The Hope pioneer., 1899-06-15

| further now Do you think I'll brook such
words to my face and wait for formalties?
Ay, Lounsbury it is; and of Rye and the
| phantom and the devil, lor aught l care!
What can Clinton want with such man?
Stand aside, you salt fish, and let me meet
him"
"Call me no fish, you butcher -brd!"
snapped Belden. "Nhat ails your humor
to-day? Has the heat gotten your head?
You first pick my own quarrel away from
me, and then tlout nc for looking to my own
interests. Has the fair Gertrude hippcd
you, that you spleen so quickly? I tell you
my orders are Imperative"
Fore God, you sprat! An you dare
twit me in public On my private afTairs!"
shouted the tory, turning his wrath on the
naval officer. Use but her name again. and
III spit you as you stand, you half man!
How! Will you, too, ight!"
Stung by his words, and more than stung
by the reference to his short stature, Bel
den had whipped out the sword he had
fencer's attitude.
Eight? Ay, I'll fight! Put aside that
! meat AK and use gentleman's tool. I'll
| show you that half a man is better than a
whole brute. My wrist iz as fine as yours,
for all your brawn.'
That Scammell's blood had o'ercome his
brain was plainly apparent by the way he
threw his heavy saber to the ground and
ran toward the card-sharper. But that fell
low, anticipating his wants, brought up the
point of the weapon which he still held,
and presenting it at the breast of the on.
conner, retreated few steps and cried out:
"Nay, nay! Ye shall not have it. Settle
yer brawl as best ye may, but my sword is
mine, an with me it shall bide BY the look
Of it, ye must settle with the three of us.
Pull out o the pickle, an ye can; ye shall
ha' no help or steel o me-"
Now while this was going on I had not
been idle with either brain or body saw
at once that Lounsbury had become per-
sonage of Importance, and that he was un-
known to Clinton by sight. That something
Of moment was on hand was also discovered,
and it evidently lay in my power to thwart
the matter and confound the British At
the same time, it would probably spread
open path for me to leave the city, and
possibly in some manner show me a way to
lay hands on my gold. 1t was fair chance
to act upon, and I coultsin no wie> let harm
come to the young sailor until knew more
or had been pioted on my way.
This was with my head. With my BODY
simply moved to where lay Scammells
saber, and picked it up.
AS l did SO, the battled officer turned and
saw the action. Foiled at every point and
low unarmed and compassed by three
armed men, he swo-e and fumed like bait,
ed animal.
l saw the folly OF his total loss of temper,
for had he not parted with it he never
would have been placed in his present posi-
ton. lie had quarreled and well,ngh fought
with three men in rs many minutes, whilo
his blind fury had brought him to where he
was worslcd and degraded ut once
As ha stood there, too proud to retreat
and unable 10 advance. he glanced hastily
In every direction, In his desperation he
was doubtless looking for his horse and his
pistols IN the holsters, and had hs found
them there would have been boodshed,
hut bis hlgbspirited animal, frightened at
my act Of swinging aloIt the table ind The
shouts that followed, bad tossed W head