The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-06
THE DUEL IN

Rap! rap! rap! .o"'. "t- -.
I shook off the slumber that rested
heavily upon me, and listened. I could
hear nothing; only the sound of milk
wagons and butcher-carts in the street,
and the heavy tramp of some late travel
err on the wooden sidewalk beneath. 1
dozed off to sleep again.
Rap! rapl rap!
Some one below at the office door, sure
w.. I opened the small window at the
head OF nv bed and looked down into
the street. A burly form stood at the
office door, leaning with one hand against
the casing.
"Who's there?" I demanded.
sGit up, an gil me a 'orse!" said a
thick, inebriate voice.
'sWhat do you want with a horse,
Mulligan" I asked. r..
"Goin' ter-hic-Hunter's Pint; sun
fun thar. Git up, git up! / wan a
'orse."
''The old score is too long, Billy. Cam
do it." @
"Can't do it, Ell? Yer inserlent, young
man."
"It's no use, Mulligan. You owe me a
large bill now, with no prospect Of pay
ing it. You'd better leave; I'm going to
Sleep" and l closed the window.
':YouU-hic-hear from me in the
mornin', young man. he threatened;;and
Billy Mulligan the desperate, .reeled'
away down the street. :
I dropped to sleep again. Rap! rap!
rap! I sprang to my feet. 1t is morning
thought I, and the hostler is at the door.
Again 1 opened the window and looked
down. 1ssaw at a glance it wasn't the
hostler. -
who's there?' '
"I-Garland. Get up, Moulten, and
saddle two horses quick? There's a duel
comming off at Hunters Point this morn
ing at sunrise We've JUSTINE to reach
there" "..'}...
I hastily dressed, descended from the
loft and admitted my friend. In two
minutes the horses were saddied.
awoke the h~ostler, directed him to lock
after the stable and in five MINUS more
we went dashing down Kearney street on
our way to the Point. '.. S.
"Wnat 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 fight?" .r
1.-TWO gamblers. They quarreled at the
Eldorado last night over a faro game"
"You know them?"
"No." H.. 49,.
A cold fog swept in over the Mission
Hills. The darkness was deep, scarcely
permitting US to make out the road
Nevertheless, we dashed 1ecklessly along
out Brannan street and over the San Bru
no Road. It was scarcely daybreak whe1
we arrived at the Point, our horses quite
blown and covered with mud and foam
Not a soul was on the ground. A colo
mist hung over the bay, and now ant
then a drilling shower came sweeping
down from the hills. We tied our horse
to a stunted oak, and walked along the
sand, ten minutes, perhaps in one direc
ton, and then returned. There had been
meantime, another arrival. A tall form
in a heavy storm-cloak, was pacing sol
EMMY back and forth on the sands. Hi
head was bent low, his head upon tn
ground. He seemed entirely oblivious t
everything about him. He took no nc
.tice Of our presence, but kept up his SLOW
measured march, to and fro, between
jagged rock and a piece Of driftwoo
which lay half buried in the sand. !,
A half hour passed in the cold fos
drilling mist. and semi-darkness. o.
horses champed their bits Impatient,
and occasionally neighed their, unres
Garland and I strobe back and forth q
the beach, looked at our watches evel
three minutes, and wondered if the due
lists were ever to arrive. rt,gt.
It grew lighter at last, and as the ST
rising above the distant mountains nea
ly succeeded, in breaking through Il
heavy fog, a close carriage came dashil
along the muddy road, followed by ,hs
a dozen men on horseback. The drlv
drew up his horses at the tree, spprang
the ground and threw open the carriaa
Three men alighted. One was a mediul
sized man, with sandy hair and bea1
and with the most villainous face I h
ever looked upon. He commenced
shambling walk on the beach, his han
thrust into his pockets, and his hat tipp
back from his forehead. Tie occupal
of the carriage I judged to be his seco
and a surgeon. They consulted togetl
moment, when the second approach
me and demanded if either Of us was /
sfriend Of the other party pointing
the tall figure who still kept up his, !
emn march. t,.u.
We assured him we were totally
known to him, having come here mer
as spectators to witness the. duel.
then advanced to the tall figure in
cloak and addressed him. We were
near enough to catch the. words. P.
entity the second returned to US.
"'This is cursed rough!" said he. "H
he is out here alone; ready to fight,
says, but has no second with him. G,
me if ever I heard of such a TIL
-. -.aL -~-I-EAaN,L ~MraaMNl-Sl I'm.