Little Falls transcript., 1879-08-07
THE DUEL IN 'FIFTY-TWO.

THE DUEL IN 'FIFTY-TWO.
Hugh Humphrey in San Francisco Golden Era.
Rap! rap! rap!
/ shook off the >slumber that rested
heavi ily 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
er on the wooden sidewalk beneath.
dozed off to sleep again.
Rap! rapl rap!
Some one below at the Office door, sure
ly: 4 opened the small window at the
head of my bed and looked down into
the street. A burly form stood at the
office door, leaning with one hand against
the casing.
"Nhos there?" I demanded.
"Git up, an gi' me 'orse!' said a
thick, inebriate voice.
"What do you want with horse,
MuAigan?" asked.
"Goin' ter-hic-Hunter's Pint; sum
fun thar Git up, git up! I wan a
'orse''
"The old score is too long Billy. Cam
do it,
Can't do it, eh? Yer inserlent, young
man"
'lt's no use, Mulligan. You owe me a
large bill now, with no prospect of pay
ing 1T. You'd better leave; I'm going to
Sleep" and closed the window.
| }oull-hic-hear f:om me in the
mornin', young man, he threatened; and
Billy Mulligan the desperate, reeled
away down the street.
1idropped to sleep again. Rap! rap!
rap sp1ang to my feet It is morning
Thought 1, and the hostler is at the door.
Again opened the window and looked
down. l saw at a glance it wasn't the
hostler.
"Who's there?'
"1-Garland- Get up, Moulton, and
saddle two horses quick? There's duel
comming off at Hunters Point this morn
! ing 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 saddied. I
awoke the hostler, directed him to look
after the stable and in five minuts more
we went dashing down Kearney street ON
| our way to the Point.
Swat time is it, Garland?"
"Three o'clock. The road IS heavy and
the mud fearful at Islals Creek. We
have barely time to reach there with good
| luck.''
"Who arc to fght?"
1.-TWO gamblers. They quarreled at the
Eldorado last night over faro game"
"YOu know them2'
"No."
A cold fog swept in over the Mission
Hills. The darkness was deep scarcely
permitting us to make out the road.
Nevertheless, VIC dashed 1ecklessly along,
out Brannan street and over the San Bru-
no Road. 1t was scarcely daybreax 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 II w and
then a drizzling shower came sweeping
down from the hills. We tied our horses
to stunted oak, and walked along t e
sand, ten minutes, perhaps in one dircc-
tlon, aa0 then returned. There had been,
meantime, another arrival A tall form,
IN heavy Storm CLOAK, was pacing SOL
emnly back and forth on the sands. His
head oas bent low, his head upon the
ground. He seemed entirely oblivious to
everything about him. He took no no.
tlcc OF our presence, but kept up his SLOW,
measured march, to and fro, between
jagged rock and a piece of driftwood
whicn lay half buried in the sand
half hour passed in the cold fog,
drizzllng mist and semi-darkness. Our
horses chamDed their bits impat1ently,
and occasionally neighed their unrest.
Garland and I strodc back and forth on
the beach, looked at our watches every
three minutes, and wondered if the duel
lists were ever to arrive.
1t grew lighter at last, and as the sun
rising above the distant mountains near
ly succeeded in breaking through the
heavy fog, close carriage came dashing
along the muddy road, followed by half
dozen men on horseback. The driver
drew up his horses at the tree, sprang to
the ground and threw open the carriage.
Three men alighted. One was medium
sized man, with sandy hair and beard,
and with the most villainous face had
ever looked upon He commenced a
shambling walk on the beach, his hands
thrust into his pockets,and his hat tipped
back from his forehead The. occupants
of the carriage I judged to be his second
and a surgeon. They consulted together
a moment, when the second approac' ed
me and demanded if either of us was the
"friend Of the other party pointing to
the tall figure who still kept up his sol
emn march.
We assured him we were. totally un-
known to him, having come here merely
as spectators to witness the duel. H.
then advanced to the tall figure in the |
cloak and addressed him. We were not
near enough to catch the words. Pres,
emily the second returned to us.
''This is cursed roughp' said he. >"Here !
be is, out here alone; ready to fight he |
says, but has no second with him. Curse
me if ever I heard of such a thing. |
'Twon't do, no how. wouldn't one Of |
you gentlmen be kind enough to act?"
Garland instantly declined, and so did |
I. I had no intention of being party
to what ], ,considerei1 little better than a |
murder. inquired, however. what were
the weapons and the distance. His an
swer Mortified me. 'So' - ''' a ',s'
'"Well, stranger, it's pretty rough. l."
said the second ssIt's his Arrangement |
thought pointing 70 the figure in tf1e.
storm-cloak. ;They hold each other by |
The left hand, shoot at the .wo,d-navy
pistols. Both will be killed, sure. That
amt my business, though. IF men will
Oe such fools faint my affair.", ~
% "Sir!' I answered, sscan you be party