The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-11-11

our fight or our funeral. think it's a
outrage, and / don't like to knuckl
down TO Myers, but"
"But you're all afraid of him?'' | said
finishing the sentence.
"Suppose you say lce're all afraid O
him" said Munse, with the slightes
possible tinge of sarcasm in his voice.
| returned to the house. In an instan
my course became clear to me. Their
must be no more hesitation. 1t was
matter of life or death between me an,
Jack Myers. Every circumstance wa
crowding me on to a personal contlic
with him. The law could give me n,
protection. Its machinery was poten
enough, but the despicable public senti
ment of the time, which wOrshiped anC
! tOadied TO a red-handed murderer
would paralyze every effort it nigh
make in my behalf. | felt no Longer
depressed. | became cheerfully des
perate. Before, | had clung to life
Now, the Indignation | felt at being thus
crowded to the wall by such a 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
munity by taking Myers off. In secret
and for years it had been hoped that a
champion might arise who would beard
the Tuifian and every body knew, al,
though no one spoke it, that, no mat
ter what might be the complexion OF
the difficulty, the law would make but
little trouble for the man who killed Jack
Myers.
1t was night, my supper was over,
and | was alone in my cabin. But |
could not remain alone. | felt that a
crisis was near. | could not stay quiet.
The suspense was far worse than the
inevitable clash, and | felt impelled to
rush toward it. An hour previous and
| had been a coward. | had clung to
life and knuckled to a bully. l could
not see how far / had demeaned and de-
graded myself until it was all over.
Now, when | looked at the picture of
the interview between me and Myers, |
felt a sensation akin to remorse, as if |
had committed some shameful offense
Sometimes | think cOwardice to be only
another form of selfishneSs. The mo-
ment a man rises TO that condition
where he may renOunce what is very
dear to him, he becomes brave.
The Swett'S Bar store was the COM
mon resort at night for almost every
body in camp. 1t was a place l visited
as little as possible, for its greasy deck
Of cards, its wrangling noisy game of
''seven-up," its commingled Odor of
whisky, tobacco, pork, and Goldfish, and
its rough loungers perched on boxes and
barrels dimly seen at night in the dark
corners by the uncertain light of a
smoky lamp-all these had no attrac-
tionS for me. l preferred to wander
amid the lonely hills. ! heard loud
talking and laughing within the store as
[ neared it that evening. | knew what
that meant. Myers and his followers
where there holding a jubilee over their
victory.
"GOt any more fancy mining superin-
tendents to come up from Frisco and
Jump Jack Myers claim? | hope they'll
send 'em, for can chaw EN- up as fast
as they come along"
These words were being uttered by
the hero of the hour as | entered. The
store was full The usual camp-lOung-
ers, my own men, and Myers gang
were fraternizing on the basis of whisky
brotherhood. Myers ordered drinks for
the house every fifteen minutes, and it
was obligatory on all to drink. 1t was,
however, a cross they endured with for
titude and resignation.
My entrance caused a sudden silence.
The gradual cessation of noisy CONVEX
sation at last attracted his attention, as
he stood at the bar. He turned, and, on
seeing me, remarked:
"Hullo! just in time-just had drinks
all round. Come, put another nail in
your cOflini"
This was spoken directly to me. His
next observations, as he walked up and
down the store, were aimed at me, and
for the general benefit.
I'm Jack Myers-free, white, and
twenty-one. can run alone, l can.
I'm chief here. Is there any other
chief? Is there any other chief in this
house? Is there any body here who
won't drink with Jack Myers? Cum
mings, your whisky's waitin' for you
drink .
Il do not wish to drink, ;" was my re-
ply.
1t was a dramatic silence then which
'eigned in that greasy, grimy store. For
l moment the roar of the Tuolumne as
{ rushed and foamed along on its way
o the sea, and the cry of the coyote on
he hill above, were the only sounds
heard.
"Well, now, you shall drink, or III
:et you on my knee like a baby and pour
t down your throat" " was the sneering
remark.
"Jack Myers" said l, "I know
What YOU want. You want to force a
lua-rel on me, so that you may shoot |
ne down like dog. You want me to !
urn and take water, and run back like
scared wolf TO San Francisco. You
hink I'm afraid to fight. Pm not! I'll !
light you now. Take off your three |
men; give me a fair show. Come along
With me to the barley-field yonder, |
where there's no trees and the ground is |
evel, and IN fight you, and we'll see |
Who's chief
l turned to the crowd. "You men,
-ou are Americans. VIII you stand by |
md see fair play? 1 am alone here
llone, and, l suppose, friendless. |
,iunSe, will you be my second?n
"Yes," promptly replied Munse.
"Thank you. Now, AR. Myers, l |
I'm ready. You are a fighting man,
md can't refuse such a fair invitation. !
Before we leave the house we will take |
mother drink at my expense. Mr.. !
Myers, IN drink with you now" And l !
swallowed the liquor which had been
prepared for me.
This was a turn in the affairs which |
Myers evidently had not expected. 1t |
lad been his intention, as was ever his |
,ustom in such cases, to abuse, taunt,
evile, possibly to dash the liquor in my |
ace, and thurst me from the door. |
3lindly, as it were, he understood that /
he magnetism of fear, if / may so ex-
,ress myself, would not only prevent |
my interference on the part of others,
out would, like a succession of intoXicat- |