Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-04-18

CHAPTER vI.-tContinusd)
McGregor made proposition to the
effect that his principal should be en-
titled to at least one shot In practice
before the AFFAIR came on the carpet
as Livermore was familiar with the
handling of the firearms. he certainly
had an advantage. and 1t would be
only fair to give overton chance 10
SEQ how the weapon upon which he
was about TO stake his life did Its
work.
To this the others readily agreed.
and Jack glancing around for some
mark. discovered sparrow upon
branch FULL rs distant as his antago-
mist would be when the word came to
fire.
"Ah," he remarked, 81 have found Il
mark almost half as large as human
heart"
He fired almost Instantly. and the
mangicd bird fell to the ground. while
the McGregor whistied bar or two
from The campbcils Are Coming"
and Livermore's second looked very
serious.
Then the conditions OF the duel were
gone over.
The two principals were to be sta
toned Mt the posts selected. within
easy pistol shot. and their backs turn
ed toward each other.
At q given signal they were to
wheel and advance directly toward
each other. the privilege to hre being
open from that instant.
One advantage would come to the
man who got In his shot arst. provid-
ed he hi; his mark. but II he missed.
heaven help him. for the other had
the privilege Of walking M ms close
ms he pleased and delivering murder
Gus IRE.
When these arrangements had been
mndc the principals walked to their
stations and received their weapons.
together with last word OF advice
from their aceonda-
Then they were left alone. facing
each other.
ovcr,on could feel his heart pound
ing away like miniature trip ham
NOR. and he held out his arm with
some uncaaincss. bu, smiled TO md Il
a. frm ns n rock-not n trcmor or
really Il looked bad for Livcrmorc.
who perhaps had met with the most
astonishing pcriis during his advcn-
,uroun life. and finally came home TO
Gnd his Sedan.
At Meorcgor's command the two
ducilsts turned back to back. with tho
arm holding the pistol dropped down
ut their sides.
Men. are yc bath rcady7y he de-
mandcd. as though about TO open n
sprlntins race or some other innocent
game OF sport
Ready" came from the traveller.
quickly.
Ready" echoed ovcr,on. between
his teeth.
Then. gang AVA. and the God o.
battles decide the day." roarcd the cx-
drasoon.
Both men whiricd around. and the
duciins pistols came mp TO level.
Neither fired at once. but began to
advance. while tho onlookcrs-inciud-
Ing an almost paralyzcd rustic with n
pi;chfork over his shoulder. on the
way to some field OF labor-hcid their
very breath in suspense.
Two. three. four PAGES for cach-thc
distance had been horribly narrowed.
and as yc, not n shot.
II looked like murdcr-as though
both Of them must fall when the final
exchange OF compliments took place.
McGrcsor would have given all he
owned for the privilege OF bawling out
to his mamie believed Jack was los
ing his best chance-that he had the
other Mt his mercy. and was fool not
to get In the frs, shot: but such an nc,
on the part OF second would have
been n gross breach OF the etiquette
governing such affairs. and he dis
crectiy remained silent.
Then with stunning abruptncss
came the sharp report OF a pistol. and
the McGregor groancd rs he saw the
smoke oozins from the barrel of the
| levcied weapon clutched in the rigid
hand of Livermorc.