The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-04-05
A FINE REVENGE.

last time, don't try to thwart me, or
you will find that you are tresding on
q serpent whose sting means death.
| love Dolores, and | shall marry her!
He who d0rcs to put between us even
straw, shall repent it to the day of
his death This is the third time
have seen you speaking with her, and
let it be the last, and the speaker, a
solidly-built, broad-shouldered young
man, with long, black mustache, and
eyes that fairly glowed with fiery light,
as, he uttered those words in a low,
determined voice, tapped the handle
of the long knife in his belt, and glared
at the other who stood regarding him
with smile OF amused contempt on
his face. nr
He was much slighter than the
other, and evidently of different
nationality. While the first speaker
possessed the features and complexion
of Mexican, the other, by his blue
eyes and fair hair, was evidently OF
Saxon blood.
Around them had gathered crowd
of the loungers who always fill the
Grand Plaza at Sonora in the late
afternoon.
Although they were unable to hear
all of what the Mexican said, they
could tell from his manner that trou-
bic was brewing, and as Leon MENDOZA
bore the reputation of being the most
skillful handler OF pistol, sword or
knife in the province of Sonora, and
moreover, was known to have the
worst temper in it, they were not far
from right in supposing that quarrel
was beginning which would end in
something serious, and good old
fashioned duel to the death was some
thing that delighted all the Sonora
gentlemen.
Itlooked now as if the American,
who seemed either ignorant OF Mendo-
las skill, or else was most presumpt-
uously rash, would afford the Mexican
an opportunity to again show his in
vincible prowess for as the other ended
he said, with cool contempt that
made his words the more CALLING:
"And what dog in the streets is
frightened by the boasts OF Senior
MENDOZA? / have seen the lady OF
whom he speaks, and shall see her
again. II the Senior is fearful of being
discarded because of my acquaintance
with the Senorita, let him redouble
his efforts to win the prize, or else
step aside and not growl like an envi-
GUS dog"
The instant he ended, an articulatt
howl burst from the Mexican, and
drawing his knife, as he threw his
cloak ever his arm, he sprang at the
American, makinga quick, tightening
Ike movement with the hand OF the
cloak-wrapped arm toward the eyes O
the other, VINO, however, seemed Ia
miliar with the trick, and did MOI
move u muscle OF his face.
L I
Ii he Wlnked, as would have beer
most natural under the circumstances
the weapon ofthe Mexican would have
been buried IN ms heart before M
could have recovered himself, but now
as MENDOZA made the thrust at him
he was prepared, and with a quicl
backward spring eluded the blow, ant
before the Mexican could raise tn
knife again, he sprang forward, sieze'
the others wrist, and with strength
that was simply wonderful, consider
ing his apparently slender physique
he wrenchcd the weapon from his as
sailant's hand, and as the same me
mcnt dealt him terrible blow between
the eyes with his left hand
The Mexican dropped as if shot, hi
head striking the stone pavement witt
Yet he sprang to his feet with tn
quickness of panther, and snatchin
knife from the belt of one of tn
standers-by, leaped upon the othel
who, with Mendola's knife, stock read