The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1899-04-06
A BLoopLIss Dull or rHE WEST

Captain J,oob Mathews died resent
nesr sidney Nebraska He q. ptir'
psi 10 one Of the most singular. bloc
iss,. dasis svu Tough, in TIE West u
suisrsied iron Psntsylvs1is early In -
T0s, md settled q, onshs. where be b
sss - . smsll merchant OF 2 lsks
stock aud peace loving, be fftqnen'iy d
cisfei be bad fred pistol only once y
bis lle. HIS title us entirely eompl
mesisy.
The duel 10 which be engaged tool
Mace shortly alter bis arrival st Omahl
Ciiy. uben be aroused the snimosi'y o
Boil Tomey, . bisckles aud sn txper
With the pistol Mathews refused to sell
good. 10 Tomey on credit, wberenpon 'h'
latter promptly challenged the youni
merchant 10 duel Az Tomey had pal
ticip,ted 10 9 dogs 40 or more socb "a ,r'
snd bad always come % victorious. great
was the surprise and slsrm OF Msthevs
friends aLep be promptly scceptsd the
challenge.
have pey,r bad pistol 10 my hands
10 my life, ssid Mathews. bnt ! mean TO
meet bin, though neither Of Us will be
Bit.
The neI. dsy Tomey and Mathews met
10 field souh OF the town. The news oil
the impending duel he'd been well circuiss
ed aud friends OF both assembled. o.
though the general conviction was that
Mathews wss ss good as dead.
10 tue smsz .meut OF the spectators. ss
we'll IS Tomey and his second. when they
rescbed the field they found newly dug
grave awning for him who should fall IN
the duel. Tomey made il the butt OF bis
coarse Wit
That Teller Mathews is thoughtful one,
be said to the crowd. He comes ous here
to get me TO pop him oil snd has his own
grave ready, 80 we can hold the funeral
without waste Of time.
Ga the contrary, answered Mathews,
have had that grave dug for you.
There was even greater cause for aston
ishment when Mathews second - williams
-slrode on the field. He was known to
be one OF the most despersts men 10
Omaha. His fame as dead shot was ss
great us that OF Tomey, while bis daring
and vickednees we're held in tsr higher
repu,e by the rough element. OF which be
was ruling spirit. Some ,rihing kind
ness bad won this desperate TO Matthews.
and he had sxorn to see him throuch the
fight and secure fair play, IL he had to
clean ont score OF bis own Tribe.
The duelists we're to stand and fire Of
ten PAGES. and Williams, who immediate
~ took charge Of sll arrangements with
out much Difference to the wishes or views
OF his fellow second. so managed 1t that
the grave came directly between them.
To this arrange ment Tomey and his second
siren uously objected. but Williams, With
IN ugly frowp. overruled them, saying
terseiy that, as the challenged party, bis
principal had right to select the ground,
80 long as no obstacles inlervened. The
dirt from the grave had been removed TO
distance, 60 there could be no complsiut
on that score Tomey and bis second sp
pesled to the crowd, but soon fund them
selves helpless minority. for the FREEDOM
mating rough element we're afraid OF Will
lisms, and 60 OF course sided with him.
The respectable spectators nlturslly
agreed with any proposition made 10 the
interest OF Msthews, whether the benefit
was apparent or not. Finding II OF no
avail to protest further, Tomey's second
plsced him on bis side OF the grave, end
Williams did likewise with Mtthews.
Then Wilisns stepped come PAGES to the
rigt; OF bis principal, and made brief
address.
You men are 10 have one shot apiece,
he began, looking straight ct Toney, who
stood OF careless ease with y emile on bis
repulsivs face.
Tbs,'s eli l want. he re.orted' Il don't {
believe in tearing ion all to pieces.
All you want? repeated Wiilisms, Wtll ]
see that you don't try to take mere. And
another thing l want you to bear carefully a
10 mind, Boil Tomey. that ! IN stsndib' I
here with nv gun 10 my good right hsnd. !
and II you fre before give the word Of o
snd. why. III blow the heart ont Of =
you; and reckon from what you know Of :
me, you will believe I'm in earnest when B
caution you.
Tomey scouled d.rkly. but made no
answer. Relations between ibe two meD 3
we're strained, but Willisms was much too 9
strong 10 The esteem Of the rough element
for Tomey to declare Tor 30 open breach.
Don't worry shout me shoolio ahead OF 8
time. he replied surlily. but hurry up i
these proceedings ] want to SGT back TO '
town With the boys TO celebrate this fn1er II
sl.
Very we'll. we're ready. will count
one, tvo three. snd then you are to bliEs
svsy st the word FieP vent on vii
lisne, al the time leveling bis pistol d 1
Tomey's breast
I'm going TO keep Jon under cover, ssd
be, o. Tomey drew back With ,t,rt, 10
make sure you don't Gre .. my man iii
lbe proper time. y ur second may also u
sover NY msp, IL be like. 10 make certsio
Die gan don't 20 cf too soon. and that 81
sil even up tee GOVERN business oil
,ronnd. u
rnns.,s ssnrnh nnt 10 te ont1nnA hs al