The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24

| not Vne eloquent uark eFeS-tue saille
sort of eyes though, differing only from
mine in one little particular feature. His
eyes had ring round each, caused, per-
haps, by cold or grief; nor could he
boast of rosy, fresh complexion, such rs
mine; his was most decidedly choleric-
blue and indigo. concluded at once
that he travelled for some dry-salter, and
had been fidgeting with his
samples-perhaps had received parcel
of blue stuff in bulk to save carriage;
which he had been weighing out and
packing with his own hand into the re-
quired quantities for his various custom
ers in the district. Then, having done his
work, it was not unreasonable to suppose
he had made his toilet for the CONNER
cial room, and had, in a moment of for
getfulness used the indigo bag for a
towel
am fond of harmless fun, and con-
fess fervently wished for few more
arrivals to enjoy it with me. In the
space of few minutes l invented a
dozen funny things to say; the last was
so rich that l laughed outright. And so
did he.
We sat and looked at each other. !
noticed that, when took drink, he did
the same. When | pulled, he pulled. II
| moved hand or foo, so did he.
l could stand it no longer; l was an.
CRY, and l said to him, 81 am not to be
insulted with impunity, sir! My name i.
Brown. l represent the house of Rim.
mocks, sir-there'smy card stand up like
a man STRIP
My blood was up.
The cadaverous wretch repeated nv
words and actions, and handed me a card
which was engraved. Ode Tremen's &
Co., Wine and Spirit Merchants"
finished my toddy, took off my coat
locked the door, and looked him full in
the face.
He finished his toddy, threw off hi,
coat went to the door, and pocketed the
key. But never for an instant did he
take his eyes off me. He was quite ready
for me. He waited for me. His azure
countenance had changed; he looked
tiendish.
The noble art of self-defense formed q
featu in my education; when at school
| could parry and counter capitally; my
blow was equal to 1877 pounds, and |
could give the upper cut beautifully; but
somehow | felt afraid of this fellow, and
looked at him as fercely as / could in
the hope that he would make an apollo
ey. Nothing of the kind On the con-
trary, his demoniacal scowl grew fercer
and wilder every moment, the rednes
| round his eyes became more strongly de-
fined and his orbs shone with a dazzle
that eemod to freeze my blood. |
would have given months salary and
expenses to boot to have been safe Y any
where else. | looked at the window az
the thought rose, and determined
to risk a limb by jumping through it into
to the street below. But to do no | must
pass him. His eyes were upon me, and
gave up the idea as soon as formed
had conlrived, however, to have the
table between us, and thus we were face
to face. | could not now look him
straight in the eye, as I had always been
accustomed to look at a man.
shrank from his terrible stare, and
my blood seemed to gallop as though ev-
cry drop in my body had entered for and
was running on a steeple-cha>e through
my veins, with wnd-up leap from my
heart to my brain.
| To my horror, | became sensible that
the table was moving with slow
but certain motion towards the side of
the room. / held it with all my strength,
but without avail, My antagonist was
evidently a much stronger man then nv
self, and had the design of making for
himself a fast field on which to exhibit
his prowess. | would have pulled the
bell out by its roots for help, but my
hands were rivetel to the table, moved
with it against my will; his terrible eyes
were upon me-
At last the table touched the wall nv
enemy lifted his hands, and as he did so |
found mine were released. Quick as
lightning, | remembered | had large
spring backed knife in my pocket.
thrust my hand in s.arch
of it; but | was already in the grip of a
vice, receiving blows that would not
have disgraced a mammoth hammer.
was knocked down; [ was knocked up,
was thrown over his head, kicked in
many places at once, jumped upon,
knelt upon; my teeth were punched out,
my nose was fattened, my neck disco
lated, my skull fractured, my ribs
smashed in, before could even plant one
with my left upon any part Of my antag-
onist,
At length I obtained freedom for nv
right hand; the next minute he was dead
at my feet. With great difficulty arose,
and, drawing the table to its ori.inal po-
sition, hid the body underneath. Then,
with an inexpressible feeling of triumph,
wiped my trusty weapon.
Horrors! in every chair, on every table,
on the solemn old clock, on row on the
mantel shelf. were new arrivals! Indigo
dellers, all waiting to have turn with
me!
The morning after my arrival at "The
Red Dragon" / found myself in bed
strapped down. The people of the inn
told ME that / had been mad the night