Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-10-19

with feyOlvcI nelu III IlRut manu- hnu
keen knife in left. All the others Of the
two parties passed to one side, next the
ravine, and stood, revolver in hand. to
see fair play. BILLY had u lady's white
handkerchief in his hand. From posi-
ton equidistant from the two principals
be nsked:
"Men. are you ready?"
Each Of the combatants nodded.
81 will count three and then drop this
handkerchief, he announced. That
will be the signal for both to advance.
After that each man will fire whenever
be pleases."
He counted Oh. Zone. two threei"
nd the handkerchief iiags1 red to the
pound.
At the signal the two men, with per.
lect composurc, walked toward each 9TH
r. Neither offered to fire until half Of
the distance had been covered. Then
Sangrado suddenly brought up his pistol
and fired without aiming. I saw Felix's
left arm jcrx and his shirt Eove with
the wind Of the bullet, which had passed
between his arm and his side Before
Sangrado could shoot again he had
brought his pistol up and fired. At the
moment Of his pulling the trigger San
grado suddenly lodged, then ran toward
him, winding in and out, like snake,
to mar the aim Of Felix, and emptying
his revolver as he ran.
Billy. looking on, spoke with the
calm wisdom Of starter in q horse
race. 1.-The American had better mind
his shooting. II he doesn't stop the
Mexican before they come together. he'll
fare the worst with the knives.
Felix stood still, ms leisurely and
calm as IL mt target practice. and fired
rapidly. but with perfect deliberation.
Three, four, FIVE shots he had sent, and
still his enemy came on. Sangrado's re-
volver had been emptied, and neither
man had fallen. A distance Of not more
than four yards divided them, and quick
ly would come the savage work with
the knives. My heart turned sick at the
thought Just when two more steps
would bring them together Felix fired
his sixth shot. Sangrado stopped short,
Strengthened back, flung both arms up
ward, throwing his knife and pistol high
into the air, spun partly round and fell.
with arms extended. upon his face.
He did not rise or move, and all the
spectators. except Carmen and her COM
panion, rushed to the spot Some lifted
the Mexican, who lay limp and lifeless.
The hole and rcd stain in his shirt over
his left breast told the story Of his hurt
Felix stood calmly waiting, with
smoking pistol in hand Dave Rude
baugh was one Of the first 10 lift San
grado and examine his wound. He felt
his pulse, then turned to Felix.
Hes dead as q stone" he said.
"The duels over. IL was q fair fight,
and you got your man.
Felix turned his back upon the sight
Of the dead man and walked toward
Carmen. Throughout every event OF the
duel up TO the last shot she had stood
watching her lover with everything that
pride and confidence and unspoken pray
or for another can write upon the hu-
man countenance expressed in hers.
Throughout the ordeal she had betrayed
no weakness; but, now that il was over,
her composure had left her, and she was
sobbing. with her head on the young
cowboys shoulder. He had his arm
about her, supporting and soothing her
YES, kissing her-in u way that might
be deemed m excess Of friendliness by
an exactinR lover.
But even such lover might have
found amends in a reception such as che
gave Felix when she became aware
that he stood by her side. She flung her
arms about his neck and clung TO him,
sobbing and laughing and bestowing on
him terms Of endearment, in the utter
ance Of which the presence Of strangers
and the fact Of short acquaintance did
not figure as restraints. She was OF
southern race, remember. and after the
stress Of her wild ride in captivity and
the contention over her fate afterward
was expressing in perfectly natural
way her appreciation Of the lover who
had risked his life in her cause and
stood before her conqueror.
The little cowboy looked up, and for
the first time got fair view Of his
face. Tears were running down his
cheeks. and he was crying, very much
o. girl might cry from sympathy. His
tearsl Now that saw the face fully, the
bold black eyes, softened by unwonted
emotion, the saucy mouth. the fresh
scar. which marked the track Of San
grado's bullet athwert her cheek, rec
ognized Lupi.a.
! Twas curious TO see what effect upon
the girl the death Of Sangrado would
produce. Somewhat to my surprise, she
betrayed no emotion either OF gratiiied
revenge or of sorrow. She was pleased
and sympathetic with Garments roman
tic rescue and in the terrible ayenge-
ment upon her abductor by Felix and
showed her interest in the two strongly.
But in her new attachment to the young
rustler chief her wrongs and past en-
dearments with Sangrado seemed equal
" forgotten, and she viewed the prepa-
rations for his burial by his men US in
differently as she would have looked
upon the dragging Of the bull from the
arena after the matadore's sword had
done its work.
Her feelings for Billy were naively
shown by her eyes and expression as he
came up 10 where the four Of us were
standing. She looked as il she saw no
one but him.
you've got the girl and killed the
Mexican, he said TO Felix. Now what
do you propose to do? You won't be
able to get across the arroyo for "a hours.
We're going down to Las Pclonias. It's
a little Mexican settlement in the Gila
valley, about ten miles below here. You
can't do better than to join US in the
Journey. You'll get chance to sleep
there and something to eat, and I'm
afraid you IL have hard chance II you
70 the other way We've spare horse
chat the senorita can ride.
Darkness was falling fast, and we all
felt that the best thing for rs to do was
TO accept his invitation.
In the ravine were nine horses, secure
" picketed, and ON five of them were
brides and saddles. We showed no in
quisitiveness as to how the rustlers
possessions had been 90 greatly enlarged
J since we saw them at the stage station.
We were grateful for the chance to get
la lift to civilized settlements. With
i Carmen seated on the cowboys saddle,
whose pommel was an Indifferent sub