The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-08-08

Il
window, which still remained open.
4" Look out for him. He is hard man
TO get the drop on. He caught Mike,
YOU know" Il will here remark to more
fully explain the situation, that the lat,
ter was my companions brother, ana
was one of Anderson's victims OF the
dance-house.)
81 don't want to drop on him, re-
piled McCluskey "I'll give him an
equal show. I'll fight him fair and
square with pistol and knife. But L
want good man to back me up and see
fair play. Who can / get !?
At n loss TO recommend any one OF
those at the Lodge, for, according to
his own account, he was stranger to
every one but myself, / suggested that
in lieu of a better he take his guide, a
Texas herder of considerable experience,
in preference to selecting stranger
who. though he might be willing to
serve. could hardly be expected to take
more than a casual interest i'll his prin-
cipal. And to this arrangement he
finally consented, and l set out in search
of his second. The guide, who, had it
been his own affair, would probably
have settled it quietly by shooting his
enemy through the back in true des-
perado fashion, raised his eyes in as
| constituent as / briefly narrated the
case. and told him for what he was want
ed but he showed no unwillingness to
take the part assigned him, and shortly
afterward was closeted with McCluskey.
| Meanwhile, anxious to watch the pro-
gress of events, | strolled into the gam
bling room, and, taking position where
/ could easily watch everything that
TRANSFERRED, quietly awaited the delivery
of the hostile message. l had not long
to wait. In n few moments Richards,
the guide, entered, and striding up to
where Anderson was dealing cards, bent
over him and whispered in his ear. The
players, accustomed to such Interrupt
tons, at first paid no attention to the
delay, and betook themselves, some to
conversation and others to rearranging
their stakes, but it soon became appa-
rent that subject of more than ordi-
nary interest was under discussion. The
face of Anderson, usually set and immo-
bile, passed first to an expression Of
blank establishment, then to a look OF
dismay, and finally exhibited signs of
fear. Rising quickly from the table, he
made strong effort at self-control, and
briefly announced to the crowd that the
game for the present was closed. Then,
drawing his revolver, he passed quickly
through the players, who by this time
had crowded close around him, and, at
tended by Richards, entered the store
where Harding, surrounded by throng
of Osages, was driving close bargains III
furs and robes.
As briefly as possible Harding was
made acquainted with the state of affairs,
and his services procured in behalf of
Anderson.
The utmost excitement now prevailed.
The desire to witness the duel, the cause
of which had already been bruited
about, seized upon one and all alike, and
some of the hunters, thinking that their
companions, who were out little from
camp herding their stock, might feel
disappointed at not witnessing the af-
fair, mounted their horses and appraised
them of what was going on, SO that in
Jess than an hour after the passage of
the challenge at least seventy spectators
had gathered at the appointed spot.
Meanwhile the two principals had re-
tired apart with their friends to prepare
themselves and their weapons. BY the
terms agreed upon between Richards
and Harding, the antagonists were to
fight with revolvers and bowie-knives-
to be placed back to back at an interval
of twenty paces-to wheel and fire at a
given signal, and after the first inter-
oh Of hot 30 .lt.nt tl,a ht
as each one should deem it best to his
advantage.
McCluskey had recovered his equa-
nimity Immediately on receiving the
notification of the acceptance of his chal.
lenge. AS he emerged from the house,
where he had made his brief stay, he
looked a picture of manly strength and
vigor A tight-fitting buckskin shirt
and leggings, tastefully embroidered,
set off his robust form to great advan-
tage, and it was apparent to all that, in
case of a close encounter, he would
prove terrible antagonist to his rival.
in his right hand, while his bowie, in
cased in a sheath of untanned deerskin,
rested on his left hip, within easy reach.
Accompanied by Richards, who had
simply thrown off his coat and placed
an extra revolver in his belt, he proceed
ed quickly to the place of meeting, re-
plying briefly to the rough salutations
addressed to him by the crowd, but re-
pelling courteously the advances of a
few of the more curious, who wished to
learn from his own lips the history of
the present trouble. The spot selected
for the encounter was in the open prai-
RE, a few yards distant from the larger
of the two storehouses. The grass had
been closely cropped by the cattle, leav-
ing the turf firm, yet elastic, and just
the thing forrough-and-tumble business.
His antagonist not having yet made his
appearance, McCluskey seated himself
on the grass and conversed earnestly
with his second. His face during the
last few moments had paled to an almost
marble Wilderness, and wore such intense
hate and ferocity that was glad to turn
away and direct my attention to what
was taking place among the crowd OF
spectators. Here the utmost levity pre-.
vailed, bets being freely staked on the
result of the fght-some favoring Nc.
Cluskey on account of his superior
physique, and others asserting that An.
/ derson Would droD him in the first three