Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-07
THE DUEL IN

. 49," &aA - ~ 4 a.
street, and the heavy tramp of som
late traveller on the wooden sidewal
beneath. | dozed Otto sleep agair
Rap! rap! rapl
Some one below at the Office dool
surely. | opened the small window a
the head of my bed and looked dow
into the street. A burly form stoo,
at the Office door, leaning with on
hand against the easing.
Who's there ?" l demanded.
Git up, an gi' me a 'orsel said
thick, inebriate voice.
What do you want with a horse
Mulligan ?" | asked.
"GOin' ter-hic-Hunter's Pint
sum fun thar. Git up, up! | wan
'orse."
The old score is too long, Billy
Cam do it."
Cant do it, Oh? Yer inserlen.
young man"
Its no use, Mulligan. You owe
me a large bill now, with no prospect
of paying it. You'd better leave
I'm going to sleep and | closed the
window.
"You'H-hic-hear from me in the
mornin', young man" he threatened
and Billy Mulligan, the desperate,
reeled away down the street.
| dropped to sleep again. Rap
rap rapl | sprang to my feet. 1t is
morning, thought l, and the hostler is
at the door. Again | opened the win
dow and looked down. l sawat a glance
it wasn't the hostler.
Who's there? ?"
"I-Garland. Get up, Moulton,
and saddle two horses quick There's
a duel coming off at Hunters Point
this morning at sunrise. We've just
time to reach there"
[ hastily dressed, descended from
the loft and admitted my friend. In
two minutes the horses were saddled,
l awoke the hostler, directed him to
look after the stable, and in FIVE min
utes more we went dashing down
Kearney street on our way to the
Point.
What time is it Garland ?"
Three o'clock. The road is heavy
and the mud fearful at Islais creek.
We have barely time to reach there
with good luck"
Who are to 6ght2"
Two gamblers. They quarreled at
the Eldorado last night over a faro
game"
You know them?"
"No."
A cold fog swept in over the Mission
Hills. The darkness was deep,
scarcely permitting us to make out the
road. Nevertheless, we dashed reck-
lessly along, out Brannan street and
over the San Bruno road. 1t was
scarcely daybreak when we arrived at
the Point, our horses quite blown and
covered with mud and foam. Not a
soul was on the ground. A cold mist
hung over the bay, and now and then
a drizzling shower came sweeping
down from the hills. We tied our
horses to a stunted oak and walked
along the sand, ten minutes, perhaps.
in one direction, and then returned.
There had been, meantime, another
arrival. A tall form, in a heavy
storm-cloak, waspacing solemnly back
and forth on the sands. His head
bent low, his eyes upon the ground.
He seemed entirely Obvious to every
thing about him. He took no notice
Of our presence, but kept up his slow,
measured march, two and fro, be.
tween a jagged rock and a piece of
drlftWOod which lay half buried in
the sand.
A half-hour passed in the cold fog,
drlzzling mist and emi-darkuess. Our
horses champed their bits impatiently.
and occasionally neighed their unrest.
Garland and | strobe back and forth
on the beach, looked at u watches
every three minutes, and wondered if
the duelists were ever to arrive.
1t grew lighter at last, and as the
.un rising above the distant mountains
learly succeeded in breaking through
he heavy fog, a close carriage came
flashing along the muddy road, fol-
owed by half a dozen men on horse
aek. The driver drew up his horses
It the tree, sprang to the ground and
threw open the carriage. Three men
ilighted. One was a medium sized
nan, with sandy hair and beard. and
Sith the most villainous face | ever
looked upon. He commenced a
stumbling walk on the beach. his
hands thrust into his pockets and his
hat tipped back from his forehead.
The occupants of the carriage Judged
to be his second and a surgeon. They
consulted together a moment. when
the second approached me and de-
handed if either of us was the "friend
Of the other party" pointing to the
tall figure who still kept up his solemn
march.
We assured him we were totally
unknown to him, having come here
merely as spectators to witness the
duel. He then advanced to the tall
figure in the cloak and addressed MIN.
We were not near enough to catch
the words, Presently the second
returned to us.
This is cursed rough p" said he.
Here he is out here alone; ready to
fight, he says, but has no second with
him. Curse me if ever | heard of such
a thing. 'Twont do, no how. Wouldn't
one Of you gentlemen be kind enough
to act?'
Garland instantly declined, and so
did l. | had no intention of being a
party to what | considered little better
than a murder. l inquired, however,
what were the weapons and the dis
lance: His answer Mortified me.
We'll, stranger, it's pretty rough. "