Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-11-05
The Mad of sandy Rar.


tol-shots. Running out, he had seen, dimy, in
the gray mist that rose from the river, the tall
form of Scott, one of the partners descending
the hill toward the canon a moment later York,
the other partner, had appeared from the cabin
and walked in an opposite direction toward the
river, passing within Il few feet of the curious
watcher, Later, il WAS discovered that serious
Chinaman, cutting wood before the cabin, had
witnessed part of the quarrel Bat John was
stolid, Indifferent aud retccnt. q Me choppee
wood-me no ighee, was his serene response
to all anxious queries. "But what did they SaY,
John ~ John did not sabe. Cot Starbotte
defty ran over the various popular epithets
which Il generous public sentiment might accept
as reasonable provocaton for an assault. Bat
John did not recognise them. And this yer S
the cattle, said the Colonel, with some severity,
that some thinks oughter be allowed to testify
agin a White Man Git-yOu heather !"
Stll the quarrel remained inexplicable. That
two men, whose amiability and grave tact had
earned for them the title Of . the Peace-makers -
in a community not greatly given to the passive
virtues-that these men, singularly devoted to
each other, should suddenly and violently quar-
rel, might well excite the curiosity of the camp.
A few Of the more inquisitive visited the late
scene of conflict, now deserted by its former oc-
cupants There was no trace of disorder or
confusion in the neat cabin. The rude table was
arranged as if foI breakfast; the pan of yellow
biscuit still sat upon the hearth whose dead cm-
bers might have typjded the evil passions that
had ragged there but an hour before. But Col.
SWrbottles S eye-albcit, somewhat bloodshot and
rheumy-was more intent on practical details.
On examination, a bullet-hole was found in the
door-post, and another, nearly opposite in the
casing of the window. The Colonel called at
tention to the fact that the one agreed with ~
the bore Of Scott's revolver, and the other with
that of York's derringer. " They must have
stood about yer said the Colonel, taking posi-
ton ''not morn three feet apart, and r. -missedr'
There was fine touch of pathos in the falling
infection of the Colonel's voice, which was not
without effect delicate perception of wasted
opportunity thrilled his auditors.
But the Bar was destined to experience a
greater disappointment. The two antagonists
had not met since the quarrel and it was vaguely
rumored that the occasion of a second meet
ing, each had determined to kill the other &" on
sight" There was, consequently, some excite
ment-and it is to be feared no little gratiica-
tion-when, at ten o'clock, York stepped from
the Magnolia Saloon into the one, long strng-
CLING street OF the camp, at the same moment
lhat Scott left the black smith shop, at the forks
of the road. 1t was evident, at glance, that "A
meeting could only be avoided 10y the actual re-
treat of one or the other.
In an instant, the doors and windows of adja-
cent saloons were filled with faces. Heads unac-
countably appeared above the rver-banks and
from behind powders. An empty wagon at the
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 Ham
lin had rened up his horse, and was standing
upright on the seat Of his buggy. And the two
objects OF this absorbing attention approached
each other,
York got the sun" Scottll line him on
that tree" " he's waitin' to draw his FIRE, came
from the cart-aud then it was silent. But,
above this human breathlessnes5, the river
rushed and sang and the wind rusled the tree
tops with an indifference that seemed obtrusiye.
Col. Starboule felt it and, in a moment Of sub
lime pre-occupation, without looking around
waived his cane behind him, warningly to all
nature, and said " Shu ~
The men were within few feet of each other
A hen ran across the road before one of them. A
feathery secd-vessel, waited from way-sidc tree
fell at the feet of the other And. unheeding
this irony of Nature, the two opponents came
nearer, erect and rigid looked in each others
eyes, and-passed
Colonel Starbotte had to be lifted from the
cart. '' This yer camp is played out, he said,
gloomily, as he affected to he supported into the
- Magnolia" With what farther expression he
might have Indicated his feelings il is impossible
to say, for at that moment Scott joined the
group. Did you speak to me?' he asked Of
the Colonel, dropping his hand, as if with acci-
dental familiarity, upon that gentleman shoul-
der. The Colonel, recognizing some occult
quality in the touch and some unknown quantity
in the glance Of his questonor, contcnted himself
by replying No sir, ." with dignity A few
rods away, York's conduct was as characteristic
and peculiar. " You had mighty fine chance
why didn you plump him ?'' said Jack Ham
lin, as York drew near the buggy. Because /
hate him, was the reply, heard only by Jack
Contrary to popular belief this reply was not
Kissed between the lips of the speaker, but was
said in an ordinary tone. But Jack Hamln, who
was an observer of mankind, noticed that the
speakers hands were cold, and his lips dry, as
he helped him into the buggy and accepted the
seeming paradox with a smile.
When Sandy Bar became convinced that the
quarrel of York and Scott could not be settled
after the usual local methods, it gave no further
concern thereto. But presently it was rumored
that the =" Amity Claim was in litigation, and
that its possession would be cxpensively disputed
by each Of the partners. As it was we'll known
that the claim in question was worked out and
worthless and the partners, whom it had already
enriched, had talked Of abandoning It but day
or two before the quarrel, this proceeding could
only be accounted for gratuitoGs spite. Later,
two San Francisco lawyers made their appearance
in this guieless Arcadia, and were eventually
taken into the saloons, and-what is pretty much
the same thing-the condolences Of the inhabit-
ants The results Of this unhalowed intimacy
were many subpenas; and, indeed, when the
- Amity Claim came to trial, all Of Sandy Bar
that was not in compulsory attendance at the
county seat came there from curiosity. The
gulches and bitches for miles around were de-
serted. do not propose to describe that al
ready famous trial. Enough that, in the Ian
guage Of the plaintiffs counsel, " it was one of
no ordinary significance, involving the nheren:
rights of that untiring industry which had de-
veloped the Pactolian resources Of this golden
land, and in the homlier phrase Of Colonel
Starbottle, q a fuss that gentlemen might hev
settled in ten minutes over social glass, eff they
meant business or in ten seconds with a revol-
ver eff they meant fun" Scott got verdict,
from which York instantly appealed. 1t is said
that he had sworn to spend his last dollar in the
struggle.
In this way Sandy Bar hegan TO accent the