The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-04-02

llght.
/" Let me at him r yelled the gambler,
who had been knocked down, attempting
to reach the offender through the throng.
Make way for him." hissed the mi.
ner. and will use nothing but this !"
and he raised his twelve inch bowie, and
threw himself in an attitude Of defense.
Hold" said the elderly man, who
had first insisted upon fair play, :" if you
really want to fight, select some spot
where there are fewer spectators it not
put up your weapons"
You are right, my friend, said the
miner, but | will meet you scoundrel
where he will, and when he will, and
with what he will"
!" Enough" said the gambler, render
ed desperate in his way "follow me
with friend and l will accommodate
you in ten minutes"
II am completely at your service"
said the stranger, but have no friend
here" he continued turning to the man
beside him, "unless l may call you one
from the friendly part you have already
assumed in this difficulty"
" l will not desert you now," said the
old man, extending his hand +" for you
are brave man, Kentuckian knows
how to appreciate courage"
The miner smiled and stepping toward
the table where the woman was sitting,
pale and trembling, said to her in a low
voice
81 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 friend" said the miner, as soon
as he had reached the street, "the fight
must be in room alone, and without
seconds, without weapons. l care not.
Let whatever may transpire hereafter,
excite no inquiry, and l will explain all
tomorrow"
The kentuckian bowed. Both parties
passed down Washington street for some
distance, and halted In front of small
two story brick building. The door was
opened by Chinaman. and taking a
lighted candle, the gambler led the way
up flight Of stairs to small back room.
1t had one window. and was furnished
with a cot bedstead, wash stand, and
two chairs. Placing the light upon one
OF the latter, the gambler strobe toward
the stranger, who had just entered, and
said {:
Here is the place, and now the
time"
He expected the miner to manifest
symptoms of terror at the announcement
and asked to defer the meeting but he
was in error, and the cool reply. of /" ex-
actly y rendered him alarmingly cogni.
zant of the fact.
AS a last effort to shake the resolution
of the belligerent mountaineer. and avoid
the encounter, for which be felt no incli-
nation, the gambler said, with affected
calmness
II we fight at all it must be done
alone. and in this room. armed with a
revolver and bowie knife"
q am fortunately provided with
both,' was the resolute reply.
Then d-n you, take the consequent
ces," returned the gambler. determined
to fire before ths word, and finding cour-
age in the dishonorable resolution. He
found little consolation in the smile Jus,
perceived thro' the beard of his antago
mist
The arrangements for the desperate
encounter were soon made. The princi.
pals, each armed with bowie knife and
revolver, were placed on the opposite
sides of the room /; the door was to be
locked on the outside, and at a WORD
from the seconds, the fight was to com
mence with their weapons, and continue
for ten minutes, at the expiration of which
time the seconds were to enter th.
room.
The weapons were examined, and thu
combatants placed for the slaughter BY
candle-light. The door had scarcel,
been closed and locked before the gam
bier raised his pistol and fired. The bal
lodged in the ceiling, not an inch from
the other. With the spring OF tiger
the latter threw himself upon the gam
bier. and crushed him to the floor befor,
he had time to again use either pistol o.
knife. Wrestling the weapons from hi
grasp, he seized him by the throat, ant
holding knife TO his breast. the miner
swore he would bury it there il be ut
tered loud word.
All right-give tho word said III,
miner, as the seconds were about to en-
ter to ascertain the reason of the re
port.
Are you ready? -
Yes"
Fire--one--two-thre
No report followed, and the second
looked at each otner in silence.
Now. tell me. Mark Brigham. why
should not slay you. who attempted Il
assassinate me 90 said the miner.
"The shot was accidental indeed i
was" returned the trembling gambler
Spare me. aud I will return every dol
lar you have lost--give you all pos
| sess."
Let me tell you now why l shoul
slsy you. 1t is not for the dollars yo
won from me. for do not value them =
not for your cowardly attempt to murde
me, for l expected it. Listen
"Ten years ago you stole young gi'
by the name of Jane Farley from boar
ding school in Rochester, n. Y, aut