and
Oliver Mills became a respectable citizen, on
ly once when he spoke somewhat sharply to
neirhhnr WHO diffrrad from him in nOlitIcS the