The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-09-15

Colonel said) the other night"
"Who was t?' asked Culpepper, list
lessly.
slack Folinsbee"
"Who?"
"Why, the son of that dashed niger
worshiping, psalm-singing, Puritan
Yankee. What's the matter, now ?
Look var, Culp, you amt goin' back on
your blood, ar yer You amt goin
back on your word? You amt goin
down at the feet of this trash like a
whipped houndY
Culpepper was silent. He was very
white. Presently he looked up and said
quietly, "No."
Culpepper Starbottle had challenged
Sack FOlinsbee and the challenge was
accepted. The cause alleged was the
expelling of Culpepper's uncle from the
floor of the assembly hall by order of
Folinsbee. This much Madrono Hollow
knew and could swear to; but there
were other strange rumors afoat, Of
which the blacksmith was an able ex-
FOUNDER. "You see, gentlemen he
said to the crowd gathered around his
anvil, 81 amt got no theory of this af.
fair, only give few facts as have come
to my knowledge. Culpepper and Jack
meets quite accidental like in Bob's sa-
loon. Jack goes up to Culpepper and
says, "A word with you Culpepper
bows and steps aside in this way, Jack
standing about here" THE blacksmith
demonstrates the position Of the parties
with two old horseshoes on the anvil.
"Jack pulls a bracelet from his pocket
and says, DO you know that bracelet p
Culpepper says, Il do not, quite cool
like and easy. Jack says, you gave it
to my sister, Culpepper says, still cool
as you please, Il did not Jack says,
You lie, Cd Dim you, and draws
his derringer. Culpepper jumps for
ward about here" Preference is made to
the diagram) land Jack fires. Nobody
hit. It's mighty cur'os thing, gentle
men," continued the blacksmith, drop
ping suddenly into the abstract, and
leaning meditatively on his anvil-''it's
a mighty curo's thing that nobody gets
hit so often. You and me empties our
revolvers socially at each other over a
| little game, and the room full, and no.
body gets hit That's what gets me-
Never mind, Thompson chimed in
Bill Masters, "there's another and a
better world where we shall know all
that and-become better shots. Go on
with your story"
Well, some grabs Culpepper and
some grabs Jack, and so separates them.
Then Jack tells 'em as how he had seen
his sister wear bracelet which he knew
was one that had been given to Dolores
by Colonel Starbottle That Miss 10
wouldn't say where she got it, but
owned up to having seen Culpepper
that day. Then the most curo's thing
Of it yet, what does Culpeppar do but
rise up and takes all back that he said,
and allows that he did give her the
bracelet. Now my opinion, gentlemen,
is that he lied; it amt like that man to
give q gal that he respects anything off
of that piece, Dolores. But it's all the
same now, and there's but one thing to
be DONE"
The way this one thing was done be-
longs to the record of Madrono Hollow.
The morning was bright and clear the
air was slightly chill, but that was from
the mist which arose along the banks
of the river. AS early as six o clock
the designated ground-a little opening
in the madrono grove-was occupied by
Culpepper Starbottle, Colonel Starbot-
! tie, his second, and the surgeon. The
colonel was exalted and excited, albeit
in rather imposing, dignified way, and
pointed out to the surgeon the excel.
lence Of the ground, which at that hour
was wholly shaded from the sun, whose
steady stare is more or less discompos-
ing to your duelist. The surgeon threw
himself on the grass and smoked his
cigar. Culpepper, quiet and thought
ful, leaned against tree and gazed up
the river. There was a strange sugges-
ton Of a picnic about the group, which
was heightened when the colonel drew
a bottle from his coat-tails, and, taking
preliminary draught, offered it to the
others. Cocktails, sir" he explained
with dignified precision. "a gentleman,
sir, should never 60 without EN-. Keeps
off the morning chill. | remember
going out in SO with Hank Boom.
pirater. Good god, sir. the man had to
put on his overcoat, and was shot in it..
Fact"
But the noise Of wheels drowned the
colonel's "reminiscences, and rapidly
driven buggy, containing Jack Folins-
bee, Calhoun Bungstarter, his second,
and Bill Masters, drew up on the
ground. Jack Folinsbee leaped out
gaily. - had the .jolliest work to get
away without the governors hearing"
he began, addressing the group before
him with the greatest volubility. Cal
houn Bungstarter touched his arm, and
the young man blushed. 1t was his
first duel.
If you are ready, gentleman, said
Mr.. Bungstarter, 1--WE had better proceed
to business. believe it is understood
that no apology will be offered or ac-
cepted. We may as well settle prelimi.
naries at once, or | fear we shall be
interrupted. There is a rumor in town
that the Vigilance Committee are seek
ing our friends the Starbottles, and |
believe, as their fellow-countrymen, |
have the honor to be included in their
warrant.
AT this probability of interruption,
that gravity which had hitherto been
wanting fell upon the group. The pre-
liminaries were soon ARRANGED and the