Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-12

the ground with the bride in the crook of his
elbow. Faith, you look as though odda
were against you. see two of them. IT'S
your good luck had thirst that needed
aaking. On my soul, whom have we here"
he exclaimed, scowling, as with second
look he identified me. "Is it a fair quarrel,
Ielden! I'll weight your pockets with five
pounds if you'll hand your rights to me,
unless 'tis matter of cheating at cards
What, sirrah" he demanded, walking to-
ward me with malignant look to his rather
fine features, you were quick to offer me .
lesson awhile since. Are you as ready to
take one yourself at this meeting? How is
it you have outraged my friend and your
better?"
"Let them alone, yer honori" interposed
the card-sharpsr, approaching. "'Tis tie
cause for the both. One was hit by bottle,
the other grounded by fist. Can't we have
trife O. fun with hawbuck without in
references? Faith, the bullock man shall
have my sword, an we'll sec which il the
better carver! I'll back him, too, an ye
may back yer friend the popinjay, whose one
merit lies in not knowing when he's well
beaten. Come, now! we'll to the Kalchook
freshwater pond, which was on the site of
the present tombs The gallows used for
military execution stood between it and the
Fields, or present City Hall park, an have
il out I'll"
What! you villain you! you low thief
Get hence, or I'll scalp you'll" interrupted
Scammell, turning on him. 'tKalchook
Hill, you dog! You would never go 80 near
the gallows on your own free will"
"Gallows, is it?" returned the fellow, still
holding his ground. II tell ye, Scanned,
capting though We be, we are ripper for the
gallows than ami, an this I'll back in any
way we name"
Scammell, instead of falling on the fell
low in fury, an act looked for, snapped
his fingers in his face, and with look
measuring him from head to foot replied
contemptuously:
"You dirty dog! Mighty brave you are
in the knowledge that kings officer would
meier Cross swords with such scum. I'll give
you one minute to be gone, and, failing, I'll
see you tied up and dashed. If you know me
50 well, you know twill be DONE" And with
this he turned his back on the sharper, who,
far from obeying the hint to leave, stepped
away but few PAGES.
And now, my wild sea bird, said the
tory redirecting his attention to me, "are
you willing to clear yourself with my
friend here? Give fair explanation of
this affair if you can, or perhaps you would
like to make a fine point of the matter with
Inc in some quiet spot. might doubt my
rights to honorably cross swords with such
as you in matter as private as this, but I
will forego all objections and ask no terms.
All! but you have an excuse; you will doubt
less plead wound"
L The deep insolence of his last remark
turned my dislike of the man to sudden
hatred. Twas not the words, but his more
than unbearable manner of uttering them
that reused my ire and brought me to the
pitch of action. Had he been nearer, ]
would have served him with my fist as I had
served Lounsbury, and would have re-
GREETED it at once for its lack of dignity
Forgetting for the moment my assumed role,
stood where he had found me, and an.
swered:
Capt. Scammell, lny calling is the sea.
You are but marauding bushwhacker, nor
can the curse be rubbed off you by title OF
hidden by fine trappings, and did you but
know it you would be honored by crossing
swords with me. As for an explanation,
will satisfy you so far as to say that pun.
ished your friend for insulting me, and, by
the God above me, il you wish to carry this
further, / will punish you worse than did
himl could but defend myself from him,
. boy whose back could break across my
knee, - he goes harmless. A. for ysu. I viii
eSAt M within ths hsAr and ~ - u