Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-24
THE ILIAD OF SANDY BAR.

well known all along the river that the
two partners Of the "Amity claim had
ouarrelled and separated at daybreak. AT
that time. the attention of their nearest
neighbor had been attracted by the sounds
of alterations and two consecutive pistol
shots Rcnning out, he had seen, dimly,
in the gray mist that rose from the river,
the tall form of Scott, one OF the partners,
descending the hill toward the canon;
moment later. York, the other partner,
had appeared from the cabin, and walked,
in an opposite direction, toward the river,
passing within a few feet of the curious
watcher. Later, it was discovered that
serious Chinaman, cutting wood before the
cabin, had witnessed part of the quarrel.
But John was stolid, Indifferent, and reti-
cent. "Me choppee wood-me no fightee,"
was his serene response to all anx-
ious inquiries. But what did they
soy John.'' John did not "sabe."
Colonel Starbottle deity ran over
the various popular epithets which
generous public sentiment might accept as
reasonable provocation for an assault. But
John did not recognize them. :" And this
yer's the CATTLE" said the Colonel, with
some severity, "that some thinks oughter
to be allowed to testify agin White Man!
Git-you heathen!"
Still the quarrel remained inexplicable.
That two men, whose amiability and grave
tact had earned for them the title OF The
Peacemakers," in community not greatly
given to the passive virtues-that these
men, singulariy devoted to each other,
should suddenly and violently quarrel,
might well excite the curiosity of the
c8mp. A few of the more inquisitive WIS.,
tied the late scene of conflict. now deserted
by its former occupants There was no
trace of disorder Or confusion in the neat
cabin. The rude table was arranged
as If for breakfast the pan of yellow bis
cult still sat upon that hearth whose dead
embers might have typified the evil pas
sions that had ragged there but an hour be-
fore. But Colonel Starbottles eye-albeit,
somewhat bloodshot and rheumy-was
more intent on practical details. On ex-
animation, a bullet hole was found In the
door post, and another, nearly opposite, in
the casing of the window. The Colonel
called attention to the fact that the one
"agreed with" the bore of Scots revolver,
and the other with that of Yorks der
ringer. "They must 'av stood about yer
said the Colonel, taking position; mot
MORN three feet apart, and-missedf
There was fine touch of pathos in the
falling infection of the Colonefs voice,
which was not without effect A delicate
perception Of wasted opportunity thrilled
his auditors.
But the Bar was destined TO experience a
greater disappointment. The two antag-
onists had not met since the quarrel, and it
was vaguely rumored that on the Occa-
sion Of n second meeting each had deter
mined to kill the other ION sight" There
was consequently, some excitement-and,
il is to be feared, no little qualification
when, at ten o'clock, York stepped from
the Magnolia Saloon into the one, long,
struggling street of the camp, at the same
moment that Scott left the blacksmith
shop at the forks of the road. 1t was evil
dent, at glance, that meeting could only
be avoided by the actual retreat OF one or
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 behind boulders
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 HamIin had refined 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's got the sun, Scott'll line him
on that tree" he's waiting to draw his
fire" came from the Garland then 1t was
silent. But above this human GREATNESS
ness the river rushed and sang, and the
wind rustled the tree-tops with an indiffer.
ence that seemed obtrusive. Colonel
-Starbottle felt it, and, in moment OF sub
lime pre-occupation, without looking
around waved his cane behind him, warn
jnply to all nature, and said, Shu!'
The men were now within few feet OF
each other A hen ran across the road be-
fore one of them A feathery seed-vessel
waited from a wayside tree, fell at the foot
of the other. And, unheeding this irony
of nature, the two opponents came nearer
and nearer, erect and rigid, looked in
each others eyes, and-passed!
Colonel Starbottlc had to be lifted from
the cart. "This yer camp is played out, '
he said, gloomily, as he affected to be sup
ported into the Magnolia" With what
further expression he might have indicated
his feelings it was impossible to say, for at
that moment Scott joined the group. Did
Won sneak to mey" he asked of the Colonel,
dropping his hand, as if with accidental
familiarity, on that gentleman's shoulder.
The Colonel, recognizing some occult
quality in the touch, and some unknown
quantity In the giahce vi ms iuS9'ioio, !,
contented himself by replying, No, sir,
with dignity. A few rods away, Yorks
conduct was as-.characteristic and peculiar.
"You had a mighty fine chance-why
didn't you plump him." said Jack Ham
lin as York drew near the buggy. Be
cause hate him." was the reply, heard
only by Jack Contrary to popular be-
lief, this reply was not Kissed between the
lips of the speaker, but was said in an
ordinary tone. But Jack Hamlin, 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
smile.
When Sandy Bar became convinced that
the quarrel between York and Scott could
not be settled after the usual local methods
Il gave no further concern thereto. But
presently it was rumored that the Amity
Claim was in litigation, and that its pos
session would be extensively disputed by
MI