The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-12-16

elry.
On the second day of their arrival the
desperate called on me. He was
small man, with face which had more
of the weasel in it than any other ami
NAL. There was no time wasted by
him in compliments or commonplace
remarks.
i" Half he ground you claim" said
ne, belongs to me; you must leave it.
| give you twenty-four hours to get your
cabin, traps and tools off lit"
Myers's claim extended over the dis
covery-hole.
But, y said l, "you sold this portion
of the bank to the Cinnamon. Wehave
come into possession of their claim.
How can you, then, in justice ask this
from usp''
"Sold them the gravel only" was his
reply; "didn't sell 'em the ledge.
That's ours. You can buy it of us if
you want to-"
'What is your price?'
Zone hundred thousand dollars!"
We sat silent, facing each other, for
few moments. didn't know what to
do. To stalk up" to the man was to
invite instant combat. To cringe be-
fore him was equally bad. He was
watching my every motion, ready to
draw if he saw suspicious one on my
part-ready at any show of verbal def
ance to apply to me some vile term
which no man could hear, according to
the sentiment of these times, without
resenting. To gain time, I said:
"Myers, take drink, and let's talk
business afterward.''
Certainly" said he, "I'n drink
with you.''
And when he had poured down
tumbler Of my best brandy, which rank
ed with him no better than the vile
whisky he consumed by the gallon, he
remarked:
Well, what are you going to do?
Trade or travel?"
81 don't feel like travelling, Mr..
Myers" said this mildly and quietly.
"Well, I do" was the reply. You
get off our ground by tomorrow night,
or we'll put you of, that's all.
He walked out of the door. Shortly
I arose, and, going outside, saw Myers
at the farther end Of the claim tearing
down our notices and putting up his
own scrawls in their place. There was
not man in my employ on whom
l could depend to aid me. They were
willing to work but not to fight. Soon
Munse, my foreman, met me. He look
ed little embarrassed and cowed.
The gang has knocked off work, -
said he; "Jack Myers and his crowd
have been tearing around, and, under
the circumstances, If he says quit, we've
got to quit or fight"
"And you won't fight?" I remarked.
"Wen," replied Munse, digging his
heel into the ground, "it's not exactly
our fight or our funeral. think it's an
outrage, and don't like to knuckle
down to Myers, but"
'sBut you're all afraid of him?" I said,
finishing the sentence.
| Suppose you say sOe're all afraid o1
him." said Munse, with the slightest
possible tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
l returned to the house. In an instant
my course became clear to me. There
must be no more hesitation. It was 8
matter Of life or death between me and
Jack Myers. Every circumstance was
providing me on to q personal conflict
with him. The law could give me nc
protection. It's machinery was potent
enough, but the despicable public senti
ment of the time, which worshiped and
toadied to red-handed murderer
would paralyze every effort it might
make in my behalf. I felt no longer
depressed. I became cheerfully des.
perate. Before, I had chung to life
Now, the indignation / felt at being thus
crowded to the wall by such brute
and the shame / had experienced during
the crowding process, made life mat
ter of little moment. Another thought
also came into the scale, which made
existence the lesser weight. That was
the hope Of, and, to be frank, the fame
also which would be mine in that COM
6munity by taking Myers of. In secret
and for years it had been hoped that q
champion might arise who would beard
the rufian and every body knew, al
though no one spoke il, that, no mat.
ter what might be the complexion Of
the difficulty, the law would make but
little trouble for the man who killed Jscl
Myers.
It was night, my supper was over
and I was alone in my cabin. But
could not remain alone. I felt that .
crisis was near. / could not stay quiet
The suspense was far worse than the
inevitable clash, and felt impelled tc
rush toward it. An hour previous and
/ had been coward. I had clung te
LIE and knuckled to bully. I could