Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-07-21

II peace, i
believed i possible that there could
eJe" be any rest for suel. q restless
spirit.
N'"en Charley accepted the position
0: local editor OF the Nugget C;,y
'E@les, he was strongly advised 10
have nothing to DO whit, rs the risk
was altogether out OF proportion, 20
the pay. The town had recently re-
ce;ve,! al unpleasant addition to its
population. in the persons q a large
::ulnbe- 81 Texas rouGhs and ilespera.
Goes. These wild. !awIe>s. and uncon-
t:o.:@hle men, connecting themselves
with some 0: the worst characters
from The mountains and the plains,
who We're always to be found in
N"@get City, nod expressed and ear
.:el cut m intention 70 rum the
town TO suit themselves. e":o-c;*..
their IDEAS Oy a free use O! the s!une-
shot. the bowie-.s:.i:c and lie pistol,
Any Conscientious newspaper man
VINO enleavOreN to show up the mis-
deeds OF these rut!:allS was sure to fall
U:lt.cr their t!iSpirasu-e, ans; to pay
dearly Tor what tAey considered his
iHlnercinence. One ,oca! editor OF the
Times had been cow!lici4l and nearly
beaten 10 death, another had lodged
a shower OF pistol-bu!lets rs ne rot
out OF town, a third had been induced
to leave al the point OF a knife. The
consequence was that the position
was frequently vacant, and it was not
sought after by any VINO were aware
O: its responsibilities.
But Charley White was offered a
good salary, and was entirely unac-
quainted with fear, and he determined
TO 90 to Nugget City. He had seen
.i:e in some OF its widest and toughest
aspects as a sailor before the mast on
Il voyage to Australia and the islands
OF Polynesia, as a hunter and adyen.
turer On the plains, and as Jour
west. He was rather under the usual
size, but wiry and muscular, with keen
eyes, steady nerves. and cool head.
Charley Sanitation began the second
day after his arrival at Nugget City.
He was standing in front o. hote.
looking at a caravan that was pass
ing through the street on the way to
the West. when he was tapped on the
shoulder by tall. bic. bonel rough
looking man. who asked him to step
into the saloon.
This man was BIZ Eads, a motor
ious. desperate character, the leader
OF the roughs who had inausuratetl
reign OF terror in Nugget City.
Charley compiled with the request,
and Eads, stepping up 10 the counter,
asked him what he would take.
"Much obliged to you, but l don't
drink"
Don't drink? Look-a here. stranc-
er, that's played. | amt easy to cit
mad, Or would think you wanted to
insult me. We have way out here OF
telling folks that they mus. either
drink or fight
Il never drink under any circum-
stances, and | don't fight il l can help
it,"
"Tol'able COO. abou. it, said Eads,
as he swallowed his "p;son.' - allow
that you must be tie new chap that's
come to the Times Office
Charley admitted that ne was the
''clap.'
What do you allow to Go, :you
don't drink or tight?''
81 expect to attend to MY business.
and to do my duty as well as can"
All right, as long as you don't at
tend to my business, or the business
OF any OF my boys. I:you put any
OF US in the paper. | give you fair
warning that you will have TO fight,
Or run, or cit ever!asrin' ly chawed up"
"What is your style o: fighting gem
erally?" inquired Charlie, smiling IN
til he showed his white teeth.
"The pistol is our best holt
81 am a pretty fair pistol shot.
though l don't fight As you and l
are to be friends. suppose we have Il
little match with revolvers. say a.
twenty steps. al ten dollars shot
"J'm your man. When and where
shall it be?"
"At three O'Clock this afternoon,
and you must choose the place some
where out OF town