The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-07

I
kins.
They arose and stepped out at the
door. 1t was gathering dark, but it was
light enough to shoot by.
The other cowboys followed in ST.
lencc. Not one said word in comment
or interference. They were grave and
serious, but passive. tits not good form
to interfere with other peoples d uels in
the Southwest. The pretty girl was still
singing, and the strains fell softly on
the ears of the cowboys. Every one,
whether onlooker or principal, felt in
spired with licking, pleased anticipa-
tion of the blood to be soon set flowing.
Nothing was said of distance. They
separated to about forty PAGES and
turned to face each other. Each wore
his "Colt's 49," the loosely buckled let
ting it rest low down on the right hip.
Each threw down his big hat and stood
at apparent ease, with his thumbs caught
in the pistol belt.
"Shall you give the word, or me2"
said Moore.
"You give it," said Watkins. 'It'll
be funny passage in American history
if you get your artillery to the front any
sooner than do, then"
"Be you ready?" asked Jack.
ashore"
"Then-go!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" went
both pistols together, and with Q ra-
pidity not to be counted. Moore got
crease in his left shoulder-a mere
wound to the fesh-and Watkins fell
with bullet in his side. Rawlins, the
range boss, came running out. He under
stood all at look. Hastily examining
Moore he discovered that his hurt was
nothing serious. The Others carried
Watkins into tie house.
"Take my pony, saddled at the fence,
jack" said Rawlins, "and pull your
freight. This yere mans goin' to die."
"Which I shorely hopes he does, said
Jack Moore, bitterly, 'I'll go, though;
I amt got no use for none of these yere
he-shorthorns around the HIT"
So he took Rswlins's pony, and when
he stopped riding in the morning it was
no marvel that the poor pony hung his
head dejectedly, while his aanks steamed
and quivered. He was almost 100 miles
from his last corn, and cooled his nerv-
Gus muzzle as he took his morning drink
in the Rio Pecos, stream far to- the
west of the HT.
* n
"Some shooting scrape about their
saddles, Miss; that's ALL" So reported
Rawlins to the pretty girl.
'Isn't it horrlble!' shuddered the
pretty girl, in reply. Z:.
The next morning the pretty girl and
her gnarled and twisted aunt paid the in
iurcd Watkins a visit. This sight
so affected the other three cowboys that
they at once saddled and rode away to
the northwest to work some cattle on the
Ocate Mesa. They intended to be gone
three months. They looked black and
forbidding as they galloped away.
"It's pity Jack Moore ain'tn better
pistol shot," said one, as the picture of
the pretty girl visiting the wounded Wat
kins arose in his mind:
ssThat's whatever assented the others.
The pretty girl was full of sympathy
for the stricken Watkins. It occurredto
her, too, that his profile was clear and
handsome. He was certainly very pale
and this stirred the depths of her femi-
nine nature. She and her aunt came to
see the invalid every day. Once, the
!>pretty girl said she would bring him a
oo1.9k to read and while away the hours,
"nicAh seemed shod with lead.
u caV't read," said Watkins, in a tone
d oeepesA shame. I never learned. I
'nouio IKE q read. too, but there's no
'ne to teach nS. So thai settles that"
'na the rascal exp pressed deep sigh.
watkins he'd. IN was he who was the
Princeton man.
So the. pretty girl came every day and
ave Watkins reading less on; while the
narled aunt read a book aMi watched
hem through the open door. y.
':By the way" said Watkins ons day,
where's Moore?" ~
"Why3" asked the range boss, ~
HON the question was put. Il
"You tell him." said Watkins, his +
yes beginning to gather rage, ssthat
hen l get out, I'll be lookin' for him J
lth something besides field glass" =
"oh, mol" said the pretty girl, rising 1
Id coming toward his couch. Her tone '
lowed disturbance and fear at the /
ouobt r-ksS-Eegzss &
A he IgsssaaE her the look changed /
=, ,ses ,sSss sta ss.r.c.sM n Moore gave place
to something: else.
."Np,,y he said at last. 'sTell him it's
oil right, Rawlins."
The pretty girl thought him very
noble. s.>sv.-8 ~
Watkins was out in five weeks and
couldsgo about the ranch. One night
Rawlins thought he heard pony in the
yard and arose to remedy the matter.
AS he stepped out couple passed him
in the moonlight. 1t was Watkins and
the pretty girl. TIE caitif's arm was
round her.-Kaasas City Times.
The Oldest and Best Cat.
A Washington correspondent of the