The Goodland republic., 1897-12-31

Great Western was The post once at
which the weekly-nore often the
mouthly-msil vas delivered.
one rainy afternoon after the mail
had come IN Arthur Isyo1s went up to
get the eTer-weIcome letters and papers
from the east
While he was leaning against the
damp bar waiting for the man behind
&c 20 look over the address OF the
parcels that had come by post. he felt
q heavy hand Oh his shoulder, and at
the same time he heard Red SniveIy
saying, in a moeling. bantering tone
that meant miscief:
Come. Lyons, join me and wen
drink to the health Of the beauty Of
Fairplay."
As Arthur shook the fellows huge
hand from his shoulder, he said, very
quietly:
~ So not drink"
~Youdon't. eh9" Bneered Red snively.
81 do not"
Then III drink for two"
The barkeeper handed Red SniveIy
q 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 aloneI"
and with this he threw the contents
Of the glass into Arthur Lyons face.
The unexpected explosion Of q 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 SniYely expected, to use his pistol,
for be 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 a blow be-
tween the rufian's red eyes that caused
him to fall as If bullet had been sent
through his brain.
''No more fighting here" shouted
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 q crowded bar whar innocent men
may get popped over"
'I agree to thatI" roared Red Snive-
", who had now recovered himself.
Landlord, you'll act as my second
''Tu 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 ehampioning.
"And III act for this gentleman"
said tail man, who had been sitting
T. n -. nj
a few hours before, with the mail-car-
rier. He had long, black beard, his
hat was sI0uched.- and his coat collar
turned up 50 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 mo 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 a
man who knew how to use them
Have you a good Pistol?n asked the
stranger, as he took Arthur's arm and
led him out Of the hotel in the direction
Red SniveIy had taken.
"I have not % replied Arthur.
Then take this. 1t is loaded, and has
a fine hair trigger Are you a good
shot?'
Arthur took the pistol the stranger
handed him and replied:
'I am not, and so you must place this
man so close to me that his superior
skill viii not result to my disadvan-
tage."
Leave the whole thing to me, and do
not interfere, no matter what 1 pro-
pose" said the stranger, pressing the
young mans arm.
''You appear to be a gentleman, and 1
viii 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.
"I 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'u do nothing Of the kind" replied
the stranger, in tones that evineed cool
ness and determination; ''this bully"
pointing to Snively with his revolver,
els a good shot; my man is not. pro
pose they shall shoot across a pocket
handkerchief, or let only Oue-pistol be
used; wen draw lots to see which man
shall take it. Are you agTeedP" he
asked, turning to Arthur.
81 agree to whatever you say"
''But I don'tl" shouted Red Snively.
'''This amt TO be murder. but duel"
Amurderl" cried the stranger, strid-
ing toward the bully do you dare TO
speak Of murder2"
''I want fair fight, % replied Sniyely.
"a fair fight is impossible without an
equality Of skill and force. You would
not fight, you cur. il you did not feel
that you had ali 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 I proposed to do
from the first - said the stranger. This