Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-05
and bloodthirsty in its tone to the highest deoraa IL read ahnnt this rrau.

eAo bAoS4thAoSl HI ieo tOiAC " NAc 4ASACoN degree. It read about this way:
 "Colonel Pat Donan and Colonel Blank have just left here for Platte City. They are armed with Winchesters and go for Colonel Nesbitt. When they arrive in Platte City blood will flow"
 As may be expected, the whole town was at once aroused. And this was intensified a half hour later by another telegram from a station between Lexington and Platte City stating that Colonel Pat Donan and Colonel Blank had just passed there en route to Platte City. A few minutes later telegram of similar import was received from another station between the two towns. From this time Platte City was a hotbed of excitement. Telegrams were constantly pouring in announcing the near apprach of Colonel Donan and Colonel Blank wrapped up in their mission of blood. The Winchesters were mentioned in every dispatch, and Platte City, under the excitement, took on the aspect of war times. As they got nearer and nearer, as announced by the frequent telegrams, the banks closed their doors, business houses practically suspended, and little groups of excited citizens stood on the street corners discussing the probable outcome. Wagers were freely offered that the Landmark would come out on top whatever turn mat ters took, and in this frame of mind the excited populace waited for other tele- grams or the arrival of the blood drinkers.
 Meantime a consultation between mana ging editor and business manager was be- ing held in the Landmark office. Colonel Nesbitt was a man of nerve, and not easi- ly ruff1ed by any ordinary invasion of his editorial sanctum by an angry public, but in the present instance he was at loss whether to temporize till the storm had blown over, or to look the cyclone square ly in the eye and make it quail. He ap- pealed to Major Parke. ''Tom," said he, ''what shall we dol"
 ''Doin answered the warlike business manager, ''why. fight, of course"
 But, appealed the editor, ''in this in- stance it may be best to smile into the bar rels of the Winchesters and look amiable 'i
 ''No," replied the business manager, ''you must fight Donan or fight me"
 'I fight Donan then" said Colonel Nes- bitt ''You make the arrangements and I'll fight"
 Thus the matter was settled. Colonel Nesbitt retired to the editorial sanctum while Major Parke calmly awaited devel- opments in the business office Mean while the townspeople were growing more and more excited. Colonel Donan and Colonel Blank were approaching. Finally telegram was received from the railroad junction just four miles away. They had | just left there. The Winchesters wele still with them. They were as bloodthirs, | ty as when the first dispatch was sent The hearts of the citizens fopped and flip. | Tapped in unison like the heavy move, ments of steam churn dasher. Every. thing was at the highest excitement. The two seekers of gore soon reached the town md ak HrntfS hntal rnrr1I have heard dewdrop on the streets. Colonel Blank soon left the hotel and made direct for the Landmark office There he encountered Major Parke- ''Is this Colonel Nesbittf' inquired he ''No, sir; are you Colonel Pat Donanr counter-questioned Major Parke. "A friend, sir" was the naughty reply ''who bears a cartol to Colonel Nesbitt." ''Let her flicker" said the major. GA: fighting editor of this paper, I am author ized to make the arrangements for Colonel Nesbitt"
 After reading the defiance from Colonel Donan Major Parke informed the colonel that his principal wanted to fight, had been aching for fight for moons. and now that the opportunity was offered him, nothing could satisfy his longing desire for gore but red hearts blood.
 ''As we are the challenged party" said the major, solemnly, "we choose Winches- ters' at ten feet, ten yards or ten miles As business has been suspended pending the settlement of this little affair, We de sire to lose no time. Colonel Donan's obituary'is now in type, and I assure you we have spoken well of him."
 F'h;g was turn that neither Colonel Do nan nor Colonel Blank had forcsl.adowed. They had been playing a game of bluff, and now that the time had come to show their hands they weakened.
 Colonel Blank consulted with his prin- cipal and again visited the Landmark of fee. Colonel Donan, he said, would ac- cept written apology from Colonel Nes- bit.
 But Major Tom Parke, an enthusiast over the game of bluff, held his hand stiff fly and refused to allow the cards to be shuffied again. His principal wanted to fight, and he wanted to fight with Win chesters at ten feet, ten yards or ten miles. Again Colonel Blank consulted with his principal, while the town clock ticked more rapidly and the pendulum vii brated at 2:10 pace. The thing was be- coming too warm for them. They wanted no fight As last alternative Major Parke consented for his principal to accept written apology, and thus ended the ex- isting difficulty between Colonel Pat Do- nan and Colonel C. j. Nesbitt