Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-06

went on Wiuiams, at the time leveIin8
his pistol at Tomey's breast.
rI'm going to keep you under cover"
said he, IA Tomey drew back with a
start, Ito make sure you don't fire
ut my man till the proper time. Your
second may also cover my man, IL he
likes, to make certain his gun don't go
or too soon. and that will even up the
coverln' business all around"
Tomey's second, not to be outdone by
Williams, and acting on his advice,
promptly drew a bead on Matthews,
and thus the seconds stood. The
crowd began to inslnuate that there
were too many hifalutin novelties be-
ing introduced at the duel, but VIII
liams silenced all dissension by the fe-
rocity of his rebuking glare.
"Now. then, ready" he called, and
the principal brought their weapons
to bear upon each other. "One" he
continued, and paused abruptly. Tom
ey aimed at his antagonists head, hold
ing his pistol motionless and true.
Matthews covered the entire anatomi-
cal range OF the ruffian and fastened
his eyes unfiinchingly upon the snaky
little optics.
One minute. two minutes, tire min
utes passed, but Williams, cody dis
regarding the lapse Of time, refrained
from continuing the count Instead,
he leisurely surveyed Tomey and kept
his pistol barrel on line with the lat
ters heart. Matthews, who was still
covered by Tomey's second, remained
serene and totally Indifferent as to aim.
Tomey was beginning to show signs Of
nervousness and tension. His pistol
arm twitched perceptibly once or twice
and he shifted his aim from Matthews
head to his heart. The spectators NUT
tered impatiently at the delay, but
Williams paid no heed. He waited five
minutes, then announced in sepulchral
tones:
"Twow
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
IL to rest upon the yawning grave. I'm
consciously Tomey's glance followed
suit; but the suggestions that grisly
chasm inspired in his mind must have
been unpleasant, for his pistol arm was
observed to twitch again and his aim
became unsteady and fluctuating. Mat
thews, however, brought his eyes to
bear once more upon Tomey's. But the
latter found it difficult to return the
piercing gaze. Instead, he shifted his
glance from the grave to Matthew's
rigidly held pistol.
The time dragged horribly, yet the
releptless Williams remained silent.
The mutterings of the spectators gave
place TO a settled hush-deep, signifi-
cant, awful. TonIey's face grew pallid
and began to work systematically. Per-
spiration broke out on his brow and
ran In tiny streams down his cheek.
He gulped several times like a fam
ished creature.
Three roared Williams. His prin-
cipal extended his weapon half an inch
forward and ran his eye along the
barrel. But Tomey was fairly palsied.
His eyes were staring and bloodshot;
his pistol barrel was swinging from
side to side like a pendulum and fright
ened within an inch of his life. The
silence was maddenlng, yet Williams
seemed in no hurry TO break it with
the fatal word.
The terrible delay was too much for
the cowardly ruffian, who suddenly
gave hoaIse cry, fired his pistol wild
ly, 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 treachery
which had prompted it. The grave
was deep, but they got the poltroon
ont, and by no gentle means, either.
His second in the meantime, under
cover of the confusion, decamped.
"Now, you miserable cur" said Will
liams, when Tomey had been set on his
feet, still quivering and sick from ter
ror, you may take your choice
either Mr.. Matthews here shall kill you
(as he has first calD or l shall do the
job, as l promised YOU"
Tomey begged hard for his life, but
Williams was obdnrate, and the crowd
even his former friends-were anX
ious to attend the funeral ut once.
Matthews pleaded for him. He said
he was content to accept the cringing
apology, which the coward poured out
in torrent, and let him go. His en-
treaties finally gained the day, but not,
however, until the spectators had rid
den the disgraced duelist around on
rail and kicked him over a fence, with
the injunction to vanish and never re-
turn on pain of death.