Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-06-20

book he possessed or needed. 1t was no
common book ho pored over and spelled.
1t is said to have been the Bible.
Presently the outer door opened, and
with gruff salutation Hanks entered.
His arrival from his last drive could not
have been more than an hour ago. He
had not wasted time in paying his re-
spects. He sat down at the rude table
and looked at Sary and her companion.
That Hanks was in an ugly humor was
| quite evident 1t was equally evident
that he was bent upon the operation
known among his kind as ''pickin a
fuss He did not attempt to conceal
his feelings and glowered at his rival
and still sat silent. The dark purpose of
the border rowdy was in his eye, and
the jealousy and anger of all his lawless
kind was apparent in the studied DELHI
erateness of all his actions. The other
looked at him with cool grin of def
ance. At meeting Of this kind two
such men have little need of tongues.
Presently the late conner rose slowly,
moved his chair and sat down almost
in front of his rival. The old man in
the inner room heard the movement
book Having thus changed his posi-
ton, Hanks placed his hands upon his
knees, looked his rival obtrusively in
the face and calmly remarked:
81 shouldn't wonder, mister, eff l
thought you was n low down kind of u
cuss. "
"What:' exclaimed the Confederate.
81 say-arc yc list nin?-that
shouldn't wonder eff thought you was
low down, sncakin"-
The Confederate gentleman arose,
motioncd to Hanks and moved toward
tho door. They both went out, walked
little way along the wall toward tho
old man S Tapping window and stopped.
Il don't do my fightin in the presence
O. wimmcn, said the Confederate,
but I'm tightin man, an yo kin hev
all ye're sp'ilin for. There's no use in
bein in ungcntlemanly hurry about
this ere little diffikilty. Tomorrcr
mornin-brcak O. day, sharp, at the
sand bar beyant Stokcs'-'ll suit me Of
you kin stand it..
"Wot's yer weepins?" said the other.
''Navy size-10 PAGES.
"Seconds?''
Mary man."
"I'll be thar" and old Grimes heard
the footsteps die away i'll opposite direc-
tions.
He hObblcd into the room where his
daughter sat Her pinlly checks were a
little palcr, and there was an unwonted
apprehension i'll her eyes. "Sary," he
said, kin ye do nothin to keep them
two vOuntr fpl1arS onartp'
mo; they're two fools, an it's none
of my affair -
Did yo hear what they said out
sidc?'
Eyes, heard. 1 was list'nin. They
kin fight it out There's better men
than either of EN-"
Grimes turned and went back to his
little bare roOm--the little bare and
shabby place where the company who
came and sat with him were not inhab-
itants of SlabtOwn-and seated himself
upon the bed and communed with him
self. 1t is n strange life and q wonder
full education that can teach n red
checked and hoydenish girl to smile ut
tho passions which lead to the grim re-
venges of the border The old man sat
and thought, and the hours passed slow
ly. He lay down upon the rude bed, and
perhaps would have slept if he could
Then he rose and occupied himself in
reading again and went out often and
looked into the shadows of the still
hight. Only tic far guard challenge fell
lpOn his ear at intervals and seemed to
announce the passing hours. Finally the
ripe stars That glow in the noon of night
began to pale in their westward setting.
The cocks crew, and the lowing of kline
was borne FAR upon the damp morning
air The day was coming.
No soul, save these two men, q
thoughtless woman and an old man, al
most helpless, knew Of the meeting ON
the sands, from which but one, and
probably neither, would ever return.
Father Grimes got his hat and staff and
hobbled forth. He thought he knew the
spot He would go thither.
The chill air of dawn pierced his frail
body, and he shivercd. Painfully and
all too slowly he walked the stepping
stones across the puny torrent and tOilCd
up the bank upon the other side. He
saw the gray strcaks in the east and
fastened, grooming, for he remembered
the words AT break o. day, sharp"
His journey was Il painless one, cactus
grown and tangled with long grass
Finally he reached the crest of the low
bluffs and the little aero of brown sand
lay before him i'll the growing light.
Pccring with his old eyes, he discovered
two figures there One of them stood
listlesS, while the other paced slowly
across little space Then his compan-
ion measured the space likewise in long
and swinging strides. AS the old man
drew nearer he saw that the two took
opposite places, and that while one
leaned forward anNiOusly the others
attitude was careless, and his weapon
hand hung by his side. He shouted
with the utmost strength of his old,
wiry voice, but they seemed to pay no
heed. Then, and for the first time in 10
years, he tried to run. As he drew
closer he saw that Hanks was nearest to
him, and almost between him and the
Confederate. Then one said, "Ready!'
and his adversary answered, Ready
But Grimes noticed that Hanks held his
weapon in readiness to fire, while the
other brought his slowly up from his
side
The thought must have passed through
his mind like a flash, IF could but
push one of them aside, l could save
themp' But already they had begun to
count, slowly and simultaneously,
Zone, two and at the word 1.-TWO"
Hanks dropped suddenly i'll his place,
and two shots awokc the silence almost
together. The tall Confederate stood
still moment, then staggered and fell
backward, whilo crimson stream trio
killed. slowly out upon the brown sand
and sank, leaving the stain of murder
beside his stark figure as he lay, with
open, staring dead eyes, looking at the
glowing sky.
Hanks had dropped suddenly in his
nlacn and had fred hafnre tho word II