Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-05-27
Coward! cheat! l dare say

In vain the others iRterfered.
They cared little for the profession
al and brutal gamester, but they
did for young Whiteman, and could
not but be surprised at the al
most subIimity of his GOODNESS and
bravery, even though he was
courting his own death.
Something in the manner of
the young man, too, appeared to
impress his antagonist, who had
never before restrained his hand
from swift vengeance. The deli
cate frame trembled not; the
sweet, almost girlish expression
upon those mobile lips remained
unaltered; the cheeks were un-
blanched, and the mild, blue eyes
never swerved from their steady
gaze upon the fiery black ones. 1t
appeared as if the serpent and
the bird had exchanged places and
the fierce charmer become the
charmed.
"Pshaw!" at length continued
Luke Benton, ~ am fool to take
any notice of er boy who l could
crush between my thumb and fin
gers. Take yer money if yer
such sneak; go back ermong
the women and never dare ter
show yer face ermong men ergain." "
81 care nothing for the money" ="
was still the calm response. "lts
nothing to me"
"What do yer want. then?
"To prove that you are a cow
ard at heart"
"No man ever lived that could
prove such er thing"
"Simply because you murdered
them, Luke Benton"
Murdered? But, no, Ill not
fight er boy"
Because you dare not. But
You shall have no excuse" and
Mark Whiteman spat full in the
face of the blood-stained gambler.
In an instant all was confusion.
Benton sprang forward with his
knife upraised, and would have cut
down his insulter with a blow.
But others did the same. They
realized that blood must be shed,
but they insisted upon stair play"
Even in the horrible code of Tex
as dueling they demanded that
the rules of honor should be
strictly adhered to.
"If you must fight" said an
old ranger, "and l see no way to
avoid it now, it shall be all open
and above board. It's your choice,
Benton. Pickupyour weapon and
stand up and fight it out like men,,
"Pistols then-ten password!
was the gruff answer.
care you satisfed?" was asked
of Whiteman.
eyes - perfectly. Let him
take his revolver-I have mine.
We will commence firing at the
word, and continue to advance to
do so until one or both falls"
A few steps from the house
brought them to a spot where
the green grass and bright flowers
had more than once been stained
in such encounters, The men
were placed, the weaponsprepared,
and the fatal word was about to
be given when Whiteman called
the Ranger (who was acting as his
second) and, taking his hand
within his own, whispered:
"You appear to be a true-hearted
man, and Iwish to ask favor Of
you"
"Speak on. Anything ] can
do shall be done. Just say the
word and I'll take your place.
"No, not that. Buff ! should
chance to fall promise that you
will see me buried as / am. Do
not let my dress be disturbed IN
the least. Roll me up in blan-
ket and let no one pry around me
after ] am dead. viii you prom
ise me that?"
"Itis a strange thing to ask,
but I'll do it"
F'Then am ready"
"Yes, I'll do it." repeated the
Ranger, as he slowly retreated,
muttering to himself, "and if you
do fall, I'll send a bullet through