The Irish standard., 1892-06-18

.sAnd stand up to be shot at by q
crazy fool who first insults me, and be-
cause punish him then wants to kill
me. will make no such promise"
'sWcll, John, know you Of old, and
when you talk that way it is no use to
argue, but want to say if you kill
Richard Lanvale want you to send an
other bullet through my body; cannot
face the world if you kill that man."
The hard expression on Johns face
softened as he looked at the saddened
countenance of his once boyish friend.
"Well, Henry, suppose I will have
to let him off to crafty you, but it is
only on condition that there be one ex-
change Of shots"
Gall right, said Henry, joyfully. Il
will leave him in your hands,"
"When does he want to have this en-
tertaining performances" said John.
'At your convenience.
1.-THE quicker the better; it is al
ready light enough to see. will meet
you down by the bayou bridge in ten
minutes"
With that they parted At the ap-
pointed time John was at the place
named. about half a mile from the
house, with his rifle in hand, and in two
or three minutes the other two young
men appeared, Lanvale carrying Henry
dregory's rife.
Those who have followed the course
of this history have read to little pur-
pose if they have not discovered that
John Hewson was that rare specimen, a
plain, downright: supplemented man
of great singleness of purpose He sur
prised both the young men by the ex-
hibition he now gave of his character.
Walking up to Lanvale, he said:
"Mr. Lanvale, you came here yester-
day a stranger, and went out ofyour
way to insult me, which I resented. |
am now cool, have no en1nity towards
you, and no wish to kill you, and I am
willing to let the matter drop where 1t
is."
ttThat is fair put in Henry.
Lanvale, whose face was swollen
:som the effect OF Johns blow, looked
seowlingly at Johns impressive and
Il enry's eager face as he replied:
81 did not come here to receive or
A<.alze apologies.
Every WELL said John, as he turned
sway.
Henry expostulated with Lanvale, but
x, no effect, and finally, very much ag-
ssrieved at his new friend, he stepped Off
F.. twenty-five PAGES and placed the young
ALIEN in position. AS he stood by John E
side he said in an undertone: s'Let him
IF as light as you cam
II shall put q bullet through the top
If his hat, just to show him what
.oaclwoods1nan can do"
Henry stepped to one side and count
ID slowly.
''One, two, three, fire."
AS the last word left bis lips, both
rifles exploded, Lanvale staggered, but
John did not move. Henry ran to
Lanvale, and found him unhurt, but
that Johns bullet had gone through
the crown of his hat, SO close to his
head that the ccncussion had momentar-
lily staggered him. He had missed his
mark entirely. The foolish man was
not satisfied, but insisted, as he put it,
''in shooting it out" Henry carried
this decision to John, who took it very
coldly and informed Henry that he
would break Lanvale's right shoulder
next time.
The men were placed in position, and
again the onlinous words rang out.
There were two sharp reports almost
together. Lanvale uttered q curse and
dropped his rifle. John wavered a
moment, but the next 1noment was
erect and assuring Henry that he was
unhurt. Henry turned to Lanvale, who
after dropping his rife walked IL few
steps in a vavering sort OF way and
sank to the ground, just as Henry got
to him. Lanvales second shot had
been aimed at Johns heart, but had
missed "a little, going through his
clothes on the left side, just breaking
the skin. John had shot Lanvale square
lv through the shoulder, breaking the
bones, making q wound not necessarily
dangerous, but ugly and troublesome.
John walked up to where Henry
who had cut away Lanvale's coat, was
trying to stssunch the flow Of blood, anc
tOlCl Henry 10 40 tuC OCSt LIZ tohAIt
while he went for doctor.
In an hours time, which seemed an
eternity to Henry and the wounded
man, he had ridden five miles anc
brought the doctor back with him. He
then went up to the house and sent
down a team to haul the sufferer up tc
the house. and walked into the dining
room where the family were at break
fast, pneasily wondering what had De
come of the young men. he sat dowr
at the table and ate his breakfast rapid
", but with usual appetite, telling the
family that the others would be there
in a few minutes.
Finishing his breakfast he called the
colonel to one side and briefly explained
what had happened. Just as he was
finishing his story, which had filled the
colonel with such unbounded astonish
ment that he had not been able to speak
the wagon drove up. In moment the
whole place was excitement, during
which John got on his horse, rode out
to the fields and passed the forenoon
hours supervising the work and doing
some heavy thinking.