Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-04-13

ar. both to blaze away at the word
Fire =" went on Williams, at the same
time leveling his pistol at TOmey 5
breast.
I'm going to keep you under COW
er, said he, a. Tomey drew back with
a start, "to make sure you don't fire
at my man till the proper time.
Your second may also cover my man,
if he likes, to make certain his gun
don't go off too soon, and that will
even up the coyerin' business all
around"
Tomey's second, not to be outdone
by Williams, and acting on his advice,
promptly drew bead on Matthews,
and thus the seconds stood. The
crowd began to insIuuHte that there
were TOO many hiialutlu novelties be-
ing iurroiucel a the duel, bat Will
liam. slle ced I'll dI.spusion by the
feroclty Of hl> rrbuklnl glare.
Now, rb~p, read, = he called, and
the principals or,u-nr their weapons
to bear upon each other ORE he
coutlauel, and pau-ela5r Tom
ey aimed Il, his antagonists head, hold
ing his pistol motlonless and true.
Matthew's covered the entire anatomi-
cal range Of the rufiian and fastened
bis eyes unhinchingly upon the suaky
httle optics.
One minute, two minutes, three min
utes passed, but Williams, coolly dis
regarding the lapse Of time, refrsined
from continuing the count. Instead,
he leisurely surveyed Tomey and kept
his pistol barrel on a line with the
latter's heart. Matthews, who was
stll covered by Tomey's second, re-
NAMED serene and totally Indifferent
AS to aim. Tomey was beginning to
show signs of nervousness and tension.
His pistol arm twitched percsptlbly
once or twice and he shifted his aim
from Matthews head to his heart.
The spectator. muttered impatlently
at the delay, but Williams paid no
heed. He waited five minutes, then
announced in sepulchral tone"
Two"
Matthews now took careful aim,
pointing his weapon directly at Tom
ey's brain. Tomey was plainly i'll at
ease and eager to let fly at his oPPon-
ent. Once Matthews withdrew his
glance from Tomey's eyes and allowed
it to rest upon the yawnlng grave.
Unconsciously Tomey's glance followed
suit but the suggestions that grisly
ch4sm inspired in his mind must have
been unpleasant, for his pistol arm
was observed to twitch again and his
aim became unsteady and huctuating.
Matthews, however, brought his eyes
to bear once more upon Tomeys. But
the latter found it difficult to return
the piercing gaze. Instead, he shifted
his glance from the grave to Matthews
rigidly held pistol.
The time dragged horribly, yet the
relentless Williams remained silent.
The mutterings OF the spectators gave
place to settled hush-ieep, .ignif-
cant, awful. Tomey's face grew pal
lid and began to work spasmodically.
Perspiration broke out on his brow
and ran in tiny streams down bis
cheek. He gulped several times Ike
a famished creature.
Three r. roared Williams. His
principal extended his weapon half
an inch forward and ran his eve along
the barrel But Tomey was fairly
palsied His eyes were staring and
bloodshot his pistol barrel was
swinging from side to side Ike pen
dulum and frightened within an inch
of his life. The silence was madden
ing, vet William, seemed IL 10 hurry
to break 1t with the fatal word.
The terrible delay was too much
for the cowardly rufian, who sud
denly gave a hoarse cry, fred his pi.-
tol wildly, and leaped into the grave.
Williams and the spectators made a
dash for him. The shot had passed
harmlessly over Matthews head, but
the crowd was eager to avenge the
treacbery which had prompted it.
The grave was deep, but they got the
poltroon out, and by no gentle means,
either. His second In the meantime,
under cover of the confusion, de-
camped.
Now you miserable cur, said VIII
liams, when Tomey had been set on
his feet, still quivering and sick from
terror, you may take your choice
either Mr. Matthews here shall kill