The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-17

auureSSeu MIN. we WoIe NV near
enough to catch the words. Presently
the second returned to us.
"This is cursed roughp said he.
"Here he is alone ready to fight, he says,
but has no second with him. Curse me
if ever heard of such thing. Twon't
do, no how. Wouldn't one of you gentle
man be kind enough to act%
Garland instantly declined, so did /.
l had no intention of being party to
what l considered little better than a
murder l inquired, however, what were
the weapons and the distance. His
answer Mortified me.
"Well, stranger, it's pretty rough,
said the second; cts his arrangement
though" pointing to the tall figure in the
storm-cloak. "They hold each other by
the left hand, shoot at the word-navy
pistols. Both will be killed, sure. That
amt my business, though. If men will
be such fools faint my affair.""
"Sir," answered, "can you be party
to a murder like this?-for a murder it
is and nothing else. In heavens name
let us try and end it before it goes
furtherw
"Sail in! Stop it if you can! Ye don't
know Red Bill and Yank as well as dc
or ye wouldn't talk that way" replied
the second.
l Immediately advanced and addressed
the tall stranger.
81 trust, sir" I said, "that you will
not persist in the terms of the duel. II
is murder If either falls you can not
be regarded as guiltless of terrible sin. u
He raised his eyes to mine and shook
his head. "You are wasting your time, y
he simply said.
He had fine face, a fair brow, with
delicate lips, but eyes that had strange
almost, unearthly glitter.
"Can nothing move you? Think oi
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
q have no friends" was his only answer
"You waste time"
| returned to Garland. The second Of
Red Bill again advanced, conversed witt
him short time and then Joined hi
principal. Red Bill made gesture O
assent, and the two duelists advanced
towards each other. The seconds tool
two pistols from the coach; the loadin,
took place in the presence of the wit
nesses; coin was tossed for choice O
weapons. Red Bill won. They tool
, their positions. The few spectators be
: meath the tree were commenting on tn
, appearance of the men, and hazardin,
, opinions as to the result.
Gentlemen" said the second in lout
voice, 'it is necessary that should max
some explanation. This 'ere gentleman
has seen fit to come here without friend
He also insists on fighting accordin' t,
agreement made last night. Navy pis
| tolls, hold each other by the left hant
and fire at the word. My friend ha
t wen the choice of pistols, consequent,
the other party has the right of givinI
, the word. None of you gentlemen see fl
to act as his second, and he requests m
to give the word. I'd rather not do it
but if no one else will l suppose must.
, He paused. No one answered.
moment, and then he called out in
clear voice:
care you ready"
Their left hands met, the pistols wer
slowly raised till the muzzles of eacl
almost touched the cheek of his opponent
, Calmly and firmly came the respons
from each:
"Ready"
"One! two three! fre!"
Before the word fire the report of Re,
Bills pistol rang out on the air, and wa
followed by that of his opponent. Bot
| men fell to the earth, the one motionles
and stiff, the other in terrible convulsion
, of agony. The tall stranger had met hi
death without pang, the ball from hi
: treacherous foe penetrating and passin
} through his brain.
Red Bill had fired before the wore
( But Retribution swift and terrible fo
G lowed.
The pistol of his adversary had e.
plodcd in time to send ball crashin
his lower jaw, inficting terrible wounc
Y The surgeon pronounced it fatal. Re
. Bill was placed in the carriage wit
b the second and surgeon, and ws
driven rapidly away. We untethere
our horses from the tree and mounte
t again to the saddle. As we rode ava
o from the fatal spot the sun broke throug
the heavy clouds and fell in halo I
radiance around the form of the dea
duelist.
n The small cavalcade spurred the
v horses toward the city. At Islas Cree
|. we passed the coach, the horses founde
{, ing in the mud. AS we dashed by Il
n head of the second was thrust from Il
k window and | caught two words, "Bill
H., Jon1w