The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-13
HAD THE DROP ON HIM.
An Exciting Episode in the once o. a
Richmond Hotel

An Exciting Episode in the once o.
Richmond Hotel
IL witnessed about as exciting III.
tie scene between two determined men
down in Richmond. Va, recently,
said Parker Foster. a commercial trav
eler Of Boston, "as the most exactlne
lover Of stirring incidents could wish
III one Of the large hotels the walls
Of the Office are hung with pictures in
oil Of battle scenes from the view q
the men who wore the gray uniform.
One subject. that Of portion Of Lees
army marching out Of Richmond 10 en-
gage the federals. is especially effect
i've. and must appeal strongly to the
veterans who followed this great gen
eral in his battles
lone evening, just after dinner. A.
/ was quietly smoking in the oflice, !
observed two men examine the paint
ings with more than usual interest, and
pause before the subject in question The
elder Of the two was one Of these men
who do not look their age by :worti
years tall. rugged. powerful man,
who appeared to be. and, who | subse
quently ascertained, was a western
man, miner from Colorado The
other. the younger man. might have
been his son or younger brother
The big man appeared TO be ex.
planning some interesting object in the
painting and was pointing to 1t with
his right hand appraised.
AT that moment young man Of
about thirty, Of typical southern ap
pearance. passed the two At some
remark of the westerner the young
southerner stopped short. turned white
with anger. and, bringing his left hand
sharply up, struck the other a stinging
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 follow the movement, the big fell
lows arm had swiveled around his
body. and in his hand was huge
Colts frontier six.shooter staring his
opporent 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 Il was
the quickest draw a man ever saw.
THE two men with blood and death
written in every line Of their features,
glared into each others eyes The
hand Of the younger fell slowly to his
side The drop Of the other was com.
plete.
Young man. said the miner in
tones which had no gainsaying spol.
ogize and explain afterward, or. as GER
tain as fought that army in gray for
two years, will l blow the top Of your
head off II you are a gentleman and
have wronged me, an apology will be
a chivalrous pleasure. II have wound.
ed you or yours in turn I will readily
apologize to you. But make reparation
for that impnlsive blow and make it
quick
"The room was as silent as death
Then the young fellow answered
"As passed you l understood re-
mark Of yours to Le a reflection upon
the uniform my father wore. l can,
however, see how Imay have miscon-
strued the true meaning, in my pas
sionate haste, and ! apologize as a
gentleman ought, if he be in the
wrong
And as quickly apologize to you
for uttering aremark respecting the
vslor of the men in gray, which may
have two constructions But you were
in error. You misunderstood 8 few
words and jumped TO a wrong conclus-
ion.
the huge frontier O 1t disappear
ed as quickly as it appeared, and ex'
tending his hand, with good natured
smile spreading over his bronze face he
grasped the young mans hand and
shook it cordially.
"After few more words the Colo.
rado veteran introduced his companion
to his former opponent, and with every
indication of good fellowship, they
pushed their way through the swing
| ing half-doors which led TO the room
where good cheer was to be had
Il afterwards ascertained that the
Colorado man had been one Of the staff
of the general commanding the brigade
to which, as it curiously happened, the
regiment the young mans father was
colonel, had surrendered with Lee at
Appomattox, and that the big western
er recalled his name. and had m ide
one Of those many like acquaintances
between former foes which sprung up
between the opposing officers and men.
'That night saw them in a box at
the threaten, and it goes without say
ing that the strangers Jared well while
they tarried in the former Confederate
capital. "
Beware Of ointments for catarrh that
Contain Mercury,