The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-02
.E- From the Overland Monthly.l
THE ILIAD OF SANDY BAR.

| before nine CLOCK II was pretty wei
known all along the river that the tw,
partners of the "Amity Claim" ha'
quarreled and separated at day break
AT that time their nearest neighbor ha'
been attracted by the sounds of alterca
tons and two consecutive pistol shots
Running out, he had seen dimly, in tn
gray mist that rose from the river, tn
tall form of Scott, one of the partners
descending the hill toward the canon
moment later, York, the other part
ner. had appeared from the cabin ant
walked in an opposite direction towart
the river, passing within few feet o
the curious watcher. Later, it was dis
covered that serious Chinaman, cut
ting wood before the cabin, had wit
messed part Of the quarrel.
But John was stolid, Indifferent, ant
reticent.
me choppee wood-me no fghtee,
was his response to all anxious queries
But what did they say, JohnT "Johr
did not sa'be." Col. Starbottle deftl,
ran over the various popular epithet
which a generous public sentimen
might accept as reasonable provocatior
for an assault. But John did not recog
nize them. "And this yers the cattle,
said the Colonel, with some severity
that some thinks ougfter be allowe'
to testify agin' a White Man! Git
you heathen!
Still the quarrel remained inexplica
bic. That two men, whose amiability
and grave tact had earned for them th'
title 1.-The Peace-makers," in com
munity not greatly given to the passive
virtues-that these men, singularly de
voted to each other, should suddenl!
and violently quarrel, might well excite
the curiosity Of the camp. A few o
the more inquisitive visited the lat
scene of conflict, now deserted by it
former occupants. There was no trace
of disored or confusion in the nea
cabin. The rude table was arranged
as If for breakfast; the pan of yellow
biscuit still sat upon that hearth Whose
dead embers might have typified TIT
evil passions that had ragged there bu
an hour before.
But Col. Starbottle's eye-albei
somewhat bloodshot and rheumy-wa'
more intent on practical details. Or
examination bullet-hole was found il
the door. post, and another, nearly op
posite, in the casing Of the window
The Colonel called attention to the fac
that one agreed with" the bore o
SCOTS revolver, and the other with tina
of York's derringer. "They must have
stood about yer" said the Colonel, tax
ing position; mot more than three fee
apart and-missed There was flint
touch of pathos in the infection OF the
Colonels voice, which was not without
effect. A delicate perception of wasted
opportunity thrilled his auditors.
But the Bar was destined to experience
greater disappointment. The two
antagonists had not met since the quar-
rel; it was vaguely rumored that on
the occasion of q second meeting each
had determined to kill the other "on
sight" There was, consequently, some
excitement-and, it is to be feared, no
little gratifcation-when, at ten o clock
York stepped from the Magnolia Sa
loon into the one, long struggling stree,
OF the camp at the same moment thai
Scott left the blacksmith shop at the
forks Of the road. 1t was evident at
glance that a meeting could only be
avoided by the actual retreat of one OF
the other.
In an instant the doors and windows
of the adjacent saloons were filled with
faces. Heads unaccountably appeared
above the river banks and from blhend
powders. An empty wagon at the
cross-road was suddenly crowded with
people who seemed to have sprung from
the earth. There was much running and
confusion on the hillside. On the
mountain road Mr.. Jack Hamlin had
refined up his horse, and was standing
upright on the seat of his buggy. AND
the two objects of this absorbing atten
ton approached each other.
Works got the sun, "Scottll line
him on that tree, "hes waitin to draw
his fire" came from the Garland ther
il was silent. But above this human
breathlessness the river rushed and
sang, and the wind rustled the tree-top:
with an indifference that seemed obtru
siye, Col. Starbottle felt 1t, and IN a
moment of sublime around, waved hi:
cane behind him, warningly to all ma
ture, and said "Shu"
The men were now within a few feet
of each other. A hen ran across the
road before one of them. A feathery
seed-vessel waited from a way side
tree, fell at the feet of the other. And,
unheeding this irony OF nature. the two
opponents came nearer, erect and rigid
looked into each others eye and
passed. 80,
Colonel Starbottle had TO be lifted
from the cart. "This yer camp is play
ed out" he said, gloomily, as he affect
ed to be supported into the Magnolia,
With what further expression he might
have indicated his feeling, it was i'm
possible TO say, for at that moment
Scott joined the group. did you
sneak TO me?' he asked Of the Colonel
dropping his hand, as if with accident
al familiarity, on that gentlemen't
shoulders. The Colonel, recognizing
some occult quality in the touch, and
some unknown quantity in the glance
Of his ouestioner, contented himself by
No air" with dignity.