The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-07-05

invited MIN TO urlnk. lie neSltateu Tor
moment, and then, calling for lem
onade with a light stick asked me to
accompany him out on the street. He
was u fine looking young man, of heavy
build, and wore better clothes than the
average miner. l noted all this from
the fact that he was stranger who
wished a private conversation with me,
and had been so uncivil as not to intro
duce himself Together we stepped be-
yond the doorway, and then halting, he
said
"' You are q man and gentleman,
and l am the same. 1 love Miss --,
mentioning the name of my actress
friend 'and she could. love me, l am
certain, were 1t not for you.'
@ raised my hand to strike him
down, but the muzzle of revolver, the
butt of which was clutched in his hand,
deferred me. | stepped back couple of
PAGES.
GO have thought this matter over,'
he continued, lowering the revolver,
'and have determined that one of us
must die, could have shot you down
any night and none would have been
wiser, but | am frank enough to make
you proposition
GO But shall offer no opposition to
your marrying Miss ,' l said hur-
riedly. She is nothing more than a
dear friend to me, Go ahead and win
her, man." 1 thought him crazy, and
believe to this moment that he was not
in his right mind.
"No," said he slowly, and with deter
mination; this world is not large
enough for we two men. | will kill you
before this night is done or you will do
me the same favor. You are armed and
shall have an equal chance for your life;
we will go up the valley little ways,
and there settle our quarrel like men,
If L kill you none shall ever know
whether the leases were right or wrong"
and if L fall it will be with no malice
toward YOU
g He took my arm, and we walked up
the street together. 1t seemed like a
dream to me, and yet there was the man
began to grow nettled and was sufficient
ly reckless before we reached the Bis
marck stage road to have fought him
with the Bowie knives had he demand
ed it. Then, too, was angry at the
free manner in which he had spoken of
Miss -. Up the valley we strobe,
something like four hundred paces.-
The snow was crisp and hard, the moon
was full and in the clear sky lit up the
surrounding country and the sleeping
city below in fantastic manner. Two
or three hungry coyotes, which had
ventured down to the outskirts of the
camp, scampered away and were except
myself and companion the only evidence
of life in the valley. Presently my
strange guide and enemy halted and
said:
"' You stand here and l will step ten
PAGES further on
6 obeyed his directions.
6 He paced of ten strides and, remov-
ing his hat, faced me, revolver in hand.
Hold onl' said [: if your mind is
fully made up to shoot me, at least let
me know your name
''That makes no difference to you,'
said he. It's as good a one as you can
boast. Please be ready to fire when L
count to three.
- / a q Olnuop chnt vritl, al
and can shoot the spots from card at
even twenty yards, and felt confident
that no matter how good shot was my
antagonist, that could kill him at ten
PAGES L drew my derringer and cooked
it carefully. l was standing with my
back to the moon and he was little
above me, and the moon shone full on
his broad brow. He levelsd his weapon
and began to count. AS the fatal words
were slowly pronounced, raised my re-
volver, and at the word three pressed
the trigger We fired at the same in
slant, and L felt the wind of his bullet
by my head. He sank to his knees
without struggle and fell upon his face
in the snow.
MY being in the shadow little be-
low him and the moons rays falling on
his pistol barrel had, even at so short
distance disturbed his aim. 1 walked
forward turned over the body,sti warm,
and looked down into its face. My
bullet had sped true. There was
small, blush looking hole, from which
the blood had not yet sprung, in the
centre of his forehead. If any one
haard the nisfoI shots pO hood u,ae ,,o;d