Graham guardian., 1896-01-31
CHAPTER *.
THE DUEL

About FIVE o'clock in theemorniTE9
John stepped out of his room into tin
yard and was Immediately auCOste6 by
| Henry Gregory, who had been waiting
anxiously for him to appear Henry
showed in his haggard appearance lh.,
effects of a sleepless and anxious uigilt-
John onthe contrary was cool andsresii
looking as if he had slept well.
Il suppose you know John, that poth-
ing short of duel viii satisfy LanvaIe,' .
said Henry.
81 understood that before knocked
him down last night, and went to Bud
with my mina fully made up to kili
him"
THAT is just what have come to see
you about; / argued nearly all nigfat
with Lanvale. have shown him tina ne
was the aggressor. and have told hirs
that he was no match for you, that you
are dead shot; but Ibelieve If he knew
it was certain deatfr4he would insl 4 or
meeting you, the fellow seems abso lute-
ly crazed. lie has come here by my 5rt=-
vitation; you are memberof our faIni-
ly, and if he should come TO harm hero
could never forgive myself, and want
you for the sake of our family to spare
him.
''And stand up to be shot at by n
crazy fool who first insults me, an0 be-
cause punish him then wants to kill
me. will make no such promise. =
"Well, John, know you Of old, and
when You talk that way it is no use to
argue, but L want to say if you kill
Richard Lanyale [ want you to send an
other bullet through my body; cannot
face the world if you kill that man"
The hard expression on Johns fade
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 isl
only on condition that there be one ex-
change of shots"
"All right" said Henry, ioyfully. 81
will leave him in your hands,"
"When does he want to have this en-
tertaining performance" said John.
sat your convenience"
''The quicker the better; it is al
ready light enough to see. l viii 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 mile from tie
house, with his rifle in hand, and in two
or three minutes the other two young
men appeared, Lanvale carrying Henry
Gregory's rifle.
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, n
plain, downright, simple-mindsd man
of great singleness of purpose. He sur
prised both the young men by the cx-
hibition he now gave of his character.
Walking up to Lanvale, he said:
''Alr. Lanvale, you came here yester-
day stranger, and went out of you
way to insult me, which / resented. /
am now cool, / have no enmity towards
you, and no wish to kill you, and I am
willing TO let the matter drop where it
is"
''That is fair" put in Henry.
Lanvale, whose face was swollen
from the effect of Johns blow, looked
scowlingly at Johns impassive and
Henry's eager face as he replied:
81 did not come here to receive or
make apologies"
Every well" said John, as he turned
away.
Henry expostulated with Lanvale, but
to no effect and finally, very much ag-
greived at his new friend, he stepped off
twenty-five PAGES and placed the young
men in position. AS he stood by Johns
side he said in an undertone: Let him
off as light as you can"
81 shall put bullet through the top
of his hat, just to show him what
backwoodsman can do"
Henry stepped to one side and count
cd slowly.
''One, two, three, fire"
AS the last word left his lips, both
rifles exploded. Lanvale staggered. but
John did not move. Henry ran t.
Lanvale, and found him unhurt, bpt
that Johns bullet had gone throrg
the crown of his hat, so close to hi
head that the conclusion had momontai>
ily staggered him. lie had missed hi
mark entirely. The foolish man w:
not satisfied, but insisted, as he pat Il
Sin shooting it out" Henry carrie
this decision TO John, who took it vevg
coldly and informed Henry that h,
would break Lanvale's right shoulder
next time.
The men were placed in position. and
again the Cenin0us words rang ont. |