Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-03-17

Dor who was warning him against
Fighting Tom:
Fear not, friend; il Thomas Ntz-
gerald seeketh to harm ms. I am we'll
able t. overcome him."
Half an hour later the man Of war
stood in the little garden Of the man of
peace.
"Mr. Goodharte," said he, in a lone of
stern %politeness, as the Quaker came
forward from among his flowers with
his usual smile OF welcome, my name
Is Thomas Fitzgerald, and I dare say
you will be at no loss to guess my er-
rand"
II 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. ~ hear
that you, sir, have thought fit to say
that you were able to beat me if I should
attack you, and, of course, such an ex-
preston can have but one result among
men of honor. You understand me, !
presumeH
perfectly, friend; thou wishest me
to do what in the language Of the world
is called fighting a duel"
Just So" said Fitzgerald, more and
more astonished both at the Quaker'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 have l many, I thank
Heaven" quoth Jabez, "but none for
such a purpose. Hear my conditions:
We will meet at noon 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.
tits pretty plain that you haven't
had much to do with affairs of honor"
said he; "but one car hardly expect a
Quaker to be an authority on duel
ing. Well, sir, I accept your terms,
such as they are; and the Don you
make your will, and take leave of your
friends, the better, tor 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
ster circus had been expected to pass
that way. It still wanted a few min
utes of 10 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 fercely round for an
enemy
Suddenly a hum ran through the ex-
pectant crowd, and, just as the first
stroke of IL pealed from the old church
tower, Jabez Goodharte was seer jog
ging comfortably along on an ambling
pony, holding in his hand something
that looked like a long pole, though the
end OF it was hidden under his Grim
son dressing-gown.
This dressing-gown, fluttering in the
wind like a flag, was too much for the
nerves of Fitzgerafd's horse, which be-
gan plunging and rearing 40 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
ing 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 1t, the rattle Of which
scared the already frightened horse
almost out of its senses
Round IT wheeled, despite Fitzgerald's
furious squirting, and tore of across
the common. at such a rate that in less
than two minutes horse and rider were
out Of sight, the frantic yells Of the
squire being scarcely heard amid the
deafening laughter Of the crowd.
Then the food OF popular enthusiasm
broke loose. The victorious Quaker
was seized and carried sh%oulder-high
into the town, with an accompaniment
Of cheering that made the windows
rattle again.
The local papers were full Of the duel
for days after, and Jabez was 20 over
whelmed with visits and invitations to
dinner that he hardly knew which way
to turn.
As for Fighting Tom Fitzgerald, that
days work was the last Of him, 20 far
as Bullocksham was concerned. for
from that morning he never showed his
face there again. But, three or four
years later, Mr.. Hartiboy, the retired
landlord Of the King George, return.
ing from : tour through southern Eu-
rope, brought word that Fitzgerald had
disd$atM Milan Of At Of apoplsxy. caused
by : waiter'simpudsnt question wheth-
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