The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-02-23

dertake the job himself.
"The first man that pulls trigger
dies!' said an elderly man, breaking
through the crowd, and placing himself
beside the lion hearted miner. Ten to
one is too great an odds for any man.
He is a stranger to me, but by HI he
shall have fair play!"
"Righll right shouted the crowd, be-
ginning to understand the nature of the
Fbroil; "give him chance!" and dozen
more pistols suddenly found the light.
"Let me at him!' yelled the gambler
who had been knocked down, attemp-
ting to reach the offender through the
crowd.
"Make way for him." hissed the miner,
"and | will use nothing bu. this!" and
he raised bis twelve inch "bowie," and
threw himself into an attitude of de-
tense.
"IIoldl" said the elderly man who had
first insisted upon fair play; "if you real
y want to fight select some spot where
there are fewer spectators; if not put up
your weapons!'
"You are right, my friend said the
miner, "but | will meet yon scoundrel
where he will, when he will, and with
what he will"
"Enough!" returned the gambler, ,rend-
cred desperate in hsrage; "follow me with
friend and l will accommodate you in
ten minutes"
II am completely at your service" !"
said the stranger; "but l have no friend
here,' he continued, turning to the man
beside him, "unless l may call you one,
for the friendly part you have already as
sumed in this difficulty"
81 will not desert you now,' said the
old man, extending his hand; "for you
are brave mana Kentuckian knows
how to appreciate courager'
The miner smiled, and stepping to-
ward the table where the woman was sit
ting, pale and trembling, he said to her,in
low voice:
"Fear nothing-if you are sent for do
not fail to come;;" then taking the arm of
the Kentuckian, he followed the gambler,
who was just quitting the saloon, accom-
panied by friend.
"My frieud," said the miner, as soon
as he reached the street, "the fight must
be in room alone, and without seconds
with what weapons | care not. Let
whatever may transpire thereafter excite
no inquiry, and l will explain all tosmor'
row."
The Kentuckian bowed. Both parties
passed down Washinton street for some
distance, and halted in front Of two
story brick building. The door was open
Ell by Chinaman, and taking lighted
candle, the gambler led the way up a
flight OF stairs to small back room. It
had one window, and was furnished with
a cot bedstead, washstand. and two
chairs. Placing the light upon one Of the
latter, the gambler strobe toward the
stranger and said, "here is the place and
now the timel'
He expected the miner to manifest
symptoms of terror at the announcement
and ask to defer meeting; but he was in
error, and the cool reply of "Exactly!"
rendered him alarmingly cognizant Of the
fact.
AS last effort to shake the resolution
OF the belligerent mountaineer, and avoid
an encounter for which he felt no lnclina-
tion, the gambler said, and with affected
calmness: "If we fight at all, it must be
alone, in this room and each Of us armed
with a revolver and bowie"
81 am fortunately provided with both" :"
was the reply.
"Then d---n you, take the consequent
ces," returned the gambler, determined
to fire before the word, and finding cour,
age In the dishonorable resolution. He
found little consolation in the smile he per-
ceived through the heavy beard of his
antagonist. The arrangements for the
desperate encounter were soon made
The principals, each armed with knife
and revolver, were to be placed on oppo-
site sides of the room; the door was then
to be locked on the outside, and, at the
word from the seconds, the fight was to
commence with either weapons, and to
continue for ten minutes: at the expira-