The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-07-31

aces and king. He now held
four aces.
! "I'll raise it fifty CENTS" he said.
At this his confederate dropped
out, leaving one to fight for the
pot.
Blake was determined to see fair
play, so under the pretense of
going to the bar. he got near
enough to whisper to the victim OF
the sharper, but quick as the
movement was, it was seen.
CD you! Do you mean to tell
my hands?" exclaimed the gambler
in a rage. Il mean to see fair
play" answered Blake cody.
At this the sharper turned white
with rage and made rush forward
as if to strike his informer. But at
a look from his confederate he
subdued his anger and quickly
drew from his pocket a large pocket
book and took out card on
which was written, Robert J. st.
Clair" and handing it to Blake
said:
''Sir, have been grossly insulted
by you in the presence of these gen.
tlemen! I therefore demand your
unqualified apology or you'll take
the consequences
"And tie consequences" said
Blake.
"Is a duel, provided you are
not a coward"
Things were getting interesting.
Every one looked at the two men
eagerly.
."I'm at your service" said Blake,
his eyes flashing, but his voice
under control. "Pray name the
place and hour. I will be there"
"The place is of little impor-
lance to me-" the gambler replied.
" There is an open space in the
woods halfway between here and
c.. l think we will be undis
turbei there. The hour is 5 a. m.
I believe I have the choice of weap-
ons. / will choose p SOILS"
every well answore Blake" 81
think we can settle this dispute in
a very short time" Then the
sharper said something in low
voice to his companion and strobe
from the room.
A month had passed. It had
been a ve:y sorry month to young
Blake. On the morning following
the night of his adventure at the
inn at S., the gambler found
himself face to face with his de-
nouncer. At the word /" Fire !"
two reports rang out.
When the smoke lifted AMI left
the duelists to view, the sharper
was seen living on his face, shot
though the chest.
Blake had been struck in the
shoulder by the bullet of his victim,
but with the assistance of his sec
ond he reached his carriage and
was driven to the village, where he
gave himself into the hands of JUS
tice. As soon as his wound was
healed sufficiently he was placed
on trial for murder.
The evidence was against him.
The last day of the trial arrived.
The case was to be given to the
jury who would seal his fate. Blake
had been brought into the court
room and was quietly awaiting his
sentence.
The Judge called the court to
order. Suddenly a hustle was
heard in the back of the room, and
a man rushed up to the lawyer of
the defendant and, whispering
few words, handed him a large
sealed envelope. The lawyer quickly
broke the seal and read aloud to
the jury the following:
II do hereby make full confess
sion on my deathbed of crime
for which no man must be pun
ished. On the night of January
Is, 1881, a murder was committed
at s., the victim woman. The
murderer has never been found,
nor will he ever be, for the time
this is read he will be dead-killed
by the hand Of Frederick Blake in
an honorable duel on the morning
of January 81, 1881. I had no
accOmnlice in the crime of January