The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-08

'.OtsaA .. slr. anA stop thss noise.
One-two-three," he counted, but
George Washington was nat on the
ground.
'oh. Marse Nat. please. sub, don't
Use feared o. dem things" A sudden
idea struck him. '.Marse Nat, you II
about to loss q mighty 'alnable Niger"
he pleaded: but the Major simply
shouted to him to stand up and not dis
grace the gentleman he represented.
George Washington seized on the word;
it was his final hope.
..Marse Nat, don't represent nobody.
sub; nobody at all. sub. amt nuttin'
but good-for-nuttin'. wuthless niger,
whar brung de box down hear cuz you
tole me to. sub, OATS all; an I'll teck
of you coat an weskit dis mint ef
you'll jis le' me git up of de groun',
sub" He lay spraddled out on the
ground as fiat rs field lark. but at
Jeff's sudden appearance, he sprang be-
hind him. JEFF. in amazement, was in
auiring the meaning Of all the noise he
had heard, when Lawrence appeared on
the scene. The Major explained briefly.
ut was that redoubtable champion
believing. As our principals failed to
appear on time. he being an upholder
of the code, suggested that we were
bound to take the places respectively Of
those we represented"
Nor, sub. dom ripresent nobody
interrupted George Washington; but at
look from the Major he lodged again
behind JEFF. The Major, with his eye
on Lawrence, said:
well, gentlemen. let's to business.
We have but few minutes Of daylight
left. presume you are ready?"
Both gentlemen bowed, and the Major
proceeded to explain that he had loaded
both pistols himself with precisely SIM
liar charges, and they were identical in
trigger, sight, diff and weight. and had
been tested on number OF occasions,
when they had proved to be excellent
weapons and remarkably accurate In
their fire." The Major stepped of the
distance himself, explaining to Law
renee that ten PAGES was about the best
distance, as it was sufficiently distant
to ''avoid the unpleasantness Of letting
q gentleman feel that he was within
touching distance" and yet NEAR
enough TO avoid useless mutilation."
Taking out coin, he announced that
he would toss up for the choice Of posi-
ton, or rather would make "a disin-
terested person do 50. and, holding out
his hand. he called George Washington
TO toss 1t up. There was no response
until the Major shouted: George
Washington, where are you-you ras-
cal:'
''Heah me, suh.' said George Wash
ington, in quavering voice, rising
from the ground, where he had thrown
himself to avoid any stray bullets and
coming slowly forward, with pitiful:
please, sub, dom pint dat thing dis
away"
The Major gave him the coin, with an
order to toss it up in . tone so sharp
that it made him jump; and he began
to turn it over nervously in his hand,
which was raised little above his
shoulder. In his manipulation it
slipped ont of his hand and disappeared.
George Washington. in a dazed way,
looked in his hand, and then on the
ground. Hi! whar' hit?" he muttered,
getting down on his knees and search
ing in the grass. 'Dis heah place is
cvil-sperited."
The Major called to him to hurry up.
but he was too intent on solving the
problem Of the mysterious disappear
snce of the quarter.
II aim nuyer like dis graveyard bein'
right heah," he murmured. "Marse
Nat, don't you have no mo- to do wild
dis thing"
The Majors patience was giving out.
-'George Washington. you rascal.' he
shouted, do you think I can wait all
night for you to pull up all the grass in
the garden? Take the quarter out of
your pocket, sir!''
"'Tain't in my pocket subj" quavered
George Washington, feeling there In
stinctiyely. however, when the coin
slipped down his sleeve into his hand
again. This was too much for him.