Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-08-16


moment of forgetfulness used the in
digo-bag for Il towel.
1 am fond of harmless fun, and | con
fcss l fervently wished for a few more
arrivals to enjoy it with me. In the
space of few minutes / invented a
dozen funny things to say the last was
so rich that l laughed outright. And
so did he.
We sat and looked at each other.
noticed that when [ took drink he did
the same. When | putfed he puffed.
If | moved hand or foot, so did he.
l could stand it no longer; l was
angry, and said to him
81 am not to he insulted with i'm
punity, sir. 11y names Brown. |
represent the house of Rimmocks, sir
there's my card stand ZIP like II man,
sir -
My blood was up.
The cadaverous wretch repeated my
very words and actions, anu handed me
card on which was engraved, DE
Tremens q Co. Wine and Spirit Mer-
chants"
l finished my to1dy, took off my coat,
locked the door, and looked him full in
the face.
He finished his toddy, threw off his
coat. went to the door, and put the key
in his pocket But never for an in
stant did he take his eyes off me. He
was quite ready for me. He waited for
me. His azure countenance had
changed he looked fiendish.
The noble art of self-defense formed
feature in my education when at
school, | could parry and counter capia
tally ; my blow was equal to hundred
and thirty seven pounds, and | could
give the upper cut beautifully but
somehow | felt afraid of this fellow, and
/ looked at him as fercely as could, in
hope that he would make me an apology.
Nothing of the kind On the contrary,
his demoniacal scowl grew fercer and
wilder every moment, the redness round
his eyes became more strongly defined.
and his orbs shone with II dazzle that
seemed to freeze my blood. [ would
have given months salary, and ex-
penses to boot, to have been safely any
where else ] looked at the window rs
the thought rose, and determined to
risk a limb by jumping through it into
the street below. But [ must have
passed linn. His eyes We're upon me,
and 1 gave up the idea as soon as
formed.
I had contrived, however. to have the
table between us, and thus we were face
to face. 1 could not now look him
straight in the eye, as had always been
accustomed to look at man.
L shrank from his terrible stare, and
my blood seemed to gallop as though
every drop in my body had entered for,
and was running on, steeple-chase
through my veins, with a wind-up leap
from my heart to my brain.
To my horror l became sensible that
the table was moving with slow but
certain motion toward the side of the
room. held it with all my strength,
but without avail. My antagonist was
evidently much stronger man than
myself, and had the design of making
for himself fair field on which to ex.
hibit his prowess. [ would have pnlled
the bell out by it's roots, for help, but
my hands were rivited to the table.
moved with it against my will his ter
rible eyes We're upon me.
At last the table touched the WALL my
enemy lifted his hands, and as he did Sc
[ found mine were released. Quick as
lightning he sprang at nc Quick as
| lightning / remembered / had Il large
spring backed knife in my pocket;
thrust my hand i'll search of it; but
was already in the grip of a vice, re
ceiving blows that would not have dis
graced mammoth's hammer. / wa'
knocked down; [ was knocked up;
was thrown over his head, kicked il
many places at once, jumped upon
knelt upon my teeth We're punched
out, my nose hattened, my neck disloca
ted, my skull fractured, my ribs smash
ed in, before l could even plant one will
my left upon any part OF my antagonist
At length I obtained freedom for m.
right hand the next minute he wa
dead at my feet With great difficult.
L arose, and, drawing the table to it
original position, l secreted the bod
underneath. Then, with an inexpressi
bic feeling of triumph and joy, wipe'
my trusty weapon.
Horror In every chair, on ever,
table, on the solemn old clock, on II roy
on the mantel-shelf, were new arrivals
Indigo dealers, all waiting to have
turn at me
* Il X
The morning after my arrival at th
cred Dragon" L found myself in bed
strapped down. The people of the in
told me that | had been mad the nigh
before, and had fought a battle roya
with every article Of furniture i'll til
ROOM l knew better, of course; but
kept my own counsel could have toll