The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-20

turned the pistol to its place, and began to
apologize in an unaccountably profuse
manner. Jack was not afraid, but the sud
denness of being brought face to face with
one near the one he feared, made him hum
bic.
Half an hour afterward, looking up the
same street, saw Cap coming toward the
store. He was very white, eyes all afamc,
lips compressed, head erect, shoulders back
his feet striking the earth rapidly and res
olutely. The bounding step flew past
without recognition, into the store; the
fiery insane eyes fixed, knowing not even
Dawn, who standing in the doorway,
shrank back with terror.
At the farther end of the long counter,
upon the old pine desk, lay great leathern
belt, with dragoon revolver and large bowie
knife attached--Cap's property. He
swung these around his waist with quick
determined movement, and was on the
street again before the buckle was fastened
the same splendid fury visable in every
action.
The Johnsons in town; been after Cap,
explained Kentuck, hurriedly, coming
across the creek from his cabin, with long,
rapid steps. "Go "heep' yourselfr'
By this time Cap had arrived opposite
Tex's saloon, and was making for McIn-
tyres when Kentuck started on run up
the middle of the street. In that direction,
the greatest excitement prevailed; men
running about wildly, as though an earth
quake had suddenly shaken loose half the
logs in town.
1t was between one of the johnson broth
ers and Cap that the unfortunate affair had
happened in '49, resulting in the death of
the former. Both parties had their friends;
the sore was an old one that had never been
properly treated, and it was impossible
that, once commenced, the fight would be
confined to the principals. Provided with
a pistol-an article considered one of the
necessaries of life in those days-I was hur-
rying toward the door, when Dawn rushed
in and begged me to stay-not to stain my
hands with human blood. But when told
her the Johnsons were hunting Cap, that
there were three brothers, and must help
him, she released me at once.
Before had taken a dozen steps, a
single shot rang out clear, followed instant
ly by second, slight pause, and then
half dozen in quick succession. The din
of voices and trampling feet of tho turbu-
lent crowd, spiced now and then with the
sharp crack of revolver, aroused the whole
population, and brought them to the scene
of the fray. Big Jack and Pretty Andy,
running out of Macs and across the street,
were followed by one of Johnsons, who
staggered out, balanced himself like %
drunken man, and fell forward upon his
face, the arms stretched beyond his head,
with fingers drawn part, clutching the
earth. Only shots and yells within. A
moments lull, and there is rush for the
doors. The crowd swarms into the street,
and scatters. The last who seek the open
air are two formidable-loolSing men; the
eldest Of the Johnsons, tall, powerful and
finished in limb, followed closely by Cap,
Kentuck and the other Johnsons are mis-
sing. A shot from the verandah of the
Grizzly House opposite, opens the con-
test anew.
There is Cap--a misunderstanding his
opponent with the activity of wild cat,
and the determination Of grizzly. Outside
combatants, on both sides, have emptied
their revolvers, and now pause to watch
with broathless interest the result of the
horrible contest, when suddenly q white
face and pair of wild, distended eyes
move swiftly past bearded heads to the
centre, between the combatants and Just
as Cap has felled his adversary and springs
upon him with bare arms and bright blade
lifted in air, two arms encircle his waist,
and an agonized voice breaks clear above
hoarse curse beneath, in two words of
eloquent entreaty, "Stop, fatherp'
Too late. The slight figure is thrown
back the iron arm goes down, and the
savage blade crushes the quivering vitals of
the last Of the Johnsons
Cap stood erect, with no sign of recog-
milton in the marble face but moment
later, he said:
"Take her away; quick?'
/ caught the slender form and hurried
toward home.
"shot ?" asked one-eyed Jimmy.
"No."
"CutT' from Dublin.
mo"
"only faintedv ~ warned another; and