Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-26

of her own free will, it is no concern of
| mine. But
"she asked me to meet her!' May
hew cried triumphantly Here Is her
letter. viii you read it?
sit is not necessary. [ read It last
night when it was written. l may tell
you that it was written at my request, -
Mark said quietly still.
"By -! won It believe it!'
"ShallI tell you what it contains? No,
will not do that. 1 haven t come here
for that purpose, - the factory man
cried, his passion beginning to flame.
''Shall tell you why am here to meet
you instead of Nellle?'
$50 this is a trick of yours, Mr..
Eliat?'' Walter muttered between his
teeth. He felt less frightened now of his
rival that he stood before him face to
face. If Mark lifted his hand against
him he would strike him to the earth
with his heavy stick. In self-defense he
would be justified in so doing.
eyes, it is q trick of mine, and it is
almost as clever as that you practiced
the other night. You are mean, con-
temptible, cowardly hound, Walter May
hew, or you would never have done q
thing like that!" Mark Numbered, his
anger thoroughly ablaze now.
'Stand back. If you strike IL knock
you down with my stick! By -! I
WHIP Mayhem shrieked i'll alarm as his
rival strobe toward him with uplifted
hand.
eff you do not apologize I intend to
give you the best hiding you ever had
at least 1 mean to try. What do you
mean to Delight or make an apology?'
81 will do neitherl Stand back! 1
have warned you that 1 shall strike if
you touch mel
suddenly Mark darted forward and
the thick stick swirled in the air and fell
with thud on his left arm. There was
a short, desperate struggle, volley of
curses rent the stiffness of the wood,
then Eliot 8 clenched fist and right arm
shot out like bolt, striking the other
full between the eyes, and the next mo-
ment Mayhem went crashing down the
steep, grassy bank and landed with a
great splash IN the brook.
The splash of water was Immediately
followed by two hearty peals of laugh
ter, and couple of dark forms sprang
from behind the low bushes and tall
bracken near the bridge, and stood re-
garding che situation. They were old
Bob Cubby and Frank Henderson, and
they were evidently enjoying the soused
man 8 discontinue, their loud laughs
and jeering cries ringing out through the
quiet wood.
The two men had been hidden during
the whole of the interesting converse
ton that had taken place between Eliot
and Mayhem; in fact, they had come
thither at Marks request in order to
witness what transpired.
Spluttering ard Cursing in most We
hement fashion, Walter MAYHEM Crawled
out of the stream, drenohed to the skin
from head to foot, and his garments
stained with the thick, yellow mud of
the brook.
Course yon!'' he Kissed passionately,
vindictively, as he faced his rival in the
moonlight, with the stream between
them. ''I'lI make you rue this some
day! I'll pay back this blow and insult
a hundredfold before I've done with
you, Mark Eliot. You may laugh now,
but my turn will come
Mark only laughed lowly, contemptu-
ously. The vanquished mans threat
seemed silly enough at that moment to
be condemned. But the time was to come
when Eliot would remember them with
bitterness and pain-when he would real
ize that his rivals vows and anathemas
were not empty, vain vaporings.
"Don't go without your stick, Mr..
Mayhem - Mark cried tauntingly, as
his late antagonist turned and walked
away. "Shall throw it to you? L sup
pose you dare not fetch it?'
He picked up the heavy walking stick
and threw it after Mayhem, who stopped
and seized it, directing fresh volley of
curses at Mark and his friends as he did
SO. Then he strobe away, and quickly
disappeared amid the dark trees.
For several days after this Mr.. Wal
ter Mayhem was absent from his accus-
toned place at the mills. He had ex-
cused himself to HARDWOOD of a plea of
severe indisposition, but the only thing
aillng that young gentleman was pair
of splendid black eyes.
OF course the quarrel and fight be-
tween Nellie's lovers got noised abou
Mark had not pledged either Bob or his |
companion to secrecy, and the old fellow |
and the younger man retalIed the story
to everybody who would listen to them. |
TO BE CONTINUED