River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-12
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THE DUEL IN FIFTY-TW0.

INab rap rap
threw off the slumber that rested
heavily upon me, and listened. Icould
hear nothing, only the sound Of milk
wagons and bu.cheT-carts in the street,
and the heavy tramp of some late tray
/ eler on the wooden sidewa !. beneath.
dozed off again.
Rap rap rap
Some one below at the office door,
surely. Iopened the small window nj
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.
"Who's there?" | demanded.
Git up, an gil me Il 'orse," said
thick, inebriate voice.
what do you want with a horse, Mul-
hgan!' / said.
Coin ter-hic- Hunters Pint; sum
fun thar. Git up, git upl want 'orse."
Tue cd score is too long, Bill. Can't
10 it,"
Cant do it, eli? Yer inserlent, young
man."
cts no use, Mulhgau. You owe me
large bill now, with no prospect Of
paying it, You'd better leave; i'm 60.
ing TO Sleep" and | closed the window
"You'll-hic-hear from me in the
mornin', young man." he threatened;
and Billy Mullgan, the desperate, reel
ed away down the street.
dropped to sleep again. Rap rap!
rap sprang to my feet 1t is morn
ing, thought /, and the hostler is at the
door, Again l opened the window and
| looked down. | saw at glance 1t
wasn't the hostler.
who's thereY
IL Garland. Get up, Moulton. and
saddle two horses, quick! There's
duel coming of at Hunters Point this
morning 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 saddled.
| awoke the hostler, directed him to
look after the stable, and in five minutes
more we went dashing down b carney
street on our way to the point.
What time is it, Garland?'
Three o'clock. The road is heavy
and the mud fearful al Isais Creek.
We have barely time to reach there
with good luck"
"Who are to fighl?"
1.-TWO gamblers. They quarreled ut
the Eldorado last night over faro
game"
you know them?'
"No."
A cold fog swept over the Mission
| Hills. The darkness was deep, scarce
| ly permitting us TO make oIt the road.
Nevertheless, we dashed recklessly
along, out Brannan street and over the
San Bruno road. 1t was scarcely day
| break when we arrived at the Point our
| horses quite blown and covered with
mud and foam. Not u soul was on the
ground. A cold mist hung over the
bay, and now and then drizzling,shOw
er came sweeping down from the hills.
| We tied our horses to a stunted oak,
and walked along the sand, ten minutes
! perhaps in one direction, and then re-
turned. There had been, meantime an
other arrival A tall form, in heavy
storm cloak, was pacing solemnly back
and forth on the sands. His head was
| bent low, his eyes upon the ground.
He seemed entirely oblivious to every
thing going on around him, He took no
notice of our presence, bat kent up his
slow measured march, TO and fro, he.
tween a jagged rock and piece OF
driitwood which lay half buried in the
sand.
A half hour passed in the cold fog,
drizzling mists and semi-darkness. Oar
horses champed their bits impatlently,
and occasionly neighed Their unrest
Garland and | strobe back and forth on
the beach, looked at our watches every
three minutes, and wondered if the
duelists were ever to arrive.
1t grew lighter at last, and as the SIN
rising above the distant mountains
nearly succeeded in breaking through
the heavy fog, n close carriage came
dashing along the muddy road, fol
lowed by half dozen men on horse
back. The driver drew up his horses
at the tree, sprang TO the ground
and threw open the carriage. Three
men alighted. One was n medium
sized man, with sandy hair and beard,
and with the most villainous face had
ever looked upon. He commenced n
stumbling walk on Tao beach, his hands
thrust into his pockets. and his hat
tipped back from his forehead The
occupants of the carriage / judged 10
be his second and a surgeon. They con
suited together a moment, when the
second approached me and demanded |
if either Of us was the friend of the
other party" pointing to the tall figure |
who still kept up his solemn march.
We assured him VIC we're totally un- /
known to him, having come here mere /
~ as spectators To witness the duel. Ho /
then advanced to the tall figure in the |
cloak and addressed him. We were |
not near enough TO catch the words. /
Presently the second returned To us.
"This is cursed rougbl" said he.
"Here he il out here alone; ready TO |
fight, he says, but has no second with |
him. Curse me if / ever heard Of !
such thing Twont do, no how.
Wouldn't one Of you gentlemen be |
kind enough TO act7'
Garland instantly dec ined, and 30 did |
|. had no intention Of being party |
TO what ! considered little better than a |
murder. | inquired, however, what |
were the weapons and the distance. |
His ans yer Mortified me.
well, stranger, i,'s pretty rough" (
said the second. "It's his arrangement I
though" pointing to the figure in the 4
storm cloak. "They hold Oh other
by the left hand, shoot at the word
navy pistols. Both will be killed, cure. /
That amt my business, though. II
men will be such fools faint my az
fair.
"Slf!" answered, "can you be party 4
to a murder like this? for murder il il, I
and nothing else. In Heavens name
let us try and end it before it goes
further"
sail inl Sop it il you can Ye
don't know Red Bill and Yank as well 1
a. do, or ye wouldn't talk that way"
replied the second.
! Immediately advanced and adj
dressed the tall stranger.
u trust, sir" said, "that you will not
PERSIST ia the terms Of the duel. II is
murder. IF either falls yOu cannot De
regarded spiitlsss Of q teri bic sin.
He raised his eyer to mine and shook
his head. you are wasting your time,
be simply said.
He had q fine face, fair brow with
delicate lips, bat eyes that had strange, I
almost unearthly glitter.
"Can nothing move your Think Of
your friends, or your sister CT mother; i
consider their terrible grief when they 1
hear Of this fearful tragedy"