The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-09-30
drank, yet he was the one man who did

more brutal and bloodthirsty than he
was when in his natural condition.
lie claimed Missouri as his home. and
when he became confidential-which
was always the case when the game was
going against him-he would hint that
he was forced to come west ''owin' TO
little cuttin' scrape" he had over a game
of cards.
With the hrazen- effrontery of his
class, Red Snively made himself very
Objectionable to Lizzy hamberlain bv
his disgusting attentions; so much So
indeed, that she dreaded to venture out
unless accompanied by her father or
Arthur Lyons.
On one occasion the after told Red
Snively very emphatically that his con-
duct was disagreeable to Miss Chamber
lain, and that it must be stopped, and
this was said with such calm empbasis
that the bully was not left in anv
doubt as to the young mans meaning
nor of his determination to enforce his
request.
In addition to its many other uses the
Great Western was the post office at
which the weekly-more often the
monthly-mail was delivered.
One rainy afternoon after the mail
had come in Arthur Lyons went up to
get the ever-welcome letters and papers
from the east.
While he was leaning against the
damp bar waiting for the man behind
it to look over the addresses of the
parcels that had come by post, he felt
heavy hand on his shoulder, and at
the same time he heard Red Snivelv
saying. in a mocking, bantering tone
that meant miscief:
Come, Lyons. join me and We'll
drink to the health of the beauty of
Fairplay."
AS Arthur shook the fellows huge
hand from his shoulder, he said, very
quietly:
81 do not drink"
"You don't, eh?" sneered Red Sniyely.
81 do not"
"Then I'll drink for two"
The barkeeper handed Red Snively
bottle and a glass. Half filing the
latter, he raised it toward his lips, but,
stopping as if he had suddenly changed
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 a bomb
could not have caused greater conster
nation than did this unwarranted act
f,~ ~ III ~
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 it, but before he could fire,
Arthur Lyons seized the arm that held
his own right he planted a blow be-
tween the ruffian's red eyes that caused
him to fall as if bullet had been sent
| through his brain.
mo more fighting here" shouted a
number of men, rushing in between
Arthur and the man whom the land
lord of the Great Western was helping
from the floor. "If there's to be shoot
in let it me done fair and square out
side under the rules of the code, and not
in a crowded bar whar innocent men
may get popped over"
II agree to that!" roared Red Snive-
| ly, who had now recovered himself
"Landlord, you'll act as my second"
| 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
unnoticcd since he reached the place,
few hours before, with the mail-car-
rier. He had a 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 courteous bow, he drew from
held them with the peculiar grip IF a
man who knew how to use them.
Arthur Lyons, like all civilized men OF
sense, was opposed to dueling, but he
knew that if he did not fight this fellow
under the rules of the so-called code
the chances were he would be shot
down like dog, and he well knew that
in such an event there was no law there
to punish the murderer. He knew that
he was not good shot with pistol or
any other weapon, for his life had been
spent at college or at hard work where
he had neither need for nor opportunity
to acquire the doubtful accomplish.
| ment,
Red Snively was notroriously the best
pistol shot in the mountains. He hac
been known to send the bottom of tir
box skimming into the air and then te
draw his pistol from his belt and fire
two bullets through the center OF the
bit of circular tin before it reached
the ground.
Have you good pistol?" asked the
stranger, as he took Arthur's arm alo
led him out of the hotel in the direction