Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-09-03
"youdon't, eh2" sneered Red snivcly


his mind, he shouted, with an oath;
mo gentleman ever drinks alone!"
and with this he threw the contents
of the glass into Arthur Lyons face.
The unexpected explosion of u bomb
could not have caused greater conster-
nation than did this unwarranted act.
Men leaped from the tables and sought
places of safety, for such an insult they
felt must be followed by immediate
shooting.
Red Snively expected to use his pistol,
for he drew 1t, but before he could fire,
Arthur Lyons seized the arm that held
the pistol with his left hand, and with
his own right he planted blow be-
tween the ruflian's red eyes that caused
him to fall as if bullet had been sent
through his brain.
mo more fighting here" shouted
number of men, rushing in between
Arthur nod the man whom the land
lord Of the Great Western was helping
from the floor. "Ir there's to be shoot
in let IL me done fair and square out
side under the rules of the code, and not
in q crowded bar whar innocent men
may get popped over"
II agree to thatl" roared Red Snive-
ly, who had now recovered himself.
Landlord, you'll act as my second"
"rll do that and take your place if
you go down." replied the landlord,
who was only little less of u brute than
the man he was championing.
"And I'll act for this gentleman"
said tall man, who had been sitting
unnoticed since he reached the place,
few hours before, with the mail-car-
rier. He had long, black beard, his
hat was slouched, and his coat collar
turned up so that but little of his face
could be seen, but there was that in his
voice and bearing that convinced the
looliers-on that he was no ordinary
person.
AS the stranger took his place be-
side Arthur, who acknowledged the Of
fer by courteous bow, he drew from
under his coat two revolyers and he
held them with the peculiar grip of a
man who knew how to use them.
"Dave you a good pistoI?" asked the
stranger, rs be took Arthur's arm and
led him ont of the hotel in thedirection
Red Snively had taken.
81 have not" replied Arthur.
"Then take this. 1t 10 loaded, and has
fine hair trigger. Are you q good
shot?"
Arthur took the pistol the stranger
handed him and replied:
81 am not, and so you must place this
pan so close to me that his superior
skill will not result 90 my disadvan-
tage."
"Leaye the whole thing to me, and do
not interfere, no matter what pro-
posc," said the stranger, pressing the
young mans arm.
"You appear to be gentleman, and l
will do as you say" replied Arthur.
The crowd in the bar came out in the
rain to see the duel, all taking care to
be out OF range.
81 propose said the landlord, "that
we place our men at ten PAGES with re-
volvers, we seconds II toss up for the
word, and then they're to fire and keep
firing till one or the other goes down.
"I'll do nothing OF the kind" replied
the stranger, in tones that eyinced cool
ness and determination; "this bully"
pointing to Snively with his revolver,
sis good shot; my man is not. pro-
pose they shall shoot across a pocket
handkerchief, or let only one pistol be
used; we'll draw lots to see which man
shall take it. Are you agreed? hs
asked, turning 10 Arthur.
81 agree to whatever you say"
"But | don't!" shouted Red Sniyely
"This amt to be u murder, but DUEL
"a murder!" cried the stranger, strid'
ing toward the bully. "Do you dare tc
speak Of murder?"
81 want fair fight" replied Snively
"a fair fight is impossible without an
equality of skill and force. You would
not fight, you cur, If you did not fee
that you had all the advantage on your
side" said the stranger, with stingine
contempt.
"Mebbe you'd like to change places
with your man." said the landlord ol
the Great Western.
"That is exactly what proposed to az
from the first" said the stranger. This
is my fight" he added, turning to Ar
thur Lyons. "Iear me out. / have beer
searching for this murderer for year
and now, after hunt of 10000 miles,
have him under my pistol, and no mar
can fire-n him till / have squared In,
account"
"Who are you?" demanded Snively
his countenance purple and his thicl
lips trembling with excitement.
~ am George Pierce, the twin brothe
of Henry Pierce whom you murdered IL
st. Louis one year ago."
The stranger threw Off his cloak ant
false beard, and stood before the cowe'
desperado-IIyperion facing satyr.
"Stand back, men, and let us have
out. Coward and murderer though thi
Snively is, will give him chance TO
his vile life"
The men dropped back and snivcl.
suddenly raised his pistol and fired.
He was in the act OF cooking his pisto
again, when the young stranger raises
his arm.
A crack, puff of silvery smoke and
crimson spot in the center OF the man
forehead, who lay dead before the bar
room door.
One hour after this George Pierc
shook hands with Arthur Lyons an
rode away from the mountain camp, tn
preserver of one mans life and tn
nvenger of another's.
Soon after this the landlord of tn
Great Western had to fly the camp, an
was subsequently lynched IN Nevada
Arthur Lyons is today one of Co
orado's most prominent citizens, and h
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