Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-07

pistols. Both will be killed, sure. That
amt my business, though. If men will
De snch fools faint my affair.""
"sir!' answered, ''ean you be party
to murder hike this? for murder it is,
and nothing else. In Heavens name let
us try and end it before it goes further"
"Sail in! Stop it if you can! Ye don't
know Red Bill and Yank as well as do,
or We wouldn't talk that way" replied
the second.
Immediately advanced and addressed
the tall stranger.
IL trust, SIR said, "that you will not
persist in the terms of the duel. 1t Is
murder. If either falls you cannot be
regarded guiltless of terrible sim"
He raised his eyes to mine and shook
his head. "You are wasting your time,"
he simply said.
He had fine face, fair brow with
delicate lips, but eyes that had a strange,
almost unearthly glitter.
"Can not ing move you9 Think OF
your friends, Of your sister or mother;
consider their terrible grief when they
| hear of this fearful tragedy"
He shook his head and coolly smiled.
II nave no IrlenCS, was LIS JILL onS"o''
"You waste time"
returned to Garland. The second of
Red Bill again advanced, conversed with
him short time. and then joined his
principal. Red Bill made gesture OF
assent, and the two duelllsts advanced
toward each other The second took two
pistols from the coacn; the loading took
place in the presence of the principals;
coin was tossed for choice of weapons.
Red Bill On. They took their posi-
tions. The few spectators beneath tie
tree were commenting on the appearance
of the men and hazarding opinions as to
the result.
"Gentlemen,'' said the second, in a
loud voice sit is necessary that l should
make some explanation. This ere gentle
man has seen fit to come here without
friend. He also insists on fighting ac-
cordin' to agreement made last night.
| Navy pistols, hold each other by the left
hand. and fire at t word. My friend
has on the choice of pistols, consequent
ly the other party as the right OF giving
the word. None of you gentlemen see
fit to act as his second, and he requests
me to g We the word. I'd rather not do
| It1 ouL IL uO OuC CIoC wiz
must"
He paused. No one answered. A mo-
ment, ana then he called out in a clear
voice:
Are you ready"
Their left hands met, the pistols ere
slowly raised till the muZZles of each al
most touched the cheek of his opponent.
Calmly and firmly came the response
from each:
Ready"
Zone two! three fret
Before the ord fire, the report Of Red
Bills pistol rang out on the air, and was
followed instantly by that of his oppo-
nent. Both men fell to the earth, the one
motionless and stiff, the other in terrible
commissions of agony. The tall stranger
had met his death without a pang; the
bail of his treacherous foe penetrating
and passing through his brain.
Red Bill had fired before the word.
But retribution, swift and terrible, fol.
lowed.
Tie pistol of his adversary had explod
ed in time to send ball crashing through
his lower jaw, and inficting a most terri
bic wound. The surgeon pronounced it
fatal. Red Bill was placed in the carri-
age which, with the second and surgeon,
was driven rapidly away. We unteth-
cred our horses from the tree and mount
ed again to the saddle. As we rode away
from the fatal spot, the sun broke through
the heavy clouds and fell in halo of ra-
dance around the form OF the dead duel
list.
The small cavalcade spurred their
horses toward the city At Islais Creek
we passed the coach, the horses founder
irg in the muC. AS we dashed by, the
head of the second was thrust from the
window, and l caught two words-"Bill's
dead!"