The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-10-28

deposited it with him when paid my
tlStion." a,r... ... ;,,.
And with that he again pressed my
hand, and left the room. Il, - '...-..~.. ~, ..
At twenty minutes to FIVE, I arrived
at the grove and found Leslie Barton
already there, walking back and forth
beneath the tall csdars, whose thick
| boughs were 30 closely interviewer as to
almost entirely exclude the rays of the
setting sun. g., 80 i.'~...... -
AS 1 approached, noticed that he
had discarded the college uniform, and
was dressed In neatly-ftting suit of
black broadoloth. and wore upon his
head narrow britnmed white hat. He
did not observe me until I was quits
close to him, and then, glancmg up with
smile, he said:
you are the prince of punctuality."
Phelps has not arrived yet p. I
asked, looking around.
No; but he will be on time" he re-
pied IL never heard of his being late
on an occasion like the present."
"Then this is not his first? ?" I asked,
in surprise.
"No; Oscar Phelps has made more
than one vacant chair in what, but for
him, would now be happy homes"
"What kind of pistols will you use ?"
Iasked.
He stepped to the foot OF O large tree,
and picked up black ebony case, which
found, upon opening, to contain q pair
OF gold-mounted pistols, the finest had
ever seen. They were Colts latest
improved patent, 39 caliber. Such
o weapon in the hands Of one skilled in
Its use would easily kill man at forty
yards, and they were to fight at ten
PAGES. shuddered.
They are coming" said Barton, in
terruptlng me in my examination of the
pistols.
looked in the direction indicated by
him, and saw Phelps, accompanied by
q cadet named Mumfee, with whom I
had but very slight acquaintance.
They raised their caps politely as they
came up; Barton acknowledged the
presence of Mumfee with naughty sa-
lutte, but did not deign to notice PHELPS
"We are on time, presume?" said
Mumfee, looking at his watch.
eyes" I replied, "and have several
minutes to spare before the time ap-
pointed"
"Then let me see you moment" he
SAID. And we walked apart from the
others.
EDO you know how this trouble orig
mated ?" he asked, when we were out
Of hearing.
"No,"I I replied "dont you? NV
principal did not consider it necessary
to tell me-"
"Just the case with mine. I say, this
is going to be bad business for us. I'm
| afraid. They say Phelps is q sure shot"
Yes, and, from what I can learn.
Barton is no indifferent hand with pis-
| toll"
"I presume those are the weapons to
be used, ," he said, pointing to the case
held in my hand. "Let me see them,
| please
I handed him the pistols, and saw by
the way he handled them that he was
familiar with such things. He examined
them closely for several moments, and
| then said:
Zone or the other of those boys is
doomed"
Before had time to reply Phelps
called to us:
Gentlemen, times up"
! We walked back to where he and Bar
ton were standing, q little apart from
each other, and, having selected suitable
ground, Mumfee measured off ten PAGES.
We then carefully loaded the pistols,
after which 1 walked to where Barton
was standing.
lis everything ready?" he asked, as L
came up to him.
eyes. Is there anything you want to
sHy?" %..,,;,.. ...o,,. 30 .,.,,,. .,, g.,
your kindness to me, and to ask Of you
to see that my instructions of this morn
ing are carried out. Don't try to dis
, cover what my real name is, for it would
be useless"
And without another word he took his
position. Phelps was already in his
place with his pistol in his hand I
handed Leslie the pistol selected for him,
and walked off o few steps to his right.
A moments silence, and then Mum
fee, who was to give the word, cried out:
Gentlemen, are you ready2" .,
Ready" came from both.
"One |"
They both raised their pistols, and the
sharp, metallic "click, click" of the
locks resounded upon the evening air.
"Twol" !"
I looked at Leslie Barton. Not a
muscle moved. His face was hard and
stern, and there was that same light in
his handsome black eyes that I had no.
ticed on the day that Phelps addressed
him in the hall of the college. Aa
"Three |"
simultaneously the reports of both
pistols rang out---so near together were
they that it seemed that but one pistol
had fred. My eyes were fixed upon
Leslie, and at the crack of the pistols I
saw him stagger for a moment, drop his
pistol and clasp both his hands over his
left breast, and, before I could reach