The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-06-09
Snistfuaneous,
A DUEL ON THE GULF.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

BY SflVANUS COBB, JR.
i M URING the summer of 1886, Will
| SUI liam Burt commanded one of the
29J9 United States Mail Steamers ply
q ing between New Orleans and Mo-
bile. He belonged in New England, and
in the spring of the above year he spent a
month with his friends and relatives in
the latter section. While at home he
became strongly attached to a young man
named Edgar Romney, a distant relative
of his wife, and when he got ready to
leave for the South, urged Edgar to 90
with him. The youth-only twenty-four
had just graduated at Harvard Univer-
I sity, and having no business upon his
hands, and moreover being blessed with
no great amount of money, he concluded
to accept Burt's offer, which was the
office of clerk on his boat Romney was
a slight-built, delicate looking young man
long and hard study having made him
pale and thin, but he was quick and ac-
tive, and the bright sparkle of his clear
gray eye told hat his small frame had a
great and free spirit.
Edgar entered upon his duties as soon
as he reached Mobile, and ere long he
had won the confidence and esteem, not
only of the officers and men on the route.
| but of all the travellers who became ac-
quainted with him. His manners were
quiet and unassuming; he was polite and
attentive to all who asked for information
or assistance; and yet he maintained q
dignity that never left him.
Captain Burt loved him as though he
had been a brother, and the affection was
mutual. >s SCR.
One day as the steamer was taking in
the last of load at New Orleans, Edgar
received slap upon the shoulder, that
made him start.
A new clerk, eh? And Yankee too.
| thought Yankees were bigger"
The youth turned ana Iouna i.v,rI,oftk-
or to be tall muscular fellow, dressed
extravagantly, with profusion Of black
hair upon tie face, and an evil, debauched
look.
"You are familiar, sir" said Edgar,
with disdainful curl of the lip.
"Eh? Proud is it? By the powers,
me boy, you'll have that taken out of ye
before you've been long in these parts"
The clerk gave the fellow a look of
disgust, and then turned to bis business;
and with muttered Umph!' the
stranger passed on into the cabin.
"Do you know that manl' asked the
pilot who had stood near.
"No," returned Edgar. 81 never
saw him before Who is hep
"That is Arch Lodman."
Goldman 2" responded the youth in
quiet surprise. "The gamester and duel
ist."
eyes," resumed the pilot. "That is
the man-the most desperate character
upon the gulf He's been up the river, l
guess-haven't seen him here before in q
month"
Edgar was here called away, and the
pilot went forward to the wheel house.
In due time the boat was cast loose, and
steamed it down the river. There was a
number of passengers on board, and the
clerk was soon busy in receiving their fares.
"Ho%%'s yer pride now, me boys"
Edgar heard rough voice exclaim, as a
new bank-note, all crumpled and twisted,
was showed under his nose. He looked
ND. and saw Arch Lodman.
off you'll attend to rour own business,
I'll attend to mine," said the young clerk,
with flash in the eye, and a quick flush
upon the cheek.
"Crusty for green 'un, amt he 2" the
rufian replied, turning to companion
who wore a hang-dog look.
"Cussedly So" was the response, and
the two walked off together.
1t was night by the time the boat en-
tered the gulf, and ere long the cards
were flying in the saloon. Arch Lodman
was in his element now, and he handled
the " bits of board" with graceful skill.
"Play," he said addressing young
man who stood close by, watching his
movements. "just for bit of sport"
aft you can make up party l don't
mind,' the passenger replied. He was
sim, gentlemanly-looking young fellow,
not over fve-and- twenty, and proud to be
the son of a wealthy Louisiana planter.
"I wouldn't play with that man,
whispered voice in his ear. s,-
! The youth turned and saw Edgar
J Romney. They had met several times 81