The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-11-17

THE ILIAD OF SANDY BAR,

@JA-AO
BEFORE nine o'clock, ii was Drett,
we'll known all along the river that tho
two partners Of the "Amitv claim haC
9'Iarre.led and separated at daybreak. Al
that tine, the attention of their nearest
nalghbor had been attracted BY the sounds
of alterations and two consecutive pisto
shots. Running out, ne had seen, dimIy
IN the gray mist that rose from the river
the tall form OF Scott, one of the partners
descending the hill toward the canon: q
moment later, York, the other partner
had appeared from the cabin, and walked
in an opposite direction. toward the river
passing within few feet Of the Gu lou,
watcher. Later, il was discovered that a
serious Ciinaman. cutting wood before the
cabin, had witnessed part Of the Quarrel
But John was stolid, Indifferent, and reti-
cent Ne choppee wood-me no fightee, y
was his serene response to all anx-
ious inquiries. But what dii they
sy john" John dill not "sa5e.'
Colonel Starbot.le deity ran over
the various popular epithets which
generous pu0lic sentiment might accept as
Teasona0le prov0cation for an assault. But
John did not rccogniz them. And this
yers the cattle, said the Colonel, with
some severity, that some think ought er
to be allowed to testify agin "a White Man
Glt-yOu heathenf'
Still the quarrel remained inexplcable.
That two men. whose amiability and gr., We
tact mad canned for them the title of The
Peacemakers, in a community not greatly
given To the passive virtues = that these
men, singuiarly devoted to each other,
should suddenly and violently quarrel,
might well excite the curiosity of the
camp. few OF the more inquisitive Wis
lied the late scene of conflict. now deserted
By its former occupants. There was 10
trace of disorder Or C infusion in the neat
cabin. The rude table was arranged
Is If for breakfast; the pan of yellow. bis
elit still sat upon that hearth whose dead
elabers might have typifed the evil pas
sIons that had ragged there but an hour be-
f5re But Colonel Starbottles eye-albeit,
somewhat bloOdshOt and rheumy-was
more intent on practical details. On ex-
animation, 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 Scott revolver,
anu the other with that of Yorks der.
ringer They must av stood about YER
said the Colonel, taking position; not
morn three feet apart, and-missedt =
There was fine touch of pathos in the
falling infection of the Colonel's 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 antag-
onIstS had not met since the quarrel, and it
was vaguely rumOred that on the Occa-
sion OF second meeting each had deter
mined To Kill the other ION sight" There
was, consequently, some exciiement-and,
1t 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 ffom 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
Yorks got the sun, y" Scott'll line him
On that tree" :" he's waiting TO draw his
fire, came from the Garland then il was
silent. But above this human breathless-
ness the river rushed and sang. and the
wind rIstled the tree-tops with an indiffer-
ence that seemed obtrusive. Colonel
Starbottle felt it, and. in a moment of sub
lime pre-Occupation, without looking
around, waved his cane behind him, warn
lngly to all nature, and said Shul'
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 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-passedi
Colonel Starbottlc had to be lifted from
the cart. This yer camp is play d out"
he said. gloOmily. as he affected to be sup
ported into the Magnolia" With what
further expression he might have indicated
his feelings il was impossible TO say, FOR at
that moment Scott joined the group. did
you speak to me? :" heasked of the Colonel.
dropping his hand, as if with accidental
familiarity, on that gentlemans shoulder
The Colonel, recognizing some occult
quality in the touch, AMI some unknown
quantity in the glance of his questioner,
contented himself by replying, No, sir"
with dignity. A few rods away, Yorks
conduct was as characteristic and peculiar.
You had mighty fine chancs-why
didn't you plump him?" said Jack Ham
lin n = Work 1rc.v tho hurry Do
ealse hate him." was the reply, heard
only By Jack. Contrary to popular be-
LET, this reply was not Kissed between the
lips OF the speaker, but was said in al
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