Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-10-12


stamp, and for > minute sat mo-
tionless With the pistols in his lap.
The Colonel's thunderons tones
brought him 70 movement. lie
glanced at the twO men standing
stifiiy at some distance from each
other. Then suddenly he began TO
load one Of the pistols. The Col
onel. seeing him proceeding with
the task, turned 90 the Major.
Ten paees:' as asked.
The Major nodded. and the other
was irritated more than ever by his
silence. but he went on. IVES sill
put tie pieces under the nigger's
hat. Then ge will draw them.
Are you agreed! lie clipped of his
words as he continued, Israel will
count. On the three, we will fire:'
This time the Major Vouchsafed
agreement IN words.
A minute more and Israel came
forward slowly with the pistols, one
in either hand. At the ColOnel's
order. he laid them on a fallen tree
trunk and placed his hat over them.
The Major drew one; his opponent
took the other.
The two men took position back
to back, and then moved away five
PAGES and wheeled about SO as to
face each other.
Israel said the Colonel a bit
huskily, Count one, two, three,
and, il / am killed, see that / am
decently buried"
The Major WINGED perceptibly at
this last order; but the next instant
was as calm and bis face as impas-
sive as ever. Both men raised their
pistOl-arms, and strange to say,
there was at least "a momentary
tremor Of the hands and a nervous
twitching Of the lips as they looked
into each others eyes.
'0ne" counted Israel. The pis-
tolls steadied and came into line with
the breasts of the men.
'Two!' Israel pronounced the
word distinctly, so that it cut sharp
ly on the sense of hearing.
An instant's pause, then: Three
The pistols cracked together, and
a cloud of blue smoke curtained the
men and then drifted lazily before
the slight draught of air.
The Colonel, as erect ss ever,
quickly bent to one side and peered
past the smoke at his opponent.
His eyes fell upon the Major, ap-
parently untouched also. For a
moment neither spoke; but there
was fash of JOY in the face OF
each, as quickly succeeded by one
of seeming modification. The Ma.
ior stepped forward.
THAT was an inexcusable miss oi
yours, Colonel Beebe" he exclaimed.
NO worse than yours, Major
Hawkinsv retorted the Colonel.
Ten PAGES and a good light. You
should have hit to a certainty"
The trigger of this confounded
pistol pulled too hard. explained
the Major with haste.
'And that d niger Of mine
startled me by jumping just as We
fired, returned the Colonel.
The Colonel thought he heard q
smothered laugh at this. lie turn.
ed like fash upon the darkey, q
sudden suspicion coming to him.
Israel, you d niggerv h'
fairly shouted; what was the mat
ter with the loading of those pistols
There was something wrong? Con
fess it, yen black rascal"
'0h, Marse Kunn'l, don't b
killing dis po' Niger; but didn't
put no balls in dose pistils! Ididn'
want de Major and yo' a KILN
each oder!'
Tve a good mind TO horsewhil
yOu within an inch of your life!
began the Colonel.
But you won't" broke in tn
Major.
, Then the Colonel looked at tn
Major, and the Major at the Colon
el. A smile appeared on the for
mer's lips, and the latter returne,
, il. A moment more, and the Col
, onel extended his hand impulsiVely
I The Major advanced and grasped
firmly.
They stood there, holding eacl
others hands for an instant, AM
, then the Major observed slowly an
e emphaticalIy- as IT, he were Stain
e an indisputable fact which he ha