Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-07-10

Sowing at him as if he wanted to blast
him.
"Are you ready, Mr.. Blizzard?" I
asked.
"Yes--but I-don't like to shoot at
him so, and he standing there without
a chancep
"Come-be quick-no trifing, it is
my turn next!" said Hogan in a bitter
tone.
Billiards. hand trembled more than
ever, but his eye flashed, and he an
swered
I'm ready now-Pll see if it's you,
turn nextl"
AS I gave the word very slow, he
raised the pistol, not as I had showed
him, but with both hands, taking sight
as he would with rifle, and fred.
| Having held it q little too close to his
nose, the recoil of the heavy-loaded
weapon nearly knocked him down, and
| for q moment almost blinded him,
| drawing the claret in stream from his
nose. But to his utter horror and
astonishment the first sight that met his
bewildered eyes, was Hogan standing
| there with his arms folded, most
diabolical smile on his face, and evil
IDENTIFY untouched.
"Oh Lord!" he exclaimed, chow
could have missed him. I had sure
head of himl"
"You grazed his ear-that was pretty
close!" / said by way of q comforter.
Bear 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 ghost but he had stopped
trembling. He was evidently trying to
man.
"Is there anything can do for you
after you have gone, my friend?" I asked
coollv.
"Yes," he replied hoarsely, write to
my father and tell him that Ezra Biz
zard died like man-just as he told
me to cut off lock of my hair, (here
his voice trembled,) and send 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, am sorry for
you, but it can't be helped" 1 replied,
putting my handkerchief up to my 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
fiercely.
The devil is in his eyes-he'll kill
him sure!" | muttered, just loud enough
for Blizzard to hear me. 1 could see
the poor fellow begin to tremble.
Are you ready?"
NO." said Hogan, "wait a moment
till finish this cigar"
| Billiards. 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,
nowp
"By heavens, I can't stand this, it's
murder!" 1 cried, as if dreadfully agi-
tated. run, Blizzard, rum"
My earnest cry, added to what he
had already endured, decided poor Biz.
zard, and off he started like wounded
buck.
"Stop-stop till shootp yelled Ho.
gan.
stop, stop till you are killed'
yelled his second.
$50 it, Blizzardp I shouted, at the
same moment seizing half rotten
orange from the ground and hurling il
with all the force 1 could after him.
The orange struck him plum upon
that portion of his body named by 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, fell
the orange, and tumbled forward fat
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, tool Oh
Lord-tumblem me into the gravel don't
care, only I am shot in the back!"
MAY bel can stop the bloodp
mo, don't try, don't want to live.
I'm shot in the backP he groaned.
Don't let Mary or father hear of it
bury me as soon as I'm coldp
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.
was ready to die like man."
/ could hold in no longer! l burs
into yell of laughter, and lifted up m,
principal to his feet Hogan and hi
second came up and the cat was let ou
, of the bag everything was explained
About the maddest person that
think 1 ever saw in my life, was tina
same Ezra Blizzard just at that time
He was utterly wolfsh. He wanted tt
fight all three of us on the spot ont
after another, and nothing but our as
surance that we were satisfied that HI
was true to the back kbone, would satisfy
him.
He afterward became smart man
and popular officer, and in real serv-
ice by my side in the swamps Of
Florida, proved himself trump card,
and, though wounded on two occasions,
he was never "shot in the back" except
in that Fast Duel"