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

the lookers-on and made him a still
greater favorite in the betting. He wore
his usual dress, save that broad belt,
in which was stuck knife, confined his
coat at the waist and he had changed
his light sombrero for military fatigue
cap. He passed by close to where L
was standing and our eyes again met.
Save that the look on his face hardened
little and he contracted his brows to a
visible scowl, there was nothing to indi-
cate the presence of any unusual men
tai excitement, not even when to take
the position assigned him he had to
pass within an arms length of McClus-
key.
But little time was wasted in prelimi-
naries. The twenty PAGES were quickly
stepped oil and the principals placed in
their respective positions. The sunni
long since set, and the dark pail of even
ing was rapidly settling on the spot, so
that neither could be annoyed by the
sun, nor could either side complain of
holding an inferior position. The crowd
drew back to what was deemed safe
distance, and the seconds, after mo-
ment's consultation, advanced to give
the signal. The interest at this moment
in the proceedings was of an intense
nature, and served to keep the lockers
on in a state of breathless expectancy.
Like statues the figures of the two men
who were to fight a Poutrance loomed
up against the western sky, each with
the muzzle of his weapon pointed to the
earth, the intention clearly being to
/ ,IOt - +Iat e 10 Ena
catching the aim while the weapon is
being raised. In this way the practised
hand rarely wastes his ammunition in
the air by shooting over his adversarys
head as so often happens when the fall
ing shot is adopted.
The giving of the signal had fallen by
lot to Harding. Stating to the princi-
pals, who by this time began to show
signs of Impotence, that this would be
the report of pistol, he drew his own
weapon and discharged it, first asking
the question and receiving the usual an
wer that both were ready.
McCluskey was the first to fire, wheel
ing as he did so, though the smoke had
scarcely curled up from his pistol be-
fore the report of Anderson's weapon
| followed. \ momentary pause ensued,
each of the antagonists closely scanning
the other to note the effect of the shot.
Across Anderson's cheek a deep furrow,
from which the blood slowly began to
trickle down, told the work of his an
tagonist, while McCluskey remained
standing in his original posture, to all
appearances unframed. But this was
not the fact. Those nearest to him
fancied they saw sudden spasm,
as of pain, pass through his
frame, and his face certainly
blanched to death-hke pallor, but
just where the ball had taken effect
they could not tell. At the second fire
fire McClusky again anticipated his OPP
ponent, and taking more deliberate
aim succeeded in breaking his left arm.
Anderson uttered sharp cry and sank
on one knee, but quickly recovering
himself, returned the fire, and this time
with horrible effect. The ball passing
through McClusky's mouth carried away
with it several of the clenched teeth
and aportion of the skull, finally lodging
in the base of the skull. McCluskey
staggered forward wildly few steps
and made desperate efforts to steady
himself The blood flowed in torrents
from the wound and stained his hunting
shirt and dripped from the muzzle of his
pistol but with heroic courage he con-
tinued to advance, splitting out mouth
fuls of blood and teeth at every step.
During the interval thus gained, Ander-
son, who in his crippled state had every
reason to shun a hand-to-hande encounter,
had not been idle, but fired another we'll
aimed shot, which broke McClusky s
left shoulder AS if this was not
enough, he sent still another ball after
him, which, striking him in the pit of
the stomach, caused him to fall forward
heavily on his face. McClusky was now
MORALLY wounded and momentarily
growing weaker from loss of blood.
Tearing open his shirt in his agony, a
crimson spot in his left side indicated
theplacdwhere Anderson first shot had
taken effect. He still, however, re-
tanned his grasp of his pistol, and by
an effort superhuman in its GOODNESS and
deliberation fired at his antagonist his
third shot. The latter had been closely
watching for this. and endeavored to
save himself by suddenly dropping to
the ground. Too late, however. Nc
Cluskey's finger was already on the
trigger and his eye along the sights, and
when his adversarys body reached the
earth it was heavier by Colts pistol
ball. A scream of pain followed, and
the spectators saw the figure of man
clutching wildly with his hands at the
grass and writhing and twisting in hor-
rible contortions. The bullet had struck
him full in the abdomen, and like his
antagonist, Anderson was now fast
dying man. At this juncture it seemed
as if the crowd would interfere, but
Harding sternly babe them keep back
and leave the men to settle the matter
in their own way. AS none cared to
dispute with the gigantic hunter,
the mandate was obeyed, though
an universal expression of hor or ran
through the spectators, number of
whom were the engineers and attaches
of our own party. Still, horrible as
was the scene, no one thought of leav-
ing the spot. An irresistible fascination
to see it out bound one and all alike to
the blood-stained locality. But the
finale was at hand-the curtain almost
ready to drop.
McCluskey, summoning by supreme