The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-01

" VIM was "oAhAhB AA @EA~~
Fighting Tom:
"Fear not, friend; II Thomas Fftz-
gerald seeketh to harm me. I am well
able to overcome him"
Half an hour later the man Of war
stood in the little garden of the man of
peace.
"Alr. Goodharte," said be, 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, and / dare say
you will be at no loss TO guess my err
rand"
II shall guess 1t more easily, friend
Thomas, when thou hast stated 1t thy
SELF" answered Jabez, quietly.
"Well," said Fitzgerald. rather taken
aback by this cool reception, after hay
ing so long made the whole neighbor-
hood tremble at his very name -Ihear
hat you, sir, have thought fit to say
hat you were able to beat me II / should
attack you, and, of course, such an ex-
preston can have but one result among
men OF honor. You understand me, L
presume?"
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 1 many, I thank
Heaven" quoth Jabez, but one for
such a purpose. Hear my conditions:
We will meet at noon tomorrow on
WantIey Common, without seconds, on
horseback, and with such weapons as
zach 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 to do with affairs of honor
said he; "but one can hardly expect a
Quaker to be an authority on duel
ing. Well, sir, 1 accept your terms,
such as they are; and the sooner you
make you will, and take leave of your
J friends, the better, for you've got little
? enough time left"
Long before noon on the following
4 day, Wantley Common was crowded
as if either the king himself or a non
ster circus had been expected to pass
that way. 1t still wanted a few min
utes of ~ o'clock, when a ~clatter o.
horse hoofs was heard from the direc
; ton of the town, and up rode Tom Fitz
t gerald on his famous black horse, will
= a er-1r1 h. HE edo ond nfrfn1c in hi
e holsters, looking iercely round for al
enemy.
Suddenly a hum ran through the ex
a pectant crowd, and, just as the frs
stroke of IL pealed from the old churcl
~ tower, Jabez Goodharte was seen jog
cling comfortably along on an amblins
Y pony, holding in his hand something
that looked like a long pole, though TIT
/ end of it was hidden under his Grim
son dressing-gown.
n This dressing-gown, futtering in tn
k wind like a flag. was too much for tn
d nerves of Fitzgerald's horse, which be
gan plunging and rearing so violentl,
lie as almost to unseat its rider.
re Several of the lookers-on burst on
lie laughing, and the enraged bully, hurI
W ing a storm of abuse at them. charge
lie at Goodharte with drawn sword, NEAR
TO ing to cut him down like a thistle.
But just then Jabez whisked out hi
id pole, with a bladder fun of dried pea
v, at the end of it, the rattle of whic
h scared the already frightened hors
Id almost out Of it's senses.
re Round it wheeled, despite Fitzgerald
is furious squirting, and tore of acros
- the common at such a rate that in les
n than two minutes horse and rider wer
ve out of sight. the frantic yells of III
squire being scarcely heard amid tn
yh deafening laughter of the crowd.
n Then the flood of popular enthusiast
broke loose. The victorious Quake
be was seized and carried ~shoulder-hig
into the town. with an accompaniment
We Of cheering hat made the window
tie rattle again.
he The local papers were full of the du
for days after, and Jabez was so owe
of whelmed with visits and invitations
ne dinner that he hardly knew which WI
yn to turn.
his AS for Fighting Tom Fitzgerald, tn;
Ist days work was the last of him. so f;
ay as Dullocksham was concerned, fl
ell, from that morning he never showed h
face there again. But. three or fol
his years later, Mr.. HartibOy, the retire
ar landlord of the King George. returi
at ing from a tour through southern f
he rope, brought word that Fitzgerald h;
ry- lied at Milan of a fit of apoplexy. cause
int by a walters impudent question whet
BIT, er he was fond of dried peaS-Golds
Days.
no
~ Something silly.
Irv Sturdy Sammy Sampson soug