The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-12-09
Dor who was warning him against

Fighting Tom:
Fear not, friend; if Thomas Fitz.
gerald seeketh TO harm me-, | an well
able 10 overcome him
Half an hour later the man of wal
stood in the little garden of the man OF
peace.
"Mr. Goodharte,'' said he, in a tone OF
stern politeness, as the Quaker came
forward from among his flowers with
his usual smile of welcome, my name
is Thomas Fitzgerald, ard 1 dare say
YOU will be at no loss to guess my er-
rand"
- shall guess it more easily, friend
Thomas, when thou hast stated it thy.
SELF answered Jabez, quietly.
well" said Fitzgerald. rather taken
aback by this cool reception, after hav-
ing so long made the whole neighbor-
hood tremble at his very name. "Ihear
tnat you, sir, have thought fit to say
that you were able to beat me if | should
attack you, and, of course, such an ex-
preston can have but one result among
men of honor. You understand me, I
presumed"
Perfectly. friend; thou wishest me
TO 90 what in the language of the world
is called fighting a duel"
Just So" said Fitzgerald, more and
more astonished both at the Qnaker's
unexpected readiness to fight and at
the GOODNESS with which he spoke of it.
"Name your friend, and I'll send mine
to meet him."
Friends nave I many, I thank
Heavcn," quoth Jabez, but none for
such a purpose. Hear my conditions:
We will meet at loon tomorrow on
Wantley common, without seconds, on
horseback, and with such weapons as
each may choose; and whichever is first
driven off the ground shall be consid-
cred beaten"
Fighting Tom laughed in spite of
himself.
Its pretty plain that you haven't
had much 10 do with affairs of HONOR
said he; 'but l. can hardly expect a
Quaker to be an authority on duel
ing. Well, sir, l accept your terms,
SuSh dS tHCN diC. anu bHt SOOHtl NOu
make your will. and take leave of your
friends, the better, for you've got little
enough time left"
Long before noon on the following
day, Wantley Common was crowded
as if either the king himself or a mon
ster circus had been expected to pass
that way. 1t still wanted a few min
utes of IL o'clock, when a clatter of
horse hoofs was heard from the direc-
ton of the town, and up rode Tom Fitz-
gerald on his famous black horse. with
a sword by his side and pistols in his
holsters, looking fiercely round for an
enemy.
Suddenly a hum ran through the ex-
pectant crowd, and, just as the first
stroke of - pealed from the old church
tower, JabeZ Goodharte was seen jog
ging comfortably along on an ambling
pony, holding in his hand something
that looked like a long pole. though the
end of il was hidden under his GRIM
son dressing-gown.
This dressing-gown, futtering in the
wind like a flag, was too much for the
nerves of Fitzgerald's horse, which be-
gan plunging and rearing so violently
as almost to unseat its rider.
Several of the lookers-on burst out
laughing. and the enraged bully. hurl-
ing a storm of abuse at them. charged
at Goodharte with drawn sword, mean
rng to cut him down like a thistle.
But just then Jabez whisked out his
pole, with a bladder full of dried peas
at the end of it. the rattle of which
scared the already frightened horse
almost out of its senses.
Round it wheeled, despite Fitzgerald's
squirting, and tore off across
the common at such a rate that in less
than w minutes horse and rider were |
of sight, the frantic yells of the
squire being scarcely heard amid the
leafening laughter of The crowd.
Then the flood of popular enthusiasm
broke loose. The victorious Quaker
seized and carried Shoulder-high
INTO the town. with an accompaniment
# cheering that made the windows
again.
Inc local papers were full of the due |
or days after, and Jabez was so over
with visits and invitations to
Inner that he hardly knew which way
o turn.
As for Fighting Tom Fitzgerald, that
work was the last of him. so far
IS Bullocksham was concerned. for
rom that morning he never showed his
ace there again. But, three or four
later, Mr.. Hartiboy, the retired
andlord of the King George. return
ng from a our through southern Eu-
'ope. brought word hat Fitzgerald had
led at Milan of a fit of apoplexy, caused
" a walters %impudent question wheth-
r he was fond of dried peas.-Golden
Something Silly.
Sturdy Sammy Sampson sought