The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-10-14

accompany me to my room, secretly
wondering what he could want of me-
After locking the door to preclude the
possibility of an intrusion, we seated
ourselves, and l waited impatiently to
hear what his business was.
After few moments, during which
time he appeared lost in thought, he
suddenly looked up and asked
"Carl -, are you friend to me
Certainly, Barton, l replied but
why do you ask %
81 have favor-a very great favor
to ask of you. You are the only one l
have been on anything like intimate
terms with since have been here, and
yet 1 hardly think our acquaintance has
been of sufficient length to justify me in
expecting the favor I am about to So
Hcit."
Anything 1 can possibly do for you
will be done cheerfully, Barton" 1 re-
piled, anxious to know what it was he
wished me to do.
Again he was silent for brief time.
At length he spoke:
"Carl, am to fight duel this even
ing"
"The devil you are " I exclaimed,
springing up from my chair.
Yes" he replied, "this evening at 5
o'clock"
"With whom ?" asked, having some
what recovered from the astonishment
his words had caused.
"With Oscar Phelps. The arrange
ments are all made between us. We
are to fight in the cedar grove Just be-
hn 1e, 1D1e
at ten PAGES distance. What I want is
for you to act as my second. Will you
do it?"
thought of what the consequences may
be? I have heard that Phelps is dead
shot with pistol"
81 have thought of everything" he
replied. "You will be surprised, Carl,
when tell you I came here to hunt this
man. Oscar Phelps he calls himself,
but that is not his real name what his
name is, no matter. For two years I
have been seeking him, and onl acci-
dentally found that he was here under
ali assumed name. He has wronged me
SO deeply that only his life can atone
for the injury. My name is not Leslie
Barton, and am not what I seem.
might tell you the story of my life, but
it would do no good, and it better rest
untold. Phelps has no idea that am
the one whom he so foully wronged in the
years gone by, and 1 have no wish that
he should know it. One of us, perhaps
both, may fall for, as you say, Phelps
is good shot, but he has none the ad-
vantage OF me in that respect
"Now, Carl, knowing what you do,
will you act as my second in this affair
Ii you refuse, must fight without one. ~
What could do? Leave this friend
less boy to fight that man, without a
single friend near to see fair play? 1t
was against my nature, and did what I
think most boys of my age would have
done under similar circumstances-I
agreed to act for him.
"Thank You, Carl" he said, taking
my hand. ''H you are ever placed in a
position like this, 1 hope you may find a
friend as true. have only one request
to make; should I fall, have me buried
in the cedar grove where the fight will
take place, and in the same clothes / am
then wearing. You will find sufficient
money in the hands of the President OF
the college to defray all expenses. ]
deposited it with him when l paid my
tuition"
And with that he again pressed my
hand, and left the room.
At twenty minutes to five, 1 arrived
at the grove and founu Leslie Barton
already there, walking back and forth
beneath the tail cedars, whose thick
boughs were SO closely interviewer as tt
almost entirely exclude the rays of the
setting sun.
As I approached, I noticed that ht
had discarded the college uniform, an(
was dressed in a neatly-ftting suit O
black broadcloth. and wore upon his
head narrow brimmed white hat. Ht
did not observe me until 1 was quite
close to him, and then, glancing up will
smile, he said:
"You are the prince of punctuality.
"Phelps has not arrived yet?"
asked, looking around.
| "No; but he will be on time" he re
piled. 81 never heard of his being lat
on an occasion like the present"
"Then this is not his first ?" asked
in surprise
"No; Oscar Phelps has made NOR
than one vacant chair in what, but TO
him, would now be happy homes"
"What kind of pistols will you use ?
Iasked.
He stepped to the foot of large tree
and picked up a black ebony case, whicl
found, upon opening, to contain a pal
of goldmounted pistols, the finest l ha
ever seen. They were Colts latest
improved patent, 80 caliber. Sucl
weapon in the hands of one skilled i
its use would easily kill a man at fort
yards, and they we're to fight at te
PAGES. I shuddered.
"They are coming" said Barton, il
terrupting me in my examination of tn
pistols.
Hooked in the direction indicated b
him, and saw Phelps, accompanied
q cadet named Mumfee, with whom
had but very slight acquaintance.
They raised their caps politely as the
presence of Mumfee with naughty 81
lutte, but did not deign to notice Phelp
owe are on time, presumed" sal
Mumfee, looking at his watch.
eyes" replied, "and have sever;
minutes to spare before the time NJ
pointed"
"Then let me see you moment" i
said And we walked apart from I'll
others.
"Do you know how this trouble oril
mated ?" he asked, when we were OIL
of hearing.
"No,"I replied; "don't you2 NJ
principal did not consider it necessal
to tell me-.
"Just the case with mine. say, th
is going to be a bad business for us, II
afraid. They say Phelps is a sure shot
eyes, and, from what L can lear
|. Barton is no Indifferent hand with pi
tol."
81 presume those arc the weapons
, be used" he said, pointing to the case
held in my hand. Let me see then
please"
: handed him the pistols, and saw l
, the way he handled them that he WI
| fapnilior with sIich thinps He pxamins