The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-04

joy over the horses victory. AS the
horses came down the stretch she ex-
claimed "Oh, he's running away from
them" Dickinson stood near. He
turned insolently to one friends and
said Yes, and a good deal like his
owner ran away with another mans
wife,"
Jackson did not challenge Dickinson
ever then for almost nine months. He
put all his worldly affair In order first,
for he expected to die. His hope was
to take the william who had maligned
his angel into eternity with him. Jack
sOn challenged Dickinson. Dickinson
put the meeting off a week to send for
a special and celebrated pistol to kill
jackson with. They were appointed
to fight May 30, 1906, at Harrison's
ride from Nashville. Dickinson was
as certain of success as he was of sun
rise. He gave the grim occasion a gala
air, and invited some friends. He saw
to 1t, too, that he started before Jack
son to go to Harrison's Mills. On the
way he took occasional and accurate
cracks with his pistol ut first this and
then that object. He displayed the
skill OF a fend. And these exhibitions
had a purpose and a malevolent point,
part and parcel OF the plot to murder
jackson. 1t was each time arranged
that jackson should be informed of
these marvellous shots. The hope was
to break his nerve. 1t would be rather
a strain on ones nerves to travel all day
to be shot at by an antagonist who
every mile left one proof that he
could snuff q candle or drive a tack at
ten PAGES.
Jackson's second was Gen, Overton.
He was OF a serious, indOmitable ma
ture, something like Jackson, with q
slower pulse. OvertOn, too, was equal
ly convinced with his principal that
the whole affair was q blossoming con-
sPiracy to murder jackson, and not a
simple duel between gentlemen over
the point of honor. To Overton it was
as If Dickinson and his fellows had
set q trap for the life of Jackson, and
to lure him had baited it with the
I bleeding, stabbed innocence of his
wife.
Overton and Jackson considered and
discussed this meeting for months be-
fore 1t occurred. They resolved to take
every advantage of the would-be MUIR
derer that honor and the law of ducls
permitted. 1t was planned to garb
jackson in q long black coat, a world
too wide and big for his meagre form.
1t was so arranged that once donncd
Jackson's ramrod proportions were we'll
over In one side of the coat. The gar
ment buttoned to the chin, so az to
leave nc white cravat or collar dis
played to attract fire. Tho buttons,
only one row, mind you, were purpose
ly placed far over On the breast where
Jackson was not.
The men were to fight at ten PAGES.
Dickinson had already told his friends
which buttOn-'the one over Jackson's
heart'-he would hit. Foolish Dickiu-
son The call was to be 'Fire ! One,
two, three: stop !! and they wore to
blaze away anywhere between ''Gre'
and stop" Pegs were driven to mark
thcir positions.
Each man stood to his peg and the
crisis was at hand. Dickinson was
known to be SO quick to bring up his
pistol and fire that no one could CqIai
him. 1t was his expectation to Kill
Jackson before tho latter could evcn
raise his pistol after the word "irc =
Overton and his principal had argued
this also. They had finally conclude,
that inasmuch as the %lightning-lik,
Dickinson was bound to fire first, il wa.
wiser for Jackson to stand and receive
it, trusting to the buttons to lead Dick.
tnsOn's aim aStray. If Jackson sur.
vived-and it vas believed he wou:d
last for d minute or two at least-h,
could take his time and kill Dickinson
like a dog.
Overton had the word. "Fire
One" Dickinson's pistol came ur
like a flash and exploded with the first
letter of the first word. He hit the
button and broke two of Jackson's ril s
with the llattened bullet. jackson
stood as erect and motionless as a pop
lar. He had not fired. With a hal
cry Dickinson started back. Oyertor
stopped counting on the instant. Cock
ing a pistol, with a frown like a cloud
OvertOn commanded him:
"Step back to your beg, sir !"
Dickinson did it with a shudder. FL,
knew he vas to die. He was caugh
in his w trap. Overton began apail
to count. jackson. with a face of hin
and death looking from his gray ewes
covered his man as certainly and a
surely as If he had beer some mani
mate target rather than shrinking hu
man flesh and blood. Click 70 Jack
sons pistol caught at half cock. Ovcr
ton paused in his count and jackson
recocked his weapon. Bang 10 wen
Jackson's pistol, and Dickinson, sho
through, died nine hours later.
81 should have killed him If he ha,
shot me through the brain, :" said Jack
son afterward.