The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-06-26
TRACY TREMMEL.
Continued from 1st page.)

into the faces of the rebels opposite me- and /
thought saw signs OF relief in them at the word
compromise" Ian Green frowned, and made
n gesture as if to stop job, but the latter went
on:
II don't think myself that it's Just the thing
TO get up q bloody fight here in the house,
scarin' the women-folks out o. their senses
maybe KILN 'em outright. Nor ought we to
destroy their property. They've been polite to
us, and tho old lady's already in much trouble.
I'll tell you what I'll do. You fellers We been
BLOWN bout one o you ben' able to whip ave
Yankees. You've pranced round 'mong your
women folks, gettin off that kind o gas till
they really believe it. Maybe yOU do too. You
look like pretty good man, and | expect you
think you're an almighty good one. I'll settle
this thing in fst-fght with you out there
iii the yard. You can have it any way you
want it-fair stand-up and knock down, or
rough and tumble, kickin and gougin' allowed,
just as you please. If you can lick not five
Yankees but this one, we'll acknowledge the
corn, and leave here without iirin shot at you.
If lick you, we'll let your crowd go off peace
able and unmolested. This amt war, know,
but it seems TO me the best thing under the
circumstances. We'll have plenty o. chances
after this o. killing one another If you agree
to this let both sides stack arms and stand by
10 see fair play. What d'you say?"
Pm against it," protested Ian Green.
Prize-fg fghting's wicked aud senseless. IL
sottles nothing, except muscular strength. Let
lis fight tais thing out as soldiers. not brutes
That's our duty. Let's do our duty, and leave
the result to God"
"Your duty's to save your life for your Gov
ernment when you won't gain anything by
losing it, said Samantha, laying restraining
hand on his that held his gun. "GOd hates q
man who throws away his life for nothing"
"Ayther way1l suit me-mu5kets or fists"
said Quin. so longs Oi have a hand in the
"a. l. IL, H..
not playing fair to lave out. "Ofll fight
the best man among ye bloody Sayceshme
preference being for me ould acquaintance,
Mr.. jeff Lomax. Or me and Job III fight the
two best av ye."
For a moment JEFF Lomax looked undecided.
lie would have much preferred to shoot us
down, or at least take us prisoners. but the
muzzles OF our seven guns were too close on
tirely TO the breasts of seven Of his crowd, in
clnding his own. Besides, Jobs challenge was
too personal to be rejected, in the face of his
companions and his kinswomen.
IN take you up" he said, bringing the butt
of bis musket on the floor with crash. Crime
your word o. honor that none o. your men
shall FIRE shot or take hand in the fight, and
| pledge you that none o mine shall"
"Ill do It," said Job, putting ont his hand
and taking the Virginian's. How'll you
fght-stand- up-and knock down or rough and
tumble7"
" Rough-and-tumble, kick and .gouge," an
swered Lomax "Take your men out the front
door. aud I'll take mine out the back one.
Stand your guns against the fence there in front,
aud wen stand ours against the porch. Meet
me on the grass out there by those locusts."
agreed" said job.
The rebels went out backward, so that they
could face us all tho time, aud we went out the
front door tho same way. To make sure,
Samantha stood between the two gyoups until
Al 81. IL. a
Qpin our side and LOmax and a companion
named Guinnep on the rebels. We gathered
by the front fence, holding our guns in our
hands until wo saw the rebels begin standing
theirs against the porch, when We leaned ours
against the fence and came forward to the Sc
lected battle-ground.
job pulled off his cap. blouse, shirt and un-
dershirt and handed them TO me to hold. Lo-
max removed the clothing from the upper part
of his body more deliberately, walked to the
porch. laid the garments down, and came back,
fastening his suspendors around his waist.
looked ct them both with admiration for
had never seen two such perfect specimens OF
physical manhood. Both were about the same
age and both absolute in their strength and
manhood. Neither had an ounce OF superfu-
Gus flesh on bis sinowy body. Lomax was
taller, longer. armed and iarger-boued than
Job, but our man was more compact, better
knit aud quicker. The Virginisu had fash
ing black eyes, and a shock of black hair, that
hung nearly to his shoulders, with but sparA
growth on his arms and breast Jobs hl}
eyes. which were generally so merry, now
looked as hard and cold as steel, but bright as
diamonds. His crisp curling hair was trimmed
close. aud his arms aud breast were brick red
from the thick fell that covered them.
Samantha gathered up Lomax's clothes, hung
them over tho railing, aud stood by them to
witness the struggle.
irsy her had Una hoa 70
edge over toward the western horizon when
the two champions came face TO face with each
other midway between tho two groups. Quin
slept out little in front of the rest of us, to
act as Jobs second, and carefully removed
some sticks and stones from the fighting
ground. Guinnep did the same on his side.
Lam Green leaned against tree a few steps TO
our right aud nearer the muskets aud pre-
tended to be studying tho landscape taking no
note whatever oil the wicked proceeding, but
am sure that no detail escaped his quick eye.
For full minute Job and Lomax stood
wariiy regarding each other. lt seemed 10 me
a quarter of an hour-l was in such state Of
suspense-but Ian, who had his eye on his
watch assures mo that it was precisely 60
seconds.
"Saycesh holds his hshts lOike plasterer,"
| Qun remarked TO US III an undertoue. " Job
can outspar him."
| At that instant Jobs right shot out straight
| for the Nlrginians face. The latter warded
! cumsily but etlectually, aud the blow only
| grazed his ear
| He cant do that every toime," Quin assur-
| cd US. "Job'll get in on him soon."
Again Job struck out with his right, with
| the same result as before. This time Lomax
did not content himself with parrying, but his
| long arm uncoupled in n blow directed at Jobs
head. It reached his breast and tho sound was
as if hollow log had been struck with club.
Job reeled, but quickly recovered himself, and
as tho rebel sprang forward TO follow up his
advantage. sisAek him stinging blow between
recoiled for an instant to recover their breath.
Again they came mt each other. Again job
delivered a savage but Intellectual blow. and
| again tho rebel struck him sounding blow on
the chest.
"Holy Saints" shouted Quin excitedly
"Iio's lift handler. He's hitting ye wild his
lift, Job. Close in on him, honey, he'll
pound the wind out av ye."
job heard aud understood. He sprang al
Lomax like a tiger, broke through his guard
and hit him square in tho face with blow
that ought to have felled IN OK. 1t merely
staggered him, and after IA few back ward steps
he Strengthened up again. Job gathered him
self and leaped back to get vantage for an
other blow. The Virginian rushed Mt him in
turn, but his foot caught u stub; ho tript
fell headlong and promo.
Jump on him, now Kick his rebel ribs
in, the Saycesh diyvil2" shouted Quin Jot