Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-14


The barkeeper handed Red Sniyely
a bottle and a glass. Half filling the
! latter, he raised il toward his lips, but,
stopping as if be had suddenly changed
his mind, he shouted, with an oath:
NO gentleman ever drinks alone!"
1 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.
! 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 il, 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 ruffian's red eyes that caused
him TO fall as If bullet had been sent
through his brain.
NO 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 vvhar innocent men
may get popped over"
Il agree to that!" roared Red Snive-
~, who had now recovered himself.
Landlord, you'll act as my second"
IN do that and take your place if
you go down." replied the landlord,
who was only little less of a 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,
a 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 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.
Il have not" replied Arthur.
"Then take this. tits loaded, and has
a fine hair trigger. Are you good
shot?"
Arthur took the pistol the stranger
handed him and replied:
II am not, and so you must place this
man so close to me that his superior
skill will not result to my disadvan-
tage."
Leave the whole thing to me, and do
not interfere, no matter what l 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 out of range.
Il propose" said the landlord, that
we place our men at ten PAGES with re-
volyers, 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 evinced cool
ness and determination; this bully"
pointing to Snively with his revolver,
lis a good shot; my man is not. pro-
pose they shall shoot across a pocket
handkerchief, or let only one pistol be
i i
shall take it. Are you agreed?" he
asked, turning to Arthur.
y agree to whatever you say"
but l don'tl" shouted Red Snively.
This amt to be a murder, but duel"
a murder!" cried the stranger, strid-
ing toward the bully. DO you dare to
speak of murder?"
Il want a fair fight" replied Snively.
y fair fight is impossible withoutan
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 is 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. Ihave been
searching for this murderer for year,
and now, after hunt of 10000 miles, l
have him under my pistol, and no man
can fire at him till l have squared my
account"
who are you?" demanded Snively,
his countenance purple and his thick
lips trembling with excitement.
Il am George Pierce, the twin brother
Of Henry Pierce whom you murdered in
st. Louis one year ago"
The stranger threw off his cloak and
false beard, and stoc before the cowed
| sperado-HvPer' q facing a Satyr.
stand back, men. and let US have it
out. Coward and murderer though this
| Snively is, viii give him a chance for