Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-30

t'and,' continued Jae OLD man, In fhe same
calm tones, II demand immediate satisfac.
tion"
with all my hearth responded Capt.
Fenton, laughing at the absurdity of the idea.
Moreover, as you have been guilty of such
ungentlemanly conduct" said Mr.. Martin, II
insist that my claim shall have preference
over all other engagements"
"Oh, certainly" replied the captain, with
mock gravity. Tomorrow morning, if you
wish it, am engaged to meet the young
fellow in whom you take such vast amount
of interest in the corner of the big meadow
at o'clock Be there little before that
hour. But don't be late, for I want to dis
pose of both affairs and return here in time
for breakfast"
81 shall be punctual," returned the old gen
tleman; and without saying more he left the
house.
He was as good as his word. At half past
Z in the morning he was on the ground, at
tended by his second Capt. Fenton soon
| arrived, and later on the party was joined by
the brother of the deceased subaltern, with
whom was one of the officers from the bar
racks
1t was fearful to behold the wild look
which the young man fixed upon Capt. Fen
ton. Not once during the preparations did
his eyes wander from his brothers slayer.
While the pistols were being loaded Mr..
Martins second whispered to him:
Don't lose moment when the signal is
given. Aim low; it is your only chance!"
"No,' replied the old man, loudly; 81
shall strike him full in the head"
1t is not known whether this speech reached
his opponents ears, and in some measure dis
+oJ = &c ~ y,
gaze of the Young man, who thirsted to
avenge his brothers death. was not without
effect. Certain it is that Capt. Fenton did
not take his place with his customary assu-
| rance.
The men were posted. The rest retired to
a suitable distance, leaving the combatants
steadily gazing at each other. A minute or
two of terrible suspense followed, during
which brief space the silence of death reigned
over the spot Then the signal was given,
and, almost instantaneously, the two reports
| were heard. For few seconds the smoke
prevented the spectators from ascertaining
the result, but as it slowly rose they saw old
| Mr.. Martin standing erect and firm, while
| Capt. Fenton was stretched full length upon
| the ground.
Both the seconds fastened toward their
| principals. The two men from the barracks
also ran to Mr.. Martins side, and eagerly liz
quired if he was hurt They found the old
gentleman bleeding slightly at the neck, but
he carelessly brushed the blood away with the
back of his hand. Then, turning with a
kindly manner toward the youth whom he
had risked his life to save, he said, simply:
81 don't think had any other way of pre-
venting this poor boy from sharing the fate
of his brother.'
Capt. Fenton's second now advanced and
announced that his man was dead. The bull
| let had penetrated tho left temple. He re.
quested their assistance in removing the
body. This they readily granted, but Mr..
Martin and his young friend held aloof. As
the others raised the dead man they noticed
peculiar hardness and stiffness about the
body. On tearing open the garments Of the
deceased cry of horror and rage broke from
them. They found concealed beneath his
clothing tight fitting coat of mail.
The cause of his having escaped uninjured
in so many duels was now fully explained.
He had evidently provided himself with this
defense from the old armory which his man
sion contained. Though doubtless not per-
fectly bullet proof, yet in nine cases out of
ten ball was almost sure TO glance off the
network of steel.
AS to Mr. Martin, his fame as marksman
soon spread far and wide. People were ex-
ceedingly cautious in what they said and how
they acted toward the old gentleman. None
ventured to trife with one who was known
to be "a dead shot. n-True Flag.
The Elephant and the Sentinel