Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-11-25

ton to which some minds cling
with a death-like tenacity. HUI
man life is too sacred thing to
be wantonly exposed to danger
or taken, unless for good cause.
But SO it was-they were to
fight. The terms and co additions
of the deadly encounter had all
been arranged according to a
"code" that could have origina-
ted no where else than in hell, or,
next to it, in a depraved human
heart. ~
Bill Smith owned the finest
horse in Winston county-a
large, spirited, dappled gray.
During the interval betwccnlhe
challenge and the fatal meeting,
he1put himself and his fine horse
through regular course of
training in short sword exercise.
He spent from two to four hours
a day in the saddle, cutting and
cleavingsf sfhe air with his sword
and IN warding off imaginary
blows and making thrusts at an
imaginary foe. In his own mind
he was a great hero, but to cool
headed people he looked like a
fool, which he was. All this time
Jim Jones was at home at work,
keeping his own counsel and
receiving the adSicel of his
friends with IA smile of indiffer-
ence. When anyone told him
Gas plenty of people were ready
to do) of the preparations being
made by his antagonist, and of |
his pompous boasts Of what he
was going to do and how he
would make mince-meat out of
jim Jones, Jim would quickly
say, II will run Bill off Of that
field"
The proposed duel was, Of
course, profound secret, but,
like most secrets of the kind, it
spread far and wide, but always
under the lock and key of, Sc
cresy. When the fatal day came,
as fatal days always do sooner
or later, more than a hundred |.
men were OH the ground fully
two hours before the time of
battle came. Ii is wonderful
what interest u fight of any
kind, even Il dog fight, will stir
up in the bosOms of some men.
Ten minutes before the time
Bill Smith rode up or his side of
he field, where those had gath
,red who sided with him in this
lffray. He was dressed up with
n an inch of his life, and his
inc horse, now richly c.spari<on-
ID, never showed SO we'll before.
Bills friends thought him the
Iery impersonation of chivalry
md true courage, ami could not
'epress Il cheer as he rode upon
he ground ,his new sword glcam-
ng IN the sunlight. +!
Presently Jim Jones rode mp
lmong his friends onllis side of
he field, astridc of a bob tailed
indian pony, known to be twenty
ears old. His whole outfit, /;
sword and all, was in keeping
With the pony he rode. Hang
ng across his saddle We're six
oId TIN pans and twelve large
yourls-three pans and six ,
yourds on each side of his pony. :
\ broad smile spread over Jimls /,
ace as curious eyes began to /,
leer at his turnout. IA deep
'oice said, "Ah, boys, that is
Tim Jones exactly-lie viii win !
he day."
After some little parleying, /,
he seconds (always willing par
les to the crime OF dueling) gave
he word of command from their
station in the center of the field. {,
Ehe contestants started at a gall
op, though Jim Jones had hard ,
work to get-his bob-tailed pony :
lader way. They came swoop-
ng down upon each other, Jim's ]
in pans and gourds making a
most unearthly noise. When .
lbout one hundred yards apart,
Bill Smiths fine horse stopped !
short, threw up his head and be- ,
san' TO snort ominously. In a
moment more, he took the bit
u his teeth, and broke off OBJ
iquely across the field as if run
ling for his life. Jim Jones filed ,
light after him, calling out at
he top of his voice, "Stop, Bill, !,
I'm not going to hurt you--i.
top, Bill, l,aud let's makefriends.D
The company joined in the race, /,
which was continued for a mile 4
nd a halt, when the pony gave
'ut, and Jim had to stop. The
Iicnds of both parties came up,
ionvulsed with laughter, and !
rownedJimJones as the"prihce
# jokers," and urged Bill Smith :
o an amicaole adjustment of $
he matter, as it wolld be pity
o XIII a fellow as good naturcd
.s,JimJ ones They made friends !;
nd lived and died on good
erms. se q s7ies !