The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-24

nreted bv all men Of honor. Besides,
Won must be aware that Captain Talbot
will feel himself at liberty to seek salts
faction in any way he may see fit, il
YOU decline his challenge"
az have neither fear Of nor regard for
the opipiops Of those who have no
higher conception of honor than to
think it requires a man to murder one
who insults him or be murdered by
bim,u said Frank, Indignantly, adding
significantly: "Be assured I shall know
how to defend myself against Captain
Talbot, or any other rnffian."
"Very well, sir; as you like. wish
YOU good day." said Mr.. Green, as he
retired, feeling greatly puzzled by what
he had heard, for he could not believe
that Stoddard was a coward, and he had
no comprehension of any other motive
than fear which could make a man re-
fuse a challenge TO fight duel.
He proceeded at once to inform his
friend of the situation of affairs.
The Captains rage knew no bounds.
He had not thought OF such termina-
ton of the affair, and he felt powerless
to take vengeance on his enemy as he
wished to do, in any other mode than
by duel, wherein he felt sure he would
have the advantage. He stormed and
rayed and cursed, till even his friend
Green grew weary, and said, rather i'm
patiently:
"Well, Captain, don't see as this is
helping matters any. What are you
going to do about it? You can make 1t
pretty hot for him, if you manage right,
and then you can easily get even with
him by the aid Of a good horsewhip,
used in a crowd. That is, If you are
quite sure you can whip him." he
added, with a slightly eomtemptuous
sneer.
Talbot responded with a terrible oath,
and said, furiOusly:
"Do you suppose | am going to risk
myself IN the hands Of young Hercules
like that? I'm not fool, and you
know as well as / do that I would stand
no chance with the young rascal in a
street fight. Besides, don't care to en-
gage in that sort of thing, on other ac-
counts. II he should get the advantage
Of me, don't you see it would spoil
everything? No; you can have the job
il you want il. None of that for me-
I'll do my fighting with the weapons of
a gentleman" looking longingly at the
handsome pistols that still lay on the
table where they had been left the day
previous.
"He deserves % be dropped in his
tracks, the insolent young puppy"
he growled, viciously, "and I'd like to
drop him, too, II it wasn't for the bother
afterward."
81 believe you would, Captain, that's
fact" laughed Green. 81 don't be-
lieve I'd care about getting your i'll will
myself, brave as l am"
you'd better not; it wouldn't be
good for yon," shortly replied Talbot,
not liking the tone in which Green in
dulged toward him.
"Oh, you needn't get hufTy about it,"
said Green, eoolly. SIT isn't worth
while toquarrel with your friends when
you're in a tight place"
Aud he glanced defiantly at his host,
who, swallowing his vexatiou as lest he
could, muttered:
81 don't want aqnarrel wi;h anybody
but that uncomfortable upsiart. ] must
have revenge on him, aud will; Il not
in one way, then in auother-thars a
dead certainty-and want you to help
me-"
"All right, IL il isn't too risky, Cap
tain. | don't care about being Gagged,
you know; and I'll have 10 have some
dividends,1 said the ''gentieman," un-
conceruedly, as he looked meaningly
into the deep-set eyes, swollen and
bloodshot now, from last nights de-
bauch.
"Oh, of course you won't lose any
thing by it, Green. You never do when
you help me; you know that very WELL
I'll make things all right. The more
you help me, the better it will be for
you. You understand ?" said the other
model gentleman" Now, l leave
everything to you. Don't fail me. I'll
talk it up properly outside"
And the two conspirators separated,
one to gloat over his anticipated tri-
umph, the other to coutrive way TO
earn his money without running much
risk.
ITO be continued
POISONOUS ARTIFICIAL. FLOWERS. -