Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-09-30

'I'll do that and take your place if
you go down." replied the landlord,
who was only little less of 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
lookers-on that he was no ordinary
person.
AS the stranger took his place be-
side Arthur, who acknowledged the Of
fer by a courteous bow, he drew from
under his coat two revolvers and he
held them with the peculiar grip of
man who knew how to use them.
Have you a good pistol?" asked the
stranger, as he took Arthur's arm and
led him out. of the hotel in the direction
Red Snively had taken.
81 have not" replied Arthur.
"Then take this. 1t is loaded, and has
fine hair trigger. Are you a good
shot?"
Arthur took the pistol the stranger
handed him and replied:
81 am not, andsso you must place this
man so close to me that his superior
skill will not result to my disadvan-
tage."
"Leayethe whole thing to me, and do
not interfere, no matter what pro-
pose," said the stranger, pressing the
young mans arm
"You appear to be a gentleman, and
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 outrof range.
81 propose" said the landlord, that
we place our men at ten PAGES with re-
volvers. we seconds IL toss up for the
word, and then they're to fire and keep
firing till one or the other goes down"
"I'u do nothing of the kind" replied
the stranger, in tones that evinced cool
ness and determination; this bully
pointing to Snively with his revolver,
sis a good shot; my man is not. pro-
pose they shall shoot across pocket
handkerchief, or let only one pistol be
used; We'll draw lots to see which man
shall take it. Are you agreed" he
asked, turning to Arthur.
81 agree to whatever you say"
But 1 don't!" shouted Red Snively.
"This amt to be murder, but duel"
"a murder!" cried the stranger, strid-
ing toward the bully. do you dare to
speak of murder?"
Il want fair fight" replied Snively.
"a fair fight is impossible without IN
equality of skill and force. You would
not fight, you cur, if you did not feel
that you had all the advantage on your
side" said the stranger, with singing
contempt.
"Mebbe you'd like to change places
with your man." said the landlord OF
the Great Western.
That's exactly what proposed to do
from the first" said the stranger. This
is my fight" he added, turning to Ar
thur Lyons. Hear me out. have been
searching for this murderer for year,
and now, after q huut of 10000 miles. |
have him under my pistol, and no man
can fire at him till have squared my
account"
"Who are you?" demanded Snively,
his countenance purple and his thick
lips trembling with excitement.
81 am George Pierce, the twin brother
of Henry Pierce whom you murdered in
ST. Louis ore year ago"
The stranger threw off his cloak and
false beard, and stood before the cowed
desperado-Hyperion facing Satyr,
stand back, men, and let us have it
out. Coward and murderer though this
SrivcIy is, / will give him chance for
his vile life"
The men dropped back and Snively
suddenly raised his pistol and fred.
He was in the act Of cooking his pistol
again, when the young stranger raised
his arm.
A crack, a puff Of silyery smoke and Il
crimson spot in the center CT the mans
forehead, who lay dead before the bar
room door.
One hour after this George Pierce
shook hands with Arthur Lyons and
rode away from the mountain camp, the
prescrver of one mans life and the
ayenger of another's.
Soon after this the landlord Of the
Great Western had to fly the camp, and
was subsequently lynched in Nevada.
Arthur Lyons is to-day one CT Col
orado's most prominent citizens, and he
often tells his children of the early
days of Fairplay and of the duel he
came near fighting on account of their
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