Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-18
but to his delight, and to u surprise,

"If I should miss him. he'll kill m
sure!!" he muttered to me.
"Yes," said I, "but you mustn't mis-
him. Take good aim. I'll give tn
word very slow, bore him right through
the heart; for you're dead if he gets
shot at you"
They were placed-the distance onl,
ten PAGES, and Hogan stood with hi
arms folded, full breast to his foe
scowling at him as if he wanted to bias
him.
Are you ready, Mr.. Blizzard?"
asked.
"Yes--but don't like to shoot a
him so, and he standing there withou
a chance!'
"Come-be quick-no trifing, it i
my turn next" said Hogan in a bitter
tone.
Billiards. hand trembled more thar
ever, but his eye flashed, and he an
swered:
I'm ready now-Ill see if it's youl
turn next"
AS / gave the word very slow, he
raised the pistol, not as l had showed
him, but with both hands, taking sight
as he would with a rifle, and fired.
Having held it a little TOO close to his
nose, the recoil of the heavy-loaded
weapon nearly knocked him down, and
for a moment almost blinded him,
drawing the claret in a stream from his
nose. But to his utter horror and
establishment the first sight that met his
bewildered eyes, Was Hogan standing
there with his arms folded, a most
diabolical smile on his face, and evil
IDENTIFY untouched.
ooh Lord!" he exclaimed, chow
could'I have missed him. | had sure
head of him!"
You grazed his ear-that was pretty
close!!" | said by way of a comforter.
Bear a hand and load the pistol
am hungry-want to punish him and go
to supper" cried Hogan, sharply.
Poor Blizzard! He looked as though
he would sink into the earth-he was
pale as a ghost, but he had stopped
trembling. He was evidently trying to
nerve himself to meet his fate like a
man.
rs there anything I can do for you
after you have gone, my friend?" 1 asked
coollv.
Yes" he replied, hoarsely, write to
my father and tell him that Ezra Biz
zard died like a man-just as he told
me to! cut off a lock of my hair, (here
his voice trembled,) and SEM. it to Mary
Neal, in the same letter;poor gal, she'll
break her heart for this. That's all
good-by, Buntline."
"Good-by, Blizzard, 1 am sorry for
you, but it can't be helped" I replied,
putting my handkerchief up to nv face
as if to hide my tears, but really to con-
ceal the laugh that was trying to break
adrift in spite Of my efforts to look
serious.
Give the word slow!" said Hogan
tiercely.
The devil is in his eyes-hell kill
him sure" l muttered, just loud enough
for Blizzard to hear me. I could see
the poor fellow begin to tremble.
Are you ready?"
No. said Hogan, swat a moment
till l finish this cigar"
BllzZard's tremor increased every mo-
ment-suspense was too severe. [
added to his agony by again remarking
IN an undertone, that ] never saw Ho-
gan so deliberate and murderous.
At last Hogan said he was ready
and again said, "Give the word slow.
"By heavens, 1 can't stand this. it's
murder!!" | cried, as if dreadfully agi-
tated. run. Blizzard, rum
My earnest cry, added to what he
had already endured, decided poor Biz
card, and off he started like q wounded
buck.
"stop-stop till L shoot!" yelled Ho-
gan.
Stop, stop till you are lilled!y
yelled his second. ..
Go it, Blizzard!" 1 shouted, at the
same moment selling a half rotten
orange from the ground and hurting it
with all the force l could after him.
The orange struck him plum upon
that portion of his body named bv phil
osophers as the seat of honor, bursting
and deluging. him with its juice at the
very instant that Hogan fired his pistol.
Poor Blizzard heard the shot, felt
the orange, and tumbled forward flat
on his face: close beside the new-made
grave.
Are you killed?" I cried, rushing up
and kneeling by his side.
ooh Lord oh Lord!" he groaned-
"dead-shot in the back, too! Oh
Lord-tumble me into the grave-Id don't
care, only l am shot in the back!"
May bel cal stop the blood!"
mo, don't try, l don't want to live.
I'm shot in the back!!" he groaned.
Don't let Mary OF father hear of it
bury me as soon as I'm cold!"
Don't the wound hurt you?"
Mono, nothing hurts me but being
shot in the back. What did you tell
me to run for? it was all your fault. l
was ready to die like a man."
| could hold in no longer! I burst
into a yell of laughter, and lifted up M
principal to his feet. Hogan and his
second came up and the cat was let out
OF the bag-everything was explained.
About the maddest person that I
think l ever saw in my life, was that
same Ezra Blizzard just at that time.
He was utterly wolfish. He wanted to
tight all three of us on the spot one
after another, and nothing but IL as
surance that we were satisfied that he
was true to the backbone, would satisfy