Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-02-14

Had I stood to my guns-and would
to God that had-none of these awful
crimes would have happened; but at
last, something Lennon said so stung
me to the quick tht I not only offered
to play, but I added that I would put
up hundred as we'll as Foster, if his
Lennon's) heggarly Irish estates would
stand the racket. ought not to have
said it. I hate and despise myself now
for my lack of wit that would not let
me devise some better way of answer
ing an angry man than by flinging his
poverty in his face. But did it, and
have only repented once, and that is
ever since.
drawers would have slipped away,
but Lennon sprang up and locked the
door. No man leaves the ROOM said
he, till this affair is settled; and as for
| you, sir'--this to me---'when we've
| done with the cards, I'll have satisfac-
ton for the insult you've put upon me-
| This was sorry beginning for what
had much sorrier ending.
1--WE did not stop at the first game,
| and at last Lennon was owing us
| something like 5000. 'I'll play one
| more game, said he, and I'll owe you
| G1,2D0 or nothing. We We're to go
| twice round the board. The game was
| Tough out in silence, except when we
were counting our hands. and at last it
stood in this position. I wanted exact
ly thirteen to win, and had what is
called first show--that is, I could count
my cards first, and provided I could
score by play, and had thirteen points,
won.
"The play, however. went all against
me, and Lennon actually got within
one of the game. I declare, solemnly,
that, for my part, wished him to win.
1t would have been comparatively
happy ending, for we should have had
all the excitement and none Of US been
losers. But Fate willed it otherwise. I
held exactly thirteen in my hand-l
held, in fact; what is known as the
Ragged Thirteen-the six, seven, eight
and two aces.
II think I never saw a man so pos
| sessed with fury as Lennon. For a
minute he stood trying to speak, and
when at last his words came, he &C.
cused Foster, point-blank, of cheating.
He swore that Foster had passed me
one of the cards held, for he had seen
him do so, and that I knew the game
was Won by nothing but downright
cheating. Then, I think, we all went
mad together. Blows were struck and
the table overturned, and when we
paused for breath the blood was rum
ming from Lemons face, and Foster
had been severely handled.
Before we could come to blows
again Lennon rushed into the inner
room, and came hurrying back with a
pistol in each hand.
"'Here,' said he to Foster, you've
drawn my blood; take the rest or I'll
have yours! And if you don't fight me
here and now, by Heaven I'll shoot you
where you stand for the cur you are!
If a man of you moves I'll blow his
brains out!' And there was that in
him which held us back from rushing
at him, for, assuredly, at that close
range, two of US would have gone I'M
der. If you don't fight he shouted,
TIL make your heart as ragged as the
hand he held, aye, and the heart of
every one of you that's stood by and
seen my shame!'
"It was plain that his rage was be-
coming more uncomfortable every min
ute.
GLOW can he fight you here?' said
Come out to the meadows, if fight you
must and in making the proposal I
never for a moment thought they
would go SO far as I proposed going
without some stop being put to the
proceedings. Foster caught at the idea,
for he was well-nigh as mad as the
Irishman.
"'Come out Of tl1is!' he cried, and
the sooner the better. I'LL fight you,
but only on one condition; if kill you,
there the matter ends
"And with that we walked out and
away to the river, and it seemed that
the Evil One was to have free hand,
for, even on that glorious summer af-
ternoon, not a soul did we meet.
1--WE We're a mile or so from the
town, and could see that Foster had
already begun to realize the awful
gravity of the affair, but Lennon was,
if anything, worse than ever. I'll go
no farther said he. DO you stand
there and Illl stand here, and someone
can give the word to fire. And-would
you believe it?-not one of US except
Travers had the moral courage to pro.
test.
GIVE come this far" he said, hop
ing that you men would see the mad
ness of what you propose to do. I
wash my hands of the affair." and
with this he turned on his heel and
walked back towards the town.
For moment or so I felt that I
must follow him, but the evil spirit
within me held me to my ground.
shall wait one minute said Len
non, and then I shall fire, for that
coward yonder will tell the police, and
maybe that's what you're wanting.
The pistols are loaded, and I'll kill you
if can. Here, take this,' and, care
less as to whether it exploded or not,
he threw one of the weapons on the
| turf. Foster picked it up and went
! and stood about ten PAGES off.
"Mayne made last attempt to in
| tervene. Stand out of the line,' said
Lennon, or I'll shoot you! Give the
| word-one, two, three, fire! Are you
ready?' In a voice scarcely louder
than whisper, Mayne obeyed. In the
rear of Lennon as he stood, were some
gorse bushes, and as Mayne gave the
I