The Advocate and news., 1899-02-15
OHAPTER XVn


the Fraziers had issued invitations for a
picnic to the White Gate. Many Of the
officers and ladies had accepted. Most
Of them had been hidden. Captain Mul-
lane had been on sick report four days
Commissions resulting from tumbling
from a broken legged chair was the ex-
PLANTATION. But every Pat in the COM
mand had his tongue in his cheek when
he spoke Of it and Of matters growing
out Of the "Oontusions" mentioned
Erszier had heard rumors Of the former
fracas, and had notified MesEs. Mul.
lane, Bralligan, OF al, that he would
have no dueling In his bailiwick, and
deep was the mystery surrounding Cer'
tain consultations held by night In
Mullane's quarters
''The blood Of that young braggart
be on his own head" said Mullane TO
his henohmen. Gan you, Hodge, can
console the disCOnsOlate widow"
he had no more doubt Of tho issue of
the contemplated combat, no more com.
junction In the matter, than had Thack.
eray's valiant and inimitable little Gas.
con, ne Cabasse, in bis duel with Lord
Kew. he had long been the leader Of
the Hibernian Get, and despite every
effort on the part of the witnesses to
the affray at the sutler's TO keep the
matter q secret rumors got out, and the
Faugh-a- Ballaghs knew their chief had
been braved by that hated CoxComb
Winn. Every one of them knew further
that Mullane must have sent his de-
msnd for satisfaction, despite the fact
that his "pistol OF, " the right, had been
damaged by the collision and was not
yet in condition for effective service.
Everybody who was in the secret knew
that Mr.. Winn had instantly accepted,
naming Brayton as his second, pistols
as the weapons, and suggesting his
fathers old dueling set, chat had seen
long years and some service In the old
army, as proper to the occasion. The
time and place, however, would neces-
sarily depend on che victim Of the knock
down blow. All Winn asked and urged
was utter secrecy meantime
TO Mullane there was nothing in the
episode over which to brood or worry
AS dragon sergeant in the old days he
had winged his man" according to
the methods described in "Charles
O'Malley" and practiced occasionally
by his superiors in rank. He had known
many barroom broil and was at home
with pistol, fists or saber-.no mean an
tagonist when not unsteadied by liquor.
He had now chance Of meeting ON the
field one of the set he secretly hated,
1.-THE snoboOracy Of the arrumy," and
he meant to shoot the life out Of Harry
Winn IL straight shooting would do 1t,
That Winn had taken advantage Of him
and knocked him down when he was
drunk was excuse sufficient for the
crime he planned; that he had brought
the blow upon himself by an insult ten
times more brutal was o matter that
concerned him not at all. He had no
wife or child to worry about Mrs.
Mullane and the various progeny were
old enough to look out for themselves,
as indeed most Of them had long been
accustomed to do. Mullane thirsted for
the coming meeting and for the prom
inence its outcome would give him
among all good soldiers all over Texas.
And as for WINNIE who had come
riding home from his successful scout
barely a fortnight before, buoyant,
hopeful, almost happy-the change that
had come over him was something all
men saw and none could fully account
for. Cashing the draft from the bank
ut San Antonio. he had now enough to
take Trott's receipt in full for the value
of the stolen stOreA even to some reCov-
erred DlundeH SliRhtly damaged By