The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-06-17

/ with the usual result. Both men were
known by reputation all through tire gold
regions, and the advent of either at any
''gulch," or "washin'," was the best ad-
verlisemcnt the salcon-keepers could de-
sire. In the East, hundreds Of men would
have tried TO reason the men out of this
feud. and some few would have forcibly
separated them while fighting, but in the
digging, any interference in such matters
is considered impertinent, and deserving
OF punishment.
Hanney's had been fairly excited for a
week, for the Judge had arrived the week
before, and his points had been carefully
scrutiniZed and weighed, time and again,
by every man in the camp. There seemed
nothing unusual about him-he was OF
middle size, had long hair and beard, a not
unpleasant expression. and very dirty
clothes; be never jumped a claim, always
took his whisky straight, PLAYED as fair a
game of poker as the rest of the boys. and
never stole a mule from any one whittier
than Mexicln. The boys had just about
ascertained all this, and made their "blind''
bets on the result OF the next fight, when
the whole camp was convulsed with the
intelligence that Billy Bent had also ar
rived. Work Immediately ceased, except
in the vicinity Of the champions. and the
boys stuck close TO the Chapel. that being
the spot where the encounter should nat
urally take place. Miners thronged in
from fifty miles around. and nothing but
special mule express saved the camp
from the horror Of Peptecost's bar being
inadequate to the demand. Between
straight bets" and "hedging" most of
the gold-duSt in camp had been ''put
up" for bet is the only California back
ing of an opinion. As the men did not
seem TO seek each other, the boys had am
pie time to grind things down to pint" ="
as the camp cOncisely expressed it, and
the matter had given excuse for dozen
minor fights, when order was suddenly
restored one afternoon by the entrance of
B lly and his neighbors. just as the Judge
and his neighbDrs were finishing a drink
The boys Immediately and silently form
ed ring, on the outer edge of which were
massed all the men who had been outside
and who came pouring in like flies before
= shower. No one squatted or hugged the
wall for it was understood that these two
men fought only with knives, so the spec
tatOIs were in a state of abject safety.
The Judge, after settling for the drinks,
tHrned and saw for the first time his
enemy.
Hello, Billyr said he pleasantly;
"let's take drink fiIst.''
Billy, who was a red-haired man, with
a snapping-turtle mouth, but not vicious
looking man for all that, briefly replied,
- All right" and these two determined
enemies clinked their glasses with the un-
concern of mere social drinkers.
But, after this, they proceeded promptly
to business. The Judge, who was rather
slow on his guard, was the owner of a
badly cut arm within three minutes by the
barkeeper's watch, bat not until he had
given Billy, who was parrying thrust,
an ugly cash in his left temple. There
was busy hum during the adjustment Of
bets on first blood and the combat
ants very CONSIDERABLY refrained from
doing serious injury during this Temporal
ry distraction, but within five minutes
more they had exchanged chest wounds,
both too slight to be dangerous.
Betting became furiOuS-Rach man
fought so splendidly that the boys were
wild with delight and enthusiasm. Bets
were roared back and forth, and when
Pentecost, by virtue Of his universally
conceded authority, commanded silence,
there was a great deal of finger photography
across the circle, and head-shaking in re-
turn.
Such exquisite carving had never before
been seen at Hanney's-that was freely adj
mitted by all. Men pitied absent miners
all over the State, and wondered why this
delightful lingering, long-drawn-o out sys-
TEN of slaughter was not more popular
than the brief and commonplace method
of the revolver. The WebfOOt raptur-
ouSly and softly quoted the good Doctor
Watts
''My willing soul would stay
In such place as this,
when suddenly his cup of bliss was dashed
to the ground, for Billy, stumbling, fell
upon his own knife. and received a severe
cut in the abdomen.
Wounds of this sort are generally fatal,
and the boys had experience enough in
such matters TO know it. In aminute the
men who had been calmly viewing a life
and death conflict bestirred themselves to
help the sufferer. Pentecost passed bot
lie of brandy over the counter; half a
dozen men ran TO the spring for cold
water; Others hastily tore off coats, and
even shirts, with which TO soften bench
for the wounded man. No one went for
the doctor, for that worthy had been view
ing the fight Professionally from the first,
and had knelt beside the wounded man at
exactly the right moment. After a brief
examination, he gave his opinion in the
professional style: mo go,
Billy; you're done for"
Good God!" exclaimed the Judge,
who had watched the doctor with breath
less interest; ''ain't ther' no chance?'
Mary" replied the doctor, decidedly.
al IN a ruined man-I'm a used up
cuss," said the Judge with look of bitter
anguish. /" wish I'd 90 under, too"
" Easy, old hOSs," suggested one of the
boys; ''you didn't do him, yer know"
T" That's what's the NATTER" roared the
Judge savagely; "nobody II know which
of us whipped"
And the Judge sorrOwfully took HIM
Sc off. declining most resOlutely to drink.
Many hearts we're full of sympathy for
the Judge; but the poor fellow on the
bench seemed TO need most just then. He
had asked for some one that could write,
and was debating in whispers letter to
some person. Then he drank some
brandy, and then some water; then ne
freely acquitted the Judge of having
ever fought any way but fairly. But still
his mind felt burdened. Finally. in a
very thin, weak voice he stammered out:
" don't want-to make-to make il un-
mfortable-f0r-fOr any of-yOu fellers,
butts ther' preacher in the camp?"
The boys looked at each other inquir
ingly; men from every calling used to
come to the mines, and no one would
have been surprised if a backsliding priest
or even bishep had stepped to the front.
But none appeared, and the wounded
man, after looking despairingly from one
to another, gave smothered cry.
"0h. God, heZ miserable wretch got
TO cut hiSself open, an then flicker out,
without any body TO say prayer for
him?"
The boys looked sorrowful-if gold dust
could have bought prayers, Billy would
have had firSt-class assortment in an in
slant.
There's Deacon Adams over to Pat
TOMS" suggested bystander, San they
do say he's a reg'lar rip-roarer at prayin'!
But 'twould take four hours to 60 an
fetch him.
TOO long" said the doctor.
''Down in Mexico, at the Cathedral"
said another, they pray for feller after
he's dead, when yer pay 'em fur it, an
they say it's list the thing-sure pop. I'll
give yer my word, Billy, an no 90 back,
that I'll SEQ the iOh'S done mn in srVle fur