River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-14

secluded, when s. e heard step on the
grass. and, before she could rise, Jack
Culp was beside her, and his arm about
her waist.
Jennie spraBg TO her feet, and, with
flashing eyes, ordered him away; but he
rose with her, and said:
Jennie, thar's no use in your tryin' to
shake me. | love you and you've got TO
be my wife, even if have to kill that
sneak, Frank Masonn
Jennie Roberts was alarmed, and was
about to cry out, when suddenly form
sprang between her and Jack Culp. and,
looking, she saw Frank Mason, v it'll fiery
eyes and snowy cheeNs, between her and
the bully.
IL have lost my patience with you, you
d G! Leave herel" cried the infatuated
Mason.
Jack Cup, recovering himself, shouted
an oath and sent out his fist in reply.
Jennie screamed and begged Frank to
desist; but the dam of his pent-up wrath
was down, and putting her gently back,
he buttoned up his coat with his left
hand, and leaped forward, with his right
extended.
The blow on the bully's face sounded
like pistol-shot, and was so well plant
ed that Jack Culp fell lise log, With
his eyes blinded and his nose bleeding.
Your bully, if beaten IN skill and
strength, has ever the towards subter-
tuge "a concealed weapon. Jack Culp
had a small arsenal, and without rising,
he drew pistol and sIed. The we'll
meant ball sped wide of its mark.
Frank Mason was mad--so mad that
his impulse carried HIM in the same di-
rectlon had there been ten thousand Jack
Culps, with the triggers OF ten thousand
pistols under their index fingers firing at
his.
Before Culp could fire again, his heavy
heels came down ON his breast, an iron
| grip was on his throat, and another grip
so powerful ON his right wrist, that ii
weakened, and the pistol fell from it.
Frank Mason was lion with mad
| bull in his talons He never lost his
presencc Of mind, but logged the bully
till he roMred for mercy; and then TAX
| ing Culp knife and pistols, he threw
them into the stream, gave him final
kick that sent him onall-tours, and, with
Jennie on his arm, returned to the dane
ing.
| Jack Cup went home after that, and
the next day Frank Mason received,
through the medium of another bully, n
challenge. Being brave gentleman,
and broughtup to look upon duelling as
oarbarous Of old, and the subterfuge of a
murderer IN these days, he declined very
properly 10 consider it,
Jack Culp hoped for this, and at once
published Frank Mason as a coward, and
gave 1t out that he would shoot him on
sight. His version Of the story was that
Mason had assaulted him, in cowardly
way when he was not expecting the at
tack, and that, under the circumstances,
he could not resist the unmerited punish
ment he received.
Frank Mason's business did not take
him to town for ten days after the event
above narrated, and Jack Culp, who
spent ms time foaming in the streets,
Hooked on this fact as an evidence of the
co ardice of the man he hated. He al
levIated his indignity, in the meantime,
! by resorting TO the cup, and so was drunk
| two thirds of the time he was awake, ana
his sleep was filed with dreams of ven
geance.
Jack Cup was in the bar of the Alma
| den Saloon, and was relating, for the
thousandtA time, his version of the diff
Guilty with Frank Mason, and vowIng 10
kill him the moment he saw him, when
he as startled by hearing the words:
MASON is here, ana now is your time "
Jack Culp dropped his glass on the
floor, and, turning, saw Frank Mason
about ten PAGES off.
"You have threatened to kill me--now
is your chance!n said Mason, raising his
weapon.
Jack Culp looked at the young farmer,
looked pleadingly at his brother DULLES,
and. seeing no hope, he turned and fed
through the back door; and Franz Ma
son, putting up his pistol, said, with a
laugh:
at wasn't even loaded but | wanted
to show YOU men the stuff DULLES are
made Of
After this Frank was looked upon as u
very brave man IA perfect Nelson in
courage and when he married Jennie
| Roberts even the remaining bulhes said
il was good match; and when, year
afterward, the news came that Jack Culp
was hanged by the Vfgtiaates for horse
stealing over on the San joaquin, the
DULLES agreed with the decent people
when they said ale deserved his fate"