West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-19

Keep quiet I will sec you through
ibis matter. and when you marry Miss
Sophy, will dance ut the wedding"
''All right. sab" he replied, and with
buOyant, smiling face, left the Office.
Half an hour afterwards / was in the
saddle aud on my way 20 NV old friend
Major Swivels. To him repeated the
whole affair and bcsOught him To seek
Ju and act the part OF second for that
meeting. On my return TO my Office
wrote formal challenge to Ju in the
I anne of Ananias and quietly awaited
results.
Ju, through his second, Major Swiv-
els, accepted the challenge, pistols were
named as the weapons and the follow
ing Friday rs the time.
Thursday afternoon the Major and
met and perfected all the details. That
night for fear Mas might lose COURAGE
and desert me, made him sleep i'm my
office and fastened doors and windows
on him. About five a. IN. the next
morning l harnessed my roam mare
Nelly to the buggy, took 'Nias in and
| started of The boy was badly fright
| ened. his teeth chartered, and / could
hardly control my risiblcs. With II
careless movement of my foot | dis
logged the cover of box in the front
part of the buggy and allowed him "a
glance at its contents. These consisted
OF hand saw, long, glittering prun-
ing knife and an ordinary butchers
clraver.
What's dem fer, Cap'penP" he said.
They are surgical instruments"
replied. "You may be badly wounded.
and may have to cut off your arm or
leg TO save your life"
''Lord-a-massy, Cap'pen, let me cit
right outen dis buggy. lie kin hab dat
gal if he wants, an sides dat | forgot to
feed de mule dis mornin'."
Silence" said, . percmptorily.
"You have got to fight now, and if YOU
Try to escape I'll blow the top of your
head of, -
The poor young fellow was almost
paralyzed with fright, and becoming
somewhat uneasy at his condition. |
! pulled out a flask of brandy and gave
| him n pretty stiff drink After the
liquor had partially restored his facul-
ties | said to him: Now, Mas, brace
! up and be man. tell YOU that Ju is
an awful coward and will run just as
soon as you point pistol at him. just
do as | say and all will be well.
When we got to the appointed place
the Major and his protege were already
there. Ju was sight. His eycbalis
were rolling, his cheeks were as ashen
as they could get under the peculiar
pigment of his cuticle, and no wonder,
Tor in the Major buggy were two huge
pistols of revolutionary origin, with flint
locks. a half gallon syringe, a monkey
wrench and pair of horse clippers.
The Major saluted me in grave. for
mai manner. | returned it ms gravely
and formally Tying our horses to con-
vonient saplings and leaving our re-
spective charges seated, with strict in
functions not to stir, the Major and re-
| tired some little distance for consulta-
ton.
How is your man?" said he, almost
choking with laughter.
Scared to death" 1 replied, " / had
to brace him up with brandy"
80 did | mine" said he, "and now
let 5 have the circus. have loaded
the pistols with powder only, of course.
but so heavily that the discharge will
knock the deuce out of them at the first
fire. -
We gave the heroes another drink
ana placed them in position, ten PAGES
apart, pistol in hand. The Major won
the word, and gave it sonorousiy:
Fire! onc-two- threer
There was terrific report. n vast
cloud of smoke, and both men Law
prone upon the ground. | rushed to
Ananias and raised him up The huge
horse-pistol recoiling had struck his
nose, and it was bleeding profusely.
len PAGES away, Ju just recovering his
senses saw the bloody face of his an
tagoniSt and yelling Done kilt him. ,"
broke for the woods. We called after
him. but to no avail. He kept on run
nlng, and as we haven't seen him since
we suppose he is running still.
About month later Mas came into
my Office, and looking up bashfullv.
SAID; "Cap'pcn, is you gwine to town
ter-day?"
IL am, ] answered.
Den il you please, san, AK at de
pos oils fer Ananias Gigglcs."
Il thought your name was Pickett"
/ said
Dat was my maiding name. sab. ~
he replied with dignity. Il was mar
ried dis mawnin' ter Miss Sopbv
Giiggles. "-HamitoH Jay IN Detroit
Free Press.