The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-10

i
am fool indeed"
"But he does live.D
al know it. But he and myself can't
live long"
"You surely would not second time
try to take his life ?o
81 tell you he and / can't both live
OF course you would decide for him ~
al shall overwhelmingly be the wife of
one who has murder in his hearth
Il thought SO. Now, Phillip Dark,
how do you propose to die !? /"
"What do you mean?0 asked Dark.
81 mean hat we must fight. Oh,
won't stab you in the dark. But we must
| fight in sucha manner that it will be GER
tain death toone of us or most likely both.
Will you fgat me as | propose, provided
the chances ire equal ?"
"No won't fghtat all"
care YOU coward ~
"No!n
"Then Why will you rot fght?o
Because Nancy needs the protection
of some better man than "a murderer 4
duel is game of choice, and | might be
the loser. In that event she would still
be left 10 you.
"She will have nothing to do with me-
anyway. Is not that the case, Nancy ?"
"Itis.n
sand you will be his wife ?n
az he claims me as SUCH"
"And you, Philip Dark, will you not
Fl ght me 2"
"Not SO long as another claims my pro-
tection,"
In an instant after rife-shot echoed
through the room, and throwing up her
arms with a shrek, Nancy fell back upon
the floor, bleeding and Struggling in the
last gasp of death Dark was so horror
stricken by this dreadful act, that for an
instant he stood speechless. Then he beut
over the diving woman, never for an in
slant thinking of his own safety He
closed her eyes and pressed his lips to
her brow-he listened to the last family
drawn breath, and then for the first time
thought of himself. Turning he saw Mark
standing near, gloating like a fend upon
him. Observing that the villain did not
even retain his rifle in his grasp, easked:
"Why did you not kill me, Mark
| Webb ?"
''Are you anxious to die ?" was the
sneering response.
Il care not to live after having witness.
ed such deed"
"Then 1 will give you a chance for
death. 1t will be a double death for
you"
WHAT do you mean ?"
"You died in effect FIVE years ago You
shall die again today"
SLOW do you propose to kill me ?"
II propose to fight, now that she no
longer lives to claim your protection.
VIII you fight me ?"
"Yes.'
Enough You have a knife in your
belt-that is all you want l have the
same. Come, follow me to DEATH"
"Where do you go?"
"To the head of the falls. Do you
fear to foilow?"
al 90 not. Lead ono
"Mark took coli of rope, probably
a hundred feet in length, off d peg, and
bore it with him. Reaching the ledge
fanking the falls. he affixed one end of
the cord around the roots of a tree This
done, he started down the cliff.
"What is your purpose
My purpose will soon develop ITSELF"
1t was not long before the villain was
standing upon the opposite ledge. The
yawning gulf of two thousand feet was be-
tween himself and foe, and the waters
flashing the ragged rocks as it Numbered
over them.
"That rope is already coiled" said
Mark, speaking across. "Throw me the
other end"
This was done, and the line made fast
upon the opposite side. A single cord
now bridged that dreadful chasm
Meet me in the centre of the rope
BRIDGE" said Mark. ave will fight only
with our knivesn
As he said this he began to advance.
Philip Dark did the same, and both men
crept carefully toward each other, the
rope bending fearfully beneath their
weight.
They were within ten feet of each other,
when the courage of Mark began to fail
him, and he regretted the step he had
taken. Why did he not kill his enemy at
once and without mourning any danger
himself? But he was too late now? No.
He gazed into the eyes Of Dark. He saw
determination and absence of fear there,
as he came slowly forward. He hesitated
no longer, but drew pistol from his
breast and fired at his victim. Dark way
ed to and fro, and appeared ready to fall.
Mark considered his triumph sure.
But at that instant Dark raised his knife
and struck terrible blow. TIE frail
rope which sustained both men was sew
cred in twinkling, and down went their
bodies, whirling through that fearful
space while the wall of the murderer
arose in the air, min Cling with the roar of
the water.
The poor dog, who felt not the hate
which filled the breast of his master, was
the only mourner, and most truly did he
mourn, and that without any comforter
save time.