The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-02-16
8: i ! u / i i II j. i i i i ! + s

l yOuuS lC1lOW d11A IdlllCI CuJOSS0 SAC
excitement
Had I stood to my guns-and would
to God that I 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 a hundred as we'll as Foster, If his
Gennon's) beggarly Irish estates would
stand the racket. I 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 I did it, and I
have only repented once, and hat is
ever since.
"Travers would have slipped away,
but Lennon sprang VI 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 a sorry beginning for what
had a much sorrier ending. =
"We did not stop at the first game,
and ut last Lennon was owing us
something like G600. I'll play one
more game said he, and I'll W 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 1t
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,
I won.
The play, however, went all against
me-, and Lennon actually got within
one of the game. I declare, solemnly.
that, for my part, I wished him to win.
It would have been a 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 T~hirteen-the six, seven, eight
and two aces.
II think I never saw a man so pos
sessed with fury as Lennon. For q
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 I 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
mao together. Blows were struck and
the table overturned, and when we
paused for breath the blood was run
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. s
"'Here,' said he to Foster, you've
drawn my blood; take the rest, or I'll
have yours! And IL 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 o 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 un-
der. If you don't fight he shouted.
I'll make your heart as ragged as the
| hand he held, aye, and the heart of
every one Of you that's stood by and
1T was plain that his age was be-
| coming more uncomfortable every min
ute.
elbow can he fight you here?' I 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 this!' he cried, and
the sooner the better. I'll fight you,
but only on one condition; if I kill you,
there the matter. ends
"And with that we walked out and
away to the river, and 1t seemed that
the Evil One was to have a free hand,
for, even On hat glorious summer at
ternoon, not a soul did we meet,
I'VE were a mile or SO from the
town. and I could see that Foster had
already begun to realize the awful
gravity Of the affair, but Lennon was.
II anything, worse than ever. It'll go
no farther said he: 'Dp you stand
there and Till 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. \
eve 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 a moment or 30 ]. felt that I
must follow him, but the evil spirit
within me held me to my ground.
ct shall wait mi minute said Len
non.' and then I shall fire. for that
coward yonders win ten 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 II exploded or not,
he threw one 6f the weapons on the
turf. Foster picked It UP and went
and stood about ten PAGES! of. 8
"Mayne. made a. last Ittempt to in
tervene. stand out 81. the line said
Lennon, or nj shoot you! Give the
word-one, two, three. fire! Are yon
ready, In q voice scarcely louder
than q whisper. Mayne obeyed. 1nssthe
fear or Lennon as he stood, were ONT
gorse bushes. andgas Mayne gave the
word, Fire! man md woman rose:
from behind them. heard the crack
|lof the weapons. I noticed that Foster
had Aired b 8On side.TsaI raw his hat
smoye, 10 though e had been touched
and then 10 oodsshorror-Strtcken.
yI.rnSfgvv,$i sfnS which lie