The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-06-09

down, and tried to dissuade Edgar from
going up.
'Would you have me shrink like cra
ven from that villain?" the youth cried, il
vehement tones. He has picked upor
me before, and | know he has meant t.
quarrel from the first"
"But you should have taken no notice
of him, Edgar" returned Burt, anxiously
q had resolved not to do SO, Captain
but when I saw him deliberately rob m,
friend-when | saw him resort to sucl
villainous tricks for the accomplishment
of his purpose-and when | knew the vic
tim was stalking his very honor in the un
equal contest, how Guild / help it?
could not. But it's too late now. I cam
back out Come see me through it,
AT that time, and in that place, there
seemed no other alternative, for had Edgar
refused to fight now. the villain would
have insulted him without mercy. Burt
knew this-they all knew it-and, much
as they loved the young clerk, they saw
not how he could escape the hostile meet
ing he had himselfin measure provoked
The captain might have forsidden it, but
that would only have delayed the affair
not prevented it.
Edgar went on deck, and the passen-
gers followed him. Tho moon was at its
full, and her soft beams fell npon the wa
tiers Of the gulf and upon the peopled deck,
with an efulgence almost equal to the
MONDAY sun.
"Aha-you've come eh?" cried the
powerful duelist, with sheer. 81 expected
you would have thought it more safe be-
low. But take your place. We need nc
seconds here. All know the deadly prov
ocation you have given me. Who shall
count for us? 2"
an count" said the man with the
hang-dog look.
One more attempt was made by VIM
'Let me take your place, Edgar?" he
urged earnestly.
"Nor' replied the clerk. "Stand back,
tho quarrel is mine"
A space was now cleared in the gang
way. Romney standing on one side Of
deck, and Lodman on the other.
All was still. save the splash of the wa.
ter as the sharp bows cut through their
track, and the moon looked down as
brightly and sercnely as though no evi
were to be done.
care you ready!" asked hang-dog.
"All readyr'
"Then here goes! One-two--"
At the word two," quick, sharp
crack broke upon the air. Lodman had
pulled his trigger, and the cap had explo'
ded without discharging his pistol. Tha
was the way in which he generally "k:lled
his man."
At the word "three," Edgar fired into
the air.
"FooIw uttered Burt, ''why didn't you
shoot him? You had him fast enough
II would not murder an unarmed man
Then turning to his antagonist, he asked:
''Do you fire at the word t~oS"
81 fire as suits me BEST" replied The
blackleg, drawing anotherpistol. "Wel
sec if this one is not more sure"
.'Stopp' cried Balfour, in agony. ''Yor
have stood before him once, and spared
him when you might have shot him! LIE
me take the pistol now?"
''Now spoke Edgar, calmly. "7h'
vi1lain has taught me a lesson" And
as he said this, he cooked his second pts
toI, and took his stand.
"Ready?" asked hangdog.
"Then look out. Now One"
But he counted no further, for, as thu
word fell from his lips, the report of Ed
gar's pistol broke upon the still air, anC
the dark villain reeled to the deck-sho
through the brain.
"And fire as suits me best.' said tn
young clerk, as he turned from the scene
Even the two friends whom Lodmal
had brought on board saw the fairness Q
the thing, and they raised not murmur
They took up the body of the dead duel
ist, and bore it away to the forecastle
where they rolled it up in a tarpaulin, IN
tending to have it buried when they reach
ed Mobile.
"Hcre," said Edgar Romney, as b
handed William Baifour all the none,
the latter had lost. There was a sad loo
upon his pale features, and his vote
trembled. "Take this, AMI then excang
pledges with me. Say you win neve
gamble again, and I'll promise you neve
to fight another duel"