Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-10

who were constantly fearful Of some outbreak
on his part.
While Mr. Sinner was doing Mr. J. Ngernon
Potts and his friend Mr.. Melt were picking their
way through q narrow lane near Hyattsville.
1T is all for Matilda" said Mr.. POTTS. with q
auaver in his voice. 81 know I'll be killed. Tell
her, oh, tell her, died for her."
Mr.. Melt assured him that he would COM
municate the sad intelligence to Matilda, and
the two walked on.
At an angle in the lane they passed an urchin,
who. when they had got a safe distance from
him, called out: ''Say. Mister"
Potts and Melt turned about.
s'Say, amt you fellers one Of emf" shouted
the boy.
zone Of WHAT" asked Mr. Melt.
cone Of the fellers what is going to have q
duel?"
''well, what do you want to know fora" In
quired Mr.. Melt.
eff you are" said the urchin, "you had bet
ter look out. They've got the other fellow
locked up. They caught him this morning
when ne got of the train. He is a mighty
Potts inwardly assented to this.
"My dad caught him." continued the boy.
HE wanted to kill dad and eight or ten others,
but dad just gave him two or three good ones
and that settled him. They have got him locked
up now"
THANK heaven" calculated Mr.. Potts. who
recognized an undOubted likeness Of the feroci-
GUS Crasher in the desperate man arrested at
the depot and realized how narrowly he had es-
capped. There was nothing for Potts and Melt
to do but to get as far away from Hyattsville
as possible. and they began retreat at once,
which. under the circumstances, in no wise COM
promised Mr.. Potts honor.
Not far distant, about the same time, Messrs.
Crasher and Rasper were making their way
through the woods to the appointed rendezvous.
Rasper carried a.case of pistols and was dis
coursng, with much pride, upon their accuracy
OF aim and the execution they had accomplished.
Mr. Crasher though In no wise cheered by such
remarks for he found that great deal Of the
martial spirit had OOzed out of him since he
penned his belligerent note to Potts, he having
left the bottle unstoppered most of the time,
still deemed it necessary to maintain the boldest
front. eff he falls his blood will be upon his
own head" he remarked eff fall will die in
defense of Matilda's honor. Hal ha! could
clutch the scOundrel by the throat Rasper, If
orlando Crasher should not survive this day
let Matilda know that for her he gave his
life"
Rasper agreed to this with exasperating alac-
rity. and rehearsed exactly the words and man
ner he intended to employ in conveying the
mournful intelligence. ''He was as game
rooster, ma'am, he said in conclusion, ''as ever
spoiled paper In the bureau OF gun-Wads, and it
does you honor to have such man expire In
your behalf"
As they were climbing fence they were star
tied by low whistle Looking around they
beheid young man. named Slash, another bold
warrior of the bureau OF gun-wads, who had
kindly consented to go out ahead of them and
make preliminary arrangements IOr the duel,
emerge from clump of bushes and come rapidly
towards them.
o Its all up" said Slash, sorrowfully, when he
ed Potts down in the village and are scour-
Ing the country for you"
However grateful this intelligence was to
Crasher, he assumed an air of disappointment,
and when Slash had finished his tale, exclaimed:
lam to be thus cheated of my revenge! Are
Matilda's wrongs ogo thus unavenged3 Ha. no!
Twill hunt down the villain even in his dungeon"
1t required some force on the part of Rasper
and Slash to restrain Crasher from charging
upon the village and dragging Potts from his
be best to get away from the place as quickly as
possible. and the trio started through the woods
at brisk pace. On the way Slash related the
story he had heard in the village, that Potts
had put to flight whole posse of citizens but
was finally overcome, being unable to hold out
against the constantly arriving reinforcements
Crasher, who had never before suspected the
lighting qualities of his opponent, silently
thanked a kind providence that had thrown the
enraged Potts in the way Of the villagers:
The home of Matilda's aunt was situated
little distance from Hyattsville, on the Balti-
more pike, and Matilda had there spent the
greater part of the day on which the events
Just narrated occurred, in state OF great uneasi
ness. Noon came. and no Sinner. Had the
easy-gOing Sinner proved false and made her q
victim of his treachery
No, she could not believe that. The thought
that he had been detained from her by some
terrible accident filed her mind with alarm. In
the afternoon she communicated her fears to
her trusted cousin. and in his company she
went to the the station, but could learn nothing
of her devoted Sinner. No one knew anything
of him. Coming back into the village. they
heard Of the arrest of q wild and desperate cut
throat who had come out to Hayttsville to en-
gage In the pleasant sport OF shooting at fell
low being. The very man who had walked up
to Mr.. Chump at the depot informed them of
the arrest. He described. graphically. his terri
bic struggle with the ferOciOus and blOodthirsty
stranger, when no one else dared approach him,
and his final victory. He added that his brave
little son had afterwards met the other duelst on
the outskirts Ofthe village and attempted to cap
ture him. but the duelist had fred at him sew
eral times and then fed at the top of his speed.
AS Matilda and her escort had to pass by the
magistrates office where the audaclous villain
was held under guard, their curiosity led them
to look In. The captive desperate was sprawled
out In big arm chair, with his hat over his
face, snoring away as impudent1y as if he were
IN his own bed instead Of q temple of justice.
''He is a hard case" said one Of the guards
tipping his hat to Miss Matilda ''He has bad
eye. There's murder in that fellow"
In order to confirm his words by showing the
prisoners villainOus countenance the guard re-
moved the prisoners hat.
Joseph, my Joseph" shrieked Miss Matilda
as she fell back into her Cousins arms, over
come with CONSERVATION at behOlding the faunil-
iaE. features of Mr.. Sinner.
Sinner, aroused by the cutlery. showed signs
of waking. Having stretched himself and
rubbed his eyes he suddenly started bolt up
right at hearing again familiar voice exclailn-
Ing Joseph, my poor JOseph!"
1t took some seconds for him to gather his
confused wits. Then, beholding Matilda before
him. he inquired sadly:
Have they arrested You too Matilda? Twas
afraid they would catch you"
Matilda declared she was not under arrest
and having given Sinner a reassuring hug and
kiss, learned from him the story of his arrest
and detention. The magistrate and the states
attorney returned to the Office, and gradually
things that were dark before came out into
broad light.
"Then you are not duelist?" said the states
attorney.
''Duelist! thunder, no." exclaimed Sinner.
I" 1 came out here to be married, and You said it
was against the law"
That comes, Mr. Chump," said the attorney.
shaking his finger In an admonishing way, that
comes from not answering questions properly"
Well, here's the other party, then" said
Sinner fnkinr hond ys1