Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-08
HAD THE DROP ON HIM.
An Exciting Episode in the Office of a
Richmond Hotel.

Il witnessed about as exciting little
scene between two determined men down
| in Richmond, Va, recently said Parker
| Foster, a commercial traveller of Boston,
''as the most exacting lover of stirring in.
cidents could wish.
| In one of the large hotels the walls of
| the office are hung with pictures in oil of
battle scenes from the view of the men
| who wore the gray uniform. One subject,
| that Of portion of Lees army march
ing out of Richmond to engage the federals
| is especially effective, and must appeal
strongly to the veterans who followed this
great general in his battles.
"One evening just after dinner, as 1
was quietly smoking in the office L OBJ
served two men examine the paintings with
mere than usual interest and pause be-
fore the subject in question. The elder of
the two of these men who do not
look their age by twenty years: tall,
rugged. powerful man. who appeared to be,
and, who L subsequently aScertained. was
western man, a miner from Colorado. The
other, the younger man, might have been
his son or younger brother.
THE big man appeared to be explaining
some interesting object in the painting and
was pointing to it with his right hand up
raised.
AT that moment young man of about
thirty, of typical southern appearance,
wcsterner the young southerner stopped
short, turned white with anger, and bring
ing his left hand sharply up, struck the
other a singing blow in the face, at the
same time dropping his right hand beneath
the long tails of his frock coat.
1T was so sudden that it took my breath
away, but quicker than the eye could fol-
low the movement. the big fellows arm had
swiveled around with his body. and in his
hand was huge Colts frontier six-shooter
staring his opponent straight in the eyes
looking, no doubt, at such close range, the
size of a Calling gun. The lord only knows
where that pistol came from. 1t was the
quickest draw a man ever saw.
The two men, with blood and death writ
ten in every line of their features, glared
into each others eyes. The hand of the
of the other was complete
Young man. said the miner in tones
which had no gainsaying, apologize and
explain afterward. or, as certain as l fought
that army in gray for two years. will
blow the top of your head off. If you are
gentleman and have wronged me, an
apology will be a chivalrous pleasure If l
have wounded you or yours in turn / will
readily apologize to you. But make repara-
ton for that impulsive blow and make it
quick
THE room was silent as death Then
the young fellow answered:
AS | passed you l understood a re-
mark of yours to be a reflection upon the
uniform my father wore. 1 can, however.
seS HOW L may nave HlScOnStrued the true
meaning, in my passionate haste, and I
apologize as a gentleman ought, if he be in
the wrong
And as quickly apologize to you for
uttering a remark respecting the valor of
the men in cay. which may have two
constructions. But you were in error You
misunderstood few words and jumped to
a wrong conclusion
THE huge frontier Colt disappeared as
quickly as it appeared. and extending his
hand. with good-natured smile spreading
over ms bronzed face, he grasped the young
mans hand and shook it cordially
After a few more words the Colorado
veteran introduced his companion to his
former opponent and with every indication
of good fellowship, they pushed their way,
through the swinging half-doors which led
to the room where good cheer was to be
had.
afterward ascertained that the Colo
RADIO man had been one of the staff of the
general commanding the brigade to which
as 1t curiously happened, the regiment the
young mans father was colonel, had sur
rendered with Lee at Appomattox, and that
the big westerner recalled his name. and
had made one of those many like acouain-
tances between former foes which sprung
UP between the opposing officers and men.
THAT night I saw them in box a. the
theater. and 1t goes without saying that the
strangers Jared well while they tarried in
the former confederate capital"