The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-10-19

Austin" The seal was broken and IL
was read aloud:
"FELLow CITIZENS Though in error
and deceived by the arts of traitors, | will
give you three more days to decide wheth.
er you will surrender the public archives.
AT the end Of that time you will please
Jet me know your decision.
SAM HoUsroN
After the letter was read, the deaf man
waited a few moments for reply and
turned to leave the hall. At this moment
Colonel Morton interposed with a lower
ing brow, and beckoncd him to the table,
The stranger obeyed Colonel Morton
wrote:
You were brave enough to insult me
by your threatening looks ten minutes
ago; arc you brave enough to give me
satisfaction %
Tho stranger Instantly pcnned the re-
ply;
am at your service"
The Colonel again wrote.
Who will be your second ?"
This was the answer:
am too generous to seek an adyan.
tage, and too brave 10 fear any on the
part of Others, ! therefore never need the
aid OF II second ~
Morton wrote:
Name your terms
The stranger wrote without a moments
hesitation
Time, sunset this evening place, the
left bank of the Colorado, opposite a ustin;
weapons, rifles; distance, hundred
yards. Do not fail to be 10 time"
The last sentence was not calculated to
sooth the feelings of the irritated G., lionel.
and he compressed his lips as he read it.
The next moment the stranger strobe
across the floor and disappeared through
the window in tie same manner he bad
entered.
"Is it possible that you are going 20
fight that man ~ exclaimed Judge Webb.
lie is mute if not a maniac Such u
meeting fear will tarnish the lustre of
your laurels.
You are mistaken" said the Colonel,
with u smile. That mute is q hero whose
fame stands III the records of a dozen of
btttles and almost as many bloody duels.
Besides, he is the favorite emssary aud
bosom friend of Houston. IF | have the
good fortune to kill him, ! think The Presi-
dent will rctract his VOW against venturinc
any more on the field of honor
"You know him then? Who is he %
asked several.
"Deaf Smith"
Impossible 1t cannot be. Deaf Smith
was SLAIN at San Jacintc," replied Judge
Webb
"Tbere again your Honor is mistaken
said Morton. "The story of Smiths death
is Il mere fiction, gotten up by Houston for
the purpose of saving his friend from the
vengeance of several Texans, on whose
conduct he had acted the part of spy.
| learned the artiiice year ago.
"Thcn you arc mailman yourself,
Colonel. Deaf Smith was never known
to miss his mark lie has been known to
have brought down ravens in their flight,
and has picked of Comanchcs and Next
cans at a distance OF two hundred yards
"Thc thing is settled. fancy ! can do
II little of that business myself"
But for Gods slke,n PERSISTED the
Judge, becoming excited, q don't want
you to be murdered
Who is going to be ?" asked the Col
onel, as he cody smoked his cigar and
smiled in his usual way
Why, you, if you undertake to fight
Deaf Smith,
:" This thing is all arranged as | said
lew moments ago, and | wouldn't back
out if was certain to be shot for what is
death to dishonor ~
Such was the absurd sentiment in Texas
at the time, and such. we fear, is too pre-
valent among civilized nations.
Toward evening a large crowd assem-
bled at the place appointed for the meet
ing and SO reckless were the people re-
gardlDg the issue at stake-s human life,
perhaps two-that there were all manner
of jokes, and not few wagers laid upon
the result.
AT length, us the sun sank below the
horizon, the two mortal antagonists APP
pcarcd on the open space an3 stood back
to back. AT the waving of the handker-
chlef they Logan pacing Oft from each
other, both stepping exactly together, az
IT they were keeping time to the tap of "a
drum. They completed the distance at
the same instant, when they wheeled so as
possible.
As they were separated by consider
able distance, they raised their rifles aud
paused moment to take aim. TIE pause
was long enough fof the crowd to glance
from one to the other, aud note the ex-
precision of their faces. Colonel Morton
was calm and smiling; but the smile was
a murderous enc far more terrible than
the severest scowl could be. Deaf Smith,
however, was as rigid and passionless as