The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-29
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. JUL %. 1894.

the Stetson, grimly. "Hev'ye got a pis-
tol2"
Young Jasper glared at him in helpless
ferocity.
Nav"
"knifeln
He drew long bladed penknite from
his pocket, and tossed il at Rome's feet
Move over thar"
The Lewallen took his stand against the
Gin. Rome picked up the fallen rife, and
leaned 1t against the ledge.
Now, Jas Lewallen, thar's nobody left
in this leetle trouble cept you'n me, n
eff one of US was dead reckon L other
could live hyar n thar'd be peace in the
mount'in. | thought o. that when l he'd
We at the eend o. this Winchester. /
reckon you would "a shot me dead eff l
he'd poked my head over a rock as keer-
less as you" That is just what he would
have done. and Jasper did not answer.
I've swore to kill ye too added Rome,
tapping his gun; I've got a cross fer ye
hyar"
The Lewallen was no coward. Cutlery
or resistance was useless. The Stetson
meant to tauut him, to make death more
bitter; for Jasper expected death, and he
sullenly waited for it against the cliff
you've been a-banteriu' me a long
time, now, 'lOwin' as how you are the bet
ter man o. the two; m I've got notion
OF glvin' you a chance to prove yer tall
talk Hits not our way to kill a man in
cold blood, N l don't want to kill
We anyways eff I can hep it. Seem
prlsed ag'in? Reckon ye don't believe
me! don't wonder when think o. my
own dad, n all the meanness your folks
nave done mine; but I've got good
reason for not KILN ye-ef / kin hep il.
Ge don't know what it is, n yen never
know; but III give we a chance now for
life Of Va'1l c1xr'a n etopl- n Riblpc
as high as tibet tree thar tibet yc'l leave
these mOunt'ins eff l whoops ye, n never
come back agin as long as We live. I'll
leave, eff -ye whoops me. Now, what do
ye say viii We sw'ar2"
81 reckon l will, seem as I've got to,
was the surley answer.
The two sprang for each other It was
like the struggle of primeval men who
mad not yet learned even the use of clubs.
or an instant both stood close like two
wild beasts, crouched for a spring, and
circling about to get at each others
Threats, with mouths set, eyes watching
eyes and hands twitching nervously.
Young Jasper leaped first, and the Stet-
son, wary of closing with him, shrank
BACK. There were a few quick, heavy
blows, and the Lewallen was beaten away
with blood at his lips. Then each knew
the advantage of the other. The Stet-
sons reach was longer; the Lewallen
was shorter and heavier, and again
he closed in. Again Rome sent
out his long arm. A turn of JAS
per's head let the heavy fist pass over his
shoulder The force of the blow drove
Rome forward the two clinched, and
Jasper's arms frightened about the Stet-
sons waist. With a quick gasp for
breath, Rome loosed his hold, and, bend
inrr n ig e Il u
! rained blow after blow in his face with
the other One terrible stroke on the
| jaw, and JaSperS arms We're loosened :;
| the two fell apart, the one stunned, the
other breathlcss One dazed moment
only, and for third time the Lewallen
| came on.
Rome had been lighting a man; now he
! faced q demond. Jasper's brows stood
| out like bristles, and the eyes under them
were red and fierce, like mad bulls.
Again ROmes blows fell, but again the
| Lewallen reached him, and this time he
| got his face under the Stetsons chin, and
! the heavy fist fell upon the back of his
| head and upon his neck, as upon wood and
| leather. Again Rome had to gasp for
| breath, ard again the two were tiercely
| locl1ed-their corded arms as tense as
serpents. Around and around they
whirled, straining, tripping, breaking the
| silence only with deep, quick breaths and
| the stamping of feet, Jasper firm on the
| rock, and Rome's agility saving him from
| being lifted in the air, and tossed from
| the cliff. There was no pause for rest.
| 1t was struggle to the end, and quick
| one; and under stress of excitement the
| figure at the pine-tree had risen to his
| knees-iumping even t. his feet in plain
| view, when the short, powerful arms of
| the Lewallen began at last to draw the
| Stetson closer still, and to bend him back
ward. The Stetson was giving way at
last The Lewallen's v1ndictive face
| grew blacker, and his white teeth showed
| between his snarling lips, as he fastened
one leg behind his enemy's, and, with
chin against his shoulder, bent him
slowly, slowly back. The two breathed
in short, painful gasps; their swollen
muscles trembled under the strain as
| with ague. Back back-the Stetson
was falling; he seemed almost down
when-the trick is an old one-whirling
with the quickness of light, he fell heav-
lily on his opponent, and caught him by
the throat with both hands.
"Nough"' he asked hoarsely. 1t was
the first word uttered.
The only answer was fierce struggle
Rome felt the Lewallen's teeth sinking in
his arm and his fingers frightened like
twisting steel, till Jasper caught his
breath as though strangling to death.
NOuRH. dShCu lIlc uOdTSb voice again.
No answer; tighter clenched tho fin
gers. The Lewallen shook his head
feebly; his purple face paled suddenly as
Rome loosed his hold, and his lips moved
in a whisper.
'''Nough!"
Rome rose dizzily to one knee. Jasper
turned, gasping, and lay with his face TO
the rock. For a while both were quiet
Rome painting with open mouth and white
with exhaustion, looking down now and
then at the Lewallen, whose face was
turned away with shame.
y
"Ohn-
A wild curse burst from Romes lips
and both leaped for the guns The
Lewallen HAD the start Of few feet, and
Rome, famed in the fight, stumbled and
fell Before he could rise, Jasper had
whirled with one of the Winchesters
above his head, ana his face atlame with
fury Asking no mercy Rome hid his
face with one arm, and waited, stricken
faint all at once, and numb One report
struck his ears, muffled, whiplike. Adult
wonder came to him that Lewallen could
have missed at such close range, and he
waited for another. Some one shouted a
shrill halloO. A loud laugh followed !:
light seemed breaking before Romes
eyes and he lifted his head. Jasper was
on his face again, motionless; and Steve