The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-10-27

: ing the bully by the arm--'w was 60
: ing to take drink, you know =
. Yes. I'm in for that too = said Kel
I, Ser always good at either drink or
fight, am. You hear, stranger 2 h
D continued, taking hold Of the lauer's arm
= somewhat roughly. You hear, don
, you? We're going TO take drink will
{ the landlord and if you can prov,
you're a decent white man, we'll hono
you by taking another with you after
, wards
L shall have no objection to treating
the gentlemen here think l ought tc
do So returned the traveller, drawing
himself up with dignifed 6rmness, anl
speaking in more positive manner thar
he had yet done but as for drinking
myself, that is something | never do
Nothing at that moment could have
pleased the bully better than to hear the
stranger refuse TO drink for he had long
since resolved upon quarrel with him
first from natural malice secondly, be
cause he believed him one to be easily
disposed of; and thirdly, because he
might thus make grand display of his
fighting qualities, with little or M risk
to himselt--a very important considera
ton, when we bear in mind that all such
characters are arrant towards at heart
So you don't drink, Ell q he said to
the stranger. Dye hear that, gentle
men 2 appealing to the crowd Now
everybody round here ha to drink or
fight! And 50 (walking up to the tray
eIpr) you've got TO do one or t'olher-
which shall il be .
/ do not wish to do either was the
reply; but drink | will not J.
Then fight you shall = cried the 9th :
er, closing the sentence with wicked
oath, and at the same time LAYING his
hand upon the hiIt of his bowie knife,
and partly drawing it from its sheath.
D, you intend to murder me ? or
give me chance for my life 2 inquired
the stranger, with coolness that aston.
ished those who, looking upon his fine,
delicate features, and slender figure, cx-
| pected 10 see him shrink back in alarm
and dismay.
Give YOU a chance, in course = re-
turned the bully, in less confident tone
for lie too had expected to see the
other succumb at once.
Do you challenge me to a fair com
bat . inquired the other
In course I does clustered Kelser,
we don't do nothing else, in this coun,
try, but the fair thing
The affair now began to look serious.
Gentlemen, said the traveller with a
polite bow TO the company in general,
you know how quietly came in here,
ard how inotfensivcly | conducted my
self afterwards and you have seen how
this man has ventured beyond all rules
Of good breeding, and stepped ou; of his
way TO insult and FIX quarrel upon me.
Now, then, as | am g stranger here
though one who has always heard much
OF Southern chivalry-l wish to know
how many of YOU will agree 10 stand by
and see fair play 2
All all Of us ! was the almost sim
ultaneous response. You shall have
fair play, stranger !
The bully turned slightly pale, and
seemed more discomposed and uneasy.
l thank you, gentlemen. for conyin
cling me. BY your offer, that you are gov
erned by justice and honor ? pursuet
tho traveller; and now will prove (
GU. that this man is cowardly braga
dicro, or else one of us shall not quit thi
place alive | is understood that an
challenged to a single fight is it not p
. There was general affirmative re
. sponse.
/ The challenged party, | believe. hn
! the choice OF weapons. time, and place
/, Another affirmative response-lh
4, bully looking sill! paIer and more anx
ious.
We'll. then. gentlemen, not bein
: handy with the bowie knife, and wishin
II an equal chance for lie. | propose
q leave tie result to fate. an1 70 test Il
courage # my opponent. Any man ca
h stand up for fight, il he knows he HI
the best Of it--but ouly true coursg
d can coolly face uncertainty-and m
er insulter boasts of fearing nothing, NJ
II proposition is this: Let two pistols
,e selected be loaded and both
10 concealed under cloth upon this tabl
n Then my fighting friend aud mys,
shall draw one by lot. point the draw
n- Qua at the heart of his foe. and pull t
pr trirrer--the unarmed one standing frt