The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-14
job, II not two Of them, in the near

job, If not two Of them, in the near
future.
Have you seen Blancfoc lately in
quircd Ned Preston, confidcntially button
holing lIorntlint on the street corner.
'No; but I'll settle with him when |
0)!" bristlcd up tho other.
"Take friends advice AMI be on your
guard, " returned Ned in n stage whisper
"Blancfoic is in fearful state. lie has
armed himself with bowic-knifc rs big ns
broadsword lie carries it down his
back, and it reaches from the napc of his
neck to the seat of his pantaloons He's
been hunting you all day, and swcars he'll
make hash of you on sight.
ll0rnilint's check blanchcd with anger,
his knees smOte together with fury, and
his teeth fairly chattcrcd with passion as
he exclaimed in Il voice trcmulous with
wrath:
"L-lct the dasardly villain come I'm
ready for him! "
Half an hour later Il similar interview
took place OH another street corner, the
parties, this time, being Ned Preston and
Col. Blnncfoic.
"Coloncl!" spoke the former, lowly and
hoarscly.
"Wcll, sir2"
DO you know IIornjinl's looking for
you2"
| ~ neither know nor care" staggered
the colonel, tnrning triflc whittier, the cf-
feet, no doubt, of concentrated irc
but he's got pistol bucklcd on him."
said Ncd-"a navy revolver so long that
the muZzlc sticks out an inch below his
| coat tail, and he vows he'll make sieve
| OF your carcass tho moment he lays eyes on
you'll"
The coloncl's indignation added another
shade to his pallor 1t was evident that
his feelings were fast getting tho better of
| him.
"If the scoundrcl comes in my way I'll
hew him to pieces finer than tho prophet
did Agag was the coonc's fierce reply,
rs, looking ncrvously over his shoulder, he
hurried away.
That afternoon Col. Hornflint took the
early stage Oherc were no railroads them
sor town a dozen miles off. half an
hour later Col. Blancfoic took private
conveyance for the same place. Ned
Preston fell in with him just as he wns
| starting, said that urgent business called
him in tha same direction, and offered, If
| the colonel would take him in, to bear half
the expense.
The colonel checrfully consented and
the two set out at Il brisk trot, the military
| gentleman taking the rcns and plying the
whip smartly, anxiously glancing back
every time he heard the rattle of wheels
behind him.
"Thcy'rc going away TO fight |" was in
| everybody's mouth; for the two sudden de-
| parturcs were soon known to every man,
woman and child in Chincapln. There is n
sort of local omniscicncc in country vii
lagos, you know, which makes a secret Il
simple impossibility
As Colonel Blancfoc and his companion
drove up to the tavern ut their place of
destination, whom should they sec on the
veranda but Squire Hunter and his dallgh-
ter. Facing these with his back toward
tho newcomers, was gentleman of military
port, engaged in animated conversation.
Blancfoic hurried up tho steps,
."Why, Squire, is that you2" he cried,
hastening forward, and clasping the old
gcntlcman's hand
turning about to pay his respects to
Lucy, he found himself face to face with
whom do you supposc2 The moment of
vengeance had come! The hated Horntlint
stood before him.
For an instant-thc bricfcst of instants-
their eyes glared annihilation. Then back
to back they wheeled, with heads down
like couple of scared buffalocs, and ran
for dear life, neither doubling but his enc
my was in swift pursuit
Blancfoic pitched, head first, into the
Squires stomach, then clearing his PROSTATE
worship ut bound, he turned somerset
over the western railing, into Il ncighboring
duc<-pond.
Hornflint's flight was tawarls the East.
Beneath his horizontal coat-skirts could be
seen the huge revolver dancing like piece
of stovcpipe tied to the tail of frightened
cur. Dashing through all obstacles, lie
landed in ditch, welcomed by a. chorus OF
melodious bullfrogs.
Quick as lightning Ned Preston was Oh
the scene, and picking up the squire.
81 hope you're not hurt" he said.
"What thc-thc mischief does It mcan?"
inquired the squire.
eyes, what docs 1t mean, Ncd?" joined
| in Lucy
Ned, as soon rs he could for laughing,
explained all. The two doughty champions
in seeking to avoid meeting, had both
| sought the same retreat, where, uncxpcct-
edly cncountering, mutual panic was tho
consequence.
Neither Of the colonies Mas sent to Con-
gress, and neither married Lucy Hunter
who became Mrs. Ned Preston not long
| afterwards.