The Press., 1894-09-06
"What?" exclaimed the Contedere,

"What?' exclaimed the Confedere-
 ''I say-are ye list 'nin?-that l shouldn' t wonder eff I thought you was low down, sneakin" -
 The Confederate gentleman arose. motioned to Hanks and moved toward the door They both went out, walked little way along the wall toward the old mans Tapping window and stopped
 ''I don't do my fightin ill the presence O wimmen," said the Confederate, "but Pm fightjn man, an ye kin hev all we're p'ilin for. There's no use ill bein in a ungentlemanly hurry about this 'ere little diffikilty. Tomorrer mornin-hrealz O day, sharp, at the sand bar beyant Stokes'-'ll suit ice of you kin stand it. :"
 "Wot's yer weepins?" said the other
 'Navy size-1O paccs. !"
 "Seconds?"
 "Nary man.
 'I'll be thar," and old Gri2I es heard the footsteps die away ill opposite direc- tions.
 He hobbled into the room where his daughter sat. Her pinlky cheeks were little paler and there was an unwonted apprehension in her eyes. ''Sary," he said, ''kin ye do nothin to keep them two young fellers apart?'
 "No; they're two fools, an it's none of my affair."
 Did ye hear what they said out Bido?'
 "Yes, I heard. was list min. They kin fight it out. There's better men than either of 'em. '
 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. It is a strange life and wonder ful education that can teach a red checked and hoydenish girl to smile at the 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 aD5 went out often and looked into the shadows of the still night. Only the far guard challenge fell upon his ear at intervals and seemed to announce the passing hours. Finally the ripe stars that glow ill the noon of night began to pale ill their westward setting. The cocks crew, and the lowing of kine was borne far upon the damp morning air The day was coming. No soul, save these two men, a | 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 l hobbled forth. He thought he knew the spot. He would go thither. The chill air of dawn pierced his frail body, and he shivered Painfully and all too slowly he walked the stepping stones across the puny torrent and toiled | up the bank upon the other side He saw the gray streaks in the east and | hastened, grooming, for he remembered the words, At break O day, sharp " His journey was a painless one, cactus l grown and tangled with long grass Finally he reached the crest of the low ] bluffs, and the little acre of brown sand lily before him ill the growing light Peering with his old eyes, he discovered two figures there. One of them stood istless, while the other paced slowly across little space Then his compan- ion measured the space likewise in long l and swinging strides. As the old man drew nearer he saw that the two took | opposite places, and that while one leaned forward anxiously the other $ 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 ill 10 1 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" l 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, eff l could but push one of them aside, l could save themp' But already they had begun to cOuuC, SLOWLY duu SlnulCdneotlSly,
 "One, two''- and at the word 1.-Two"
 Hanks dropped suddenly in his place, and two shots awoke the silence almost | together The tall Confederate stood still a moment, then staggered and fell backward, while a crimson stream tric- kled 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 place and had fired before the word. It was the trick which almost disgraces the Comanche, from whom he had in a manner acquired it. He now rose up and looked around him furtively. In the sunshine of high noon it was a dreary. and silent spot, and now in the purple morning, with the dead man ly- | ing as he had fallen, with the brown | sand and the sage, and the gaunt and AAA-A:- A