The Portland daily press., 1874-09-23
"No," roared wingste, as he opened the


l think even the mental con iition of Hawkins
might have remained undisturbed by criti-
cism, but for a singular incident.
1t was during an exciting political cam
pagn, when party feeling ran high, that the
irascbe Capt. McFadden. of Sacramento,
visited Five Forks. During q heated dis
cussion' in the Prairie Rose Saloon words
passed between the Captain and the Hon.
Calhoun Bungsta.ter, ending in chal-
lenge. The captain bore the infeliX repu-
tation of being notorious dueiist and a
dead shot; the captain was unpopular: the
captain was believed to have been sent by
the opposition for deadly purpose, and the
captain was, moreover. stranger. l am
sorry to say that with Five Forks this latter
condition did not carry the quality OF sane
tity or reverence that usually obtains among
other nCmads. There was consequently some
little hesitation when the captain turned
upon the crowd and asked for some one to
act as his friend. To everybody's astonish-
ment, and to the indignation of many, the
Fool stepped forward and offered himself in
that capacity. / do not know whether Capt.
McFadden would have chosen him volun-
tarily, but he was constrained, in the alb
sence of a better man, TO accept his SER
vices.
The duel never took place The prelim-
inaries were all arranged, the spot indicated,
the men were present with their seconds,
there was no interruption from without,
til ere was no explanation or apology passed
but the duel did not take place. 1t may be
readily imagined that these facts, which
were all known to Five Forks, threw the
whole community into fever of curiosity
The principals, the surgeon. and one second
left town the next day. Only the Fool re-
mained. He resisted all questioning-de-
claring himself held in honor not to divulge
lin short, conducting himself with consist
ent bu. eXasperating folly. 1t was not until
six months had passed that Col. Starbottle,
the second of Calhoun Bungstarter, in a
moment of weakness superinduced by the
social glass, condescended to explain. l
should not do justice TO the parties if l did
not give that explanation ia the colon cps
own words. | may remark, in passing that
the characteristic dignity of Col. Starbottle
always became intensified by stimulants,
and that by the same process all sense OF
humor was utterly eliminated.
with the understanding that l am adj
dressing myself confidentially to men of
honor" said the colonel, elevating his chest
above the bar-room connter of the Prairie
Rose Saloon, II trust that it will not be
necessary for me to protect myself from
levity, as was forced to do in Sacramento
Oh the only other occasion when 1 entered
into an explanation of this delicate affair by
-er-er-calling the individual to a per-
sonal account-er do not believe" added
the colonel, slightly waving his glass of
liquor in the air with graceful gesture of
courteous precation-''knowing what
do of the present company-that such a
course OF action is required here. Certainly
not-Sir-in the home of Mr.. Hawkns-er
the gentleman who represented Mr.. Bung-
starter, whose conduc:, CAD, sir, is worthy
of praise, blank mel"
Apparently satisfied with the gravity and
respectful attention of his listeners, Colonel
Starboltle SMILED relentingly and sweety,
closed his eyes half dreanily, as if 10 recall
his wandering thoughts, and began:
"As the spot selected was nearest the tene-
ment of Mr.. Hawkins, it was agreed that the
promptly at halEpast six. The morning be-
ing chilly, Mr.. Hawkins extended the hospi-
talities of his house with bottle of Bour-
bon whsky-of which all partook but my
self The reason for that exception is, be-
lieve, well known. 1t is. my invariable Gus
tom TO take brandy-a wine-glass full in a
cup of strong coffee, Immediately on rising.
1t stimulates the functions, sir, without pro-
ducng any blank arrangement of the nerves."
The barkeeper, to whom, as an expert, the
colonel had gracously impaired this informal
tlOL, uOuuCu duu tuG COlOueI,
amid GREATNESS silence, went on:
1--WE were about twenty minutes in reach
ing the spot. The ground was measured, the
weapons were loaded, when Mr.. Bungstarter
confided to me the information that he was
unwell and in great pain On consultation
with Mr.. Hawkins, it appeared that his prin-
cipal in a different part OF the field was also
suffering and in great pain. The symptoms
were such as medical man would pronounce
''choleraic.' say ecould have pronounced,
for on examination the surgeon was also
found to beer in pain, and, regret to say,
expressing himself in language unbecoming
the occasion. His impression was that some
powerful drug had been administered. On
referring the question to Mr.. Hawkins, he re-
membered that the bottle of whiskey partak-
EN- by them contained a medicine which he
had been in the habit Of taking, but which,
having failed to act upon him, he had con-
cluded to be generally ineffective, and had
forgotten. His perfect willingness to hold
himself personally responsible to each of the
parties, his genuine concern at the disastrous
effect of the mistake, mingled with his own
alarm at the state of his system, Whch-er-
failed to-er-respond to the peculiar qualities
OF the medicine, was most becoming to him
as man of honor and gentleman! After
an hours delay, both principals being COM
pletely exhausted, and abandoned by the sur
geon, who was unreasOnably alarmed at his
own condition, Mr.. Hawkins and agreed to
remove our men to Marklevile. There, after
a further consultation with Mr. Hawkins, an
amicabe adjustment of all difficulties, hon
orable to both parties, and governed by pro-
found secrecy, was arranged. l believe, add
ed the colonel, looking around and setting
down his glass, mo gentleman has yet eX-
pressed himself other than satisfied with the
result"
Perhaps it was the colonel's manner, but
whatever was the opinion OF Five Forks re-
garding the intellectual display OF Mr.. Hawk
ins in this affair, there was very little out
spoken criticism at the moment. In few
weeks the whole thing was forgotten, except
as part OF the necessary record of Hawk
mss blunders, which was already a pretty
full one, Again, some later fcllies conspired
to obterate the past, until, year later, a
valuable lead was discovered in the "Blazing-
Star" tunnel, in the hill where he lived, and
a large sum was offered him for portion of
his land on the hilltop. Accustomed as Five
Forks had become to the exhibition of his
folly, it was with establishment that they
learned that he resolutely and decidedly re-
fused the offer. The reason that he gave
was still more astounding. He was about to
build!
To build house upon property available
for mining purposes was preposterous; to
build at all with roof already covering him,
was an act of extravaganza; to build house
of the style he proposed was simply mad
ness!
Yet here were facts. The plans were made
and the lumber for the new building was al
ready on the ground. while the shaft of the
Blazing Starr was being sunk below. The
site was, in reality, a very picturesque one =
the building itself of style and quality
hitherto unknown in Five Forks. The cti-
zens, at first skeptica, during their moments
of recreation and ideness gathered doubling
ly about the locality. Day by day, in that
climate of rapid growth, the building pleas
antly known in the slang of Five Folks as
the "Idiot Asylum" rose beside the green
oaks and clustering frs of Hawkins Hill, as if
it were part of The natural phenomena. At
last it was completed. Then Mr.. Hawkins
proceeded to furnish it with an expensiveness
and extravaganza of outlay quite in keeping
with his former idiocy. Carpets, sofas, mir
rors, and finally piano-the only one known
In the county, and brought at great expense
from Sacramento-kept curiosity at a fever
heat. More than that, there were articles
md ubial, fau ,;oJo