Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-01-30

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
% Lvermore was familiar with the
handling of the firearms, he certainly
had an advantage, and 1t would be
only fair to give Overton a chance to
see 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 fully as distant as his antsgo-
mist would be when the word cane to
fire.
"Ah!" he remarked, II have found a
mark almost half as large as human
heart"
He fred almost instantly, and the
mangled bird fell to the ground. while
the McGregor whistled bar or two
from 1.-THE Campbells Are Coming"
and Livermore's second looked very
serious.
men the COuultious VI thc uuci "Sic
gone over.
The two principals were to be sta
toned at the posts selected, within
easy pistol shot, and their backs turn
ed toward each other.
At given signal they were to
wheel and advance directly toward
each other, the privilege to fire being
open from that instant.
One advantage would come to the
man who got in his shot first, provid-
cd he hit his mark, but IL he missed,
heaven help him. for the other had
the privilege of walking up as close
as he pleased and delivering a murder
Gus IRE.
When these arrangements had been
made the principals walked to their
stations and received their weapons.
together with last word of advice
from their seconds.
Then they were left alone, facing
each other.
Overton could feel his heart pound
ing away like miniature trip ham
mer and he held out his arm with
some uneasiness, but smiled to find 1t
as Arm as a rock-not tremor or
culver OF the slightest description
really 1t looked bad for Livermore,
who perhaps had met with the most
astonishing perils during his adven-
tnrous life, and finally came home to
fnd his Sedan.
At McGregor's command the two
duelists turned back to back. with the
arm holding the pistol dropped down
at their sides.
Men, are we bath ready?" he de-
manded, as though about to open a
sprinting race or some other innocent
game Of sport.
Ready" came from the traveller,
quickly.
Ready" echoed Overton, between
his teeth.
Then, gang ava, and the God O.
battles decide the day." roared the ex-
Dragon.
Both men whirled around, and the
dueling pistols came up to level.
Neither fired at once, but began to
advance, while the onlookers-includ
ing an almost paralyzed rustic with
pitchfork over his shoulder, on the
way to some field of labor-held their
very breath in suspense.
Two, three, four PAGES for each-the
distance had been horribly narrowed,
and as yet not shot.
1t looked like murder-as though
both of them must fall when the final
exchange OF compliments took place.
McGregor 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 at his mercy. and was fool not
to get in the first shot; but such an act
on the part of a second would have
been a gross breach of the etiquette
governing such affairs, and he dis
oreetly remained silent.
Then with stunning abruptness
came the sharp report OF a pistol, and
the McGregor groaned as he saw the
smoke oozing from the barrel of the
leveled weapon clutched in the rigid
hand OF Livermore.