The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-08
Subscrlbers .out of County, s1.s0
,,The uask belongs to Mr.. Ranuey,"

1.-THE tlaek belongs to MIR. Ranney,'
he said "PlPasP let him have II.
"1'he flask belongs to me-" retorted
Jake. "IGis shootin' war all acciden-
tai. He only happened TO hit whar he
did But then, he ken have the flask
If he can sit It., or you either"
Tarbox bit his lip, and looked to the
other members of the party, undecided
hov to act. Seeing his rresolutlon
Ranncy stepped forward. and said:
"DOn't trouble yourself, Mr. TarboX,
The flask is mine, and | will see to get
ting IT,"
"You will, eh?" snarlpd the bully.
"Git away from me--out of arms reach
or I'll smash you like a roast tater I"
Thus speaking the giant swung his
fists about, but the young man did not
move. Instead he received blow upon
The head which knocked away his hat,
and seemed to change his whole nature
to that of young lion. With a strength
and agility wholly unlocked for he dealt
the giant fearful bow full upon the
nose, which knocked him to the ground,
and deluged the uncomely face and
beard with torrents of blood. There
was a monentaTy struggle upon the
ground after the bully fell, and then
Stephen stepped back pace or two.
In moment the ruffian was upon
his feet again, and with fearful curse
he placed his hand where he expected
to find revolver. But it was gone.
Then he sought for his knife, but that
too was missing. The young man had
taken the precautiOn of removing them.
CO hot h.At tun
ground Bnt what contrast | Nine
inches in height the bully lowered above
his antagonist, while in actual weight
he was more than twice his equal.
There was no pariey or hesitation,
Finding himself weaponless Jack rush.
ed for the young man, and would have
crushed him in deadly grasp, but the
young man did not wait for the process.
A quick, fierce blow, falling just where
the other had fallen staggered the ras-
cal, and before he could see what had
become of the man he suppose already
in his grasp, a tremendous crack i'm the
ear brought him again to the ground,
Again he scrambled to his feet, and
again lie was knocked down by a sin-
gle reverberatng blow. The third time
he arose, before he could wipe the blood
from his eyes sufficiently to distinguish
his antagonist the hard earth again be-
came his bed.
This time he did not rise immediate.
ly. 1t was patent to every one before
this stage OF the encounter that he was
for once Oyer-matched, and at last that
fact seemed to have become clear to his
own mind. Drawing the flask from
his pocket he cast it upon the ground
muttering savagelv:
"There's yer old flask Take it II yer
want it so bad %
Stephen stepped to the spot where
the coveted prize lay and picked it up,
placing 1t beside his rifle. Then turn
ing again to the discomtitted bully,who
had now risen to his feet, he continued.
"Jack Dunlaw, l am not done with
you yet. A few days ago you brutally
inSulted Cora Russell. l could have
shot you dead and l should have done
it had l not ptied you. Now you can
take your choice. go,and on your knees
ask her pardon, and then quit this place
forever or die where you stand This
quarrel is not OF my seeking, but now
that you have begun it take your choice.
l give you three minutes to decide"
A half-dozen watches were produced
and the attention of the party was div.
d-d between their slowly moving hands
and the excited group befole Us. At
first it seemed as though Jack desired
to renew the fight. lie looked around
upon those who had been his cOnfeder-
ates, but their sympathy had gone, anu
xayoo fbot
had in moment become the hero OF
the occasion. jacks eyes, too, were
nearly closed from the energetic blows
he had received, and his cOuage, if any
he had ever possessed, seemed 10 have
gone entirely.
A nod watch closed and returned
to the pocket of its owner. Not q
change of muscle or expression passed
over Stephen 5 features as he remarked:
"The time is up, Jack Dunlaw; will
you live or die? ?"
Jack looked arannd once more and
plaintively asked
What do you say, boys ?"
"Do as he tells yer, J." replied one who
had been Jacks most devoted support
er in times past.
ne lhst nope seemed 10 leaVe tho
contemptible giant. In voice weak
and wavering he said
'I'll leave, that orter satisfy ye."
''Sou will do what l said, or"
The sentence remained unspoken.
Jack Dunlaw bowed his head, aud
walked meekly away to make the re-
quired apology.I did not follow, though
many did. Five minutes later l saw
him, the blood washed from his face,
walking slowly away into the forest.
We did not see him again, nor did he
return to that station to my knowledge.
The favor which Jack lost was trans.
feired to Stephen, and q nne village,
whicn has since grown up there, bears
to-day the stamp Uf his quiet energy
and courage.