Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-03-09

take one yourself at this meeting! How Is
it you have outraged my friend and your
better?'
'eLet them alone, yer honor!" interposed
the card-sharper, approaching. lis tie
cause for the both. One was hit by bottle,
the other grounded by fist. Can't we have
a tride o. fun with a hawbuck without in
references? Faith, the bullock man shall
have my sword, an we'n see which is the
better carver! I'll back him, too, an We
may back yer friend the popinjay, whose one
merit lies in not knowing when he's well
beaten. Come, now! we'll to the Kalchook
Hill "a small elevation near the Collect, a
freshwater pond, which was on the site of
the present tombs. The gallows used for
military execution stood between it and the
Fields, or present City Hall park, an have
it out. III"
what! you villain you'll you low thief
Get hence, or I'll scalp you'll" interrupted
Scammell, turning on him. "Kalchook
Hill, you dog! You would never go SO near
tb gallows on your own free will"
Gallows, is 2" returned the fellow, still
holding his ground. 81 tell ye, Scammell,
capting though ye be, ye are ripper for the
gallows than am /, an this I'll back in any
way We name"
Scammell, instead of falling on the fell
low in fury, an act l looked for, snapped
his fingers in his face, and with q look
measuring him from head to foot replied
contemptuously:
"You dirty dog! Mighty brave you are
in the knowledge that kings officer would
ne'er cross swords with such scum. I'll give
you one minute to be gone, and, failing, I'll
see you tied up and dashed. IF you know me
so well, you know twill be DONE" And with
this he turned his back on the sharper, who,
far from obeying the hint to leave, stepped
away but few PAGES.
"And now, my wild sea bird" said the
tory redirecting his attention to me, care
you willing to clear yourself with my
friend here? Give a fair explanation of
this affair if you can, or perhaps you would
like to make a fine point of the matter with
me in some quiet spot. I might doubt my
rights to honorably cross swords with such
as you in a matter as private as this, but
will forego all objections and ask no terms.
All! but you have an excuse; you will doubt
less plead wound"
The deep insolence of his last remark
turned my dislike of the man to sudden
hatred. Twas not the words, but his more
than unbearable manner of uttering them
that reused my ire and brought me to the
pitch of action. Had he been nearer,
would have served him with my fist as l had
served Lounsbury, and would have re-
GREETED it at once for its lack of dignity.
Forgetting for the moment my assumed role,
I stood where he had found me, and an
swered:
capt. Scammell, my calling is the sea.
You are but marauding bushwhacker, nor
can the curse be rubbed off you by title or
hidden by fine trappings, and did you bat
know it you would be honored by crossing
swords with me. AS for explanation,
will satisfy you so far as to say that pun
ished your friend for insulting me, and, by
the God above me, if you wish to carry this
further, / will punish you worse than did
him! I could but defend myself from him,
boy whose back / could break across my
knee, so he goes harmless. As for you, will
fight you within the hour and ask for no
second"
"Good!" he broke in. "You gave the name
to the weapon. Let it be swords, and at
once. Remember" he went on with an
oath, and working himself into a rage, task
no quarter OF me. Up or down give no
mercy; let Poutrance be the word"
Nay" said |, famed to an equal heat by
his blood-thirsty manner and the fury in
his eye-"nay, then, / will not kill you, vii
lain as you are, but, should disarm you, or
you slip, will beat you with the fiat of my
sword until you roar for quarter, or 1 break
every bone in your foul hide! Twill be
scant mercy, as you were better killed out
right. Now look to it, for this will do, or
my name is not Thorn-Lounsbury!"
1 caught myself just in time, and started
violently as l discovered the trip of my
tongue. Both the others likewise gave a
jump, but it Immediately transpired that
each had different cause.
1t was Scammell who first showed his rea-
son for thus starting, and that was through
the insult had offered him in degrading him
by threatened beating. White with rage,
he threw aside the bride, and drawing his
heavy saber, advanced on me with torrent
of oaths.
Before could do more than whip my left
arm out of its sling and lift the bulky table
IL defense flor / was unarmed), the young
officer sprang between US.
Hold hard, mmelli-Lounsbury Are
you Capt. Lounsbury? Lounsbury, of Rye?
BY my faith! but I came near making
bull OF it!-This thing can go no further
now, Scammell. I've been looking for the
man high and low for week. Clinton wants
him at once-at oncei The order comes
from headquarters. What, man! Hold
hard!"
''Hold hard YOURSELF" shouted the tory,
as he tried to dodge the young officer. mo
further nowi Do you think I'll brook such
words to my face and wait for formalities?
Ay, Lounsbury it is; and of Rye and the
phantom and the devil, for aught care!
What can Clinton want with such man?
Stand aside, you salt fish, and let me meet
him"
Call me no fish, you butcher-bird!"
snapped Belden. "What ails your humor
to-day? Has the heat gotten your head?
You first pick my own quarrel away from
me, and then fout me for looking to my own
interests. Has the fair Gertrude hipped
you, that you spleen quickly? I tell you
my orders are imperative"
Fore God, you sprat! An you dare
twit me in public on my private affairsi"
shouted the tory, turning his wrath on the
naval officer. Use but her name again. and
III spit you as you stand, you half mani
Howl Will you, too, fight?"