The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15
s5SNaa NaH@saNaA aNMAAAAA Es@SA2AEs

]
strongly for the rufiians muddy pow
ers.
"And now this precious jackson of
! yours, these were Catron's closing
| words-"ths murderer! this thief of
other mems wives! would insult the
! decency of our capitol with a cour-
| tesan in his cabinet"
Meaning whom" asked Noah, half
rising.
Noah's words had the fiber of tri-
umph; he put his question as might he
who had trapped that result which
! he went seeking from the start.
"Who?" retorted the other; who,
save that Peg O'Neal, who was as
common as the streets she walked.
You lie; you rogue and dog of Hen
! ry Clay; you lie!'
Noah fair spat out the words; it
was as though they came freighted
with the venom of the viper.
Catron growled an oath and leaped
| towards Noah. lie was met flush in
the face with a glass of whisky which
Noah in most casual fashion had just
poured. / had foreseen Noah's pur-
pose; I'd heard him say he drank no
spirits.
For the moment Catron was stopped
the bite and anguish of the alcohol
,, in his eyes making him as a blind man.
AS Noah threw the liquor, l seized
him by the wrist; so far it had been
gentleman's work; l did not want him
to spoil his position by throwing the
glass.
Don't grip so hard" warned Noah,
making not the least of struggle; don't
grip so hard. ! shall anon need this
hand for what is in store; that grasp
like a hand-vise will weaken it for a
sword, or shake it for a pistol"
Never was l more played upon and
pleased than by the GOODNESS of Noah,
who showed as steady, not to say in
different as he who acts part in
theater.
Il shall have your life for ths!"
screamed Catron, who in the hands of
friends and still blind of the whisky,
was carried to another ROOM
When something like peace fell,
asked Noah to explain. l would I'M
derstand this violence; the more since
it looked to be half-plan on NOahs
part. Kendall and Hill were with us
and made four for our conversation.
What is the riddle, them" 1 said
II got your note; what was it you
desired?"
Nothing, save your presence" he
replied. LAS you observe, l was pro-
voking a fight-not a most amiable at
titude, 1 confess. But you will hear
my reasons. Since l saw you, 1 have
found how there exists a clique of
bloods-they are of both the Clay and
Calhoun parties-who go about gross
ly assailing Mrs. Eaton. There is con-
cert in their villainy; and they relax
themselves at intervals with threats
of violence against any who shall take
Mrs. Eaton's part. A duel-a prompt,
sharp duel, with wound or two-is
the best in truth the only way to
stife them. There is nothing like
steel or lead TO teach such gentry
mildness and a Christian spirit
Noah laughed over the adjective.
And have you put yourself for
ward" l demanded "as that master
who is to give these lessons of lead
and steel?"
What could be better?" returned
Noah. II am cold and steady. and
not apt for error. Again, 1 am of
no such overt and particular emphasis
in the Generals designs as to link
his name too much with this ruffle.
Since it is to be- think 1 am excel
lently the hand for the work; and l
hold it fortunate l am here when 1 so
dovetail with events"
"And what is to Gomez" said I.
"Indubitably, a challenge" broke in
Kendall. The Maryland Catrons are
of touchwood stock They duel for
their pleasure" Then with an infiec-
ton of warning. This Catron will
ask for swords!"
0NOIuS SIOu1u w tANetulllSly well,
remarked Noah. 1T should go through
sharply, this affair, for the best moral
effect on others of his ill-tongued clan.
With swords we might fight in a room,
since they make no noise. Let us
meet at once. In an hour this Catron's
eyes will cease to burn, and he'll see
the better for it."
But, mind you, Catron is a master
of the sword" said Kendall. He had
the best teachers in Florence"
SHOULD he show you my blood"
returned Noah, coldly, II will aVoucn
him the best fencer of America"
There would be a duel, so much I
could tell. And yet the situation put
me to deepest thought. I was sorry
for Pegs name in it, too; that would
mean no end of talk.
There is no end of talk as it stands
argued Noah. ut were best to make
Mrs. Eatons fame the issue. 1 could
have forced a quarrel on his Insults
for that l was a Jew. But I hold it
better as 1t is. Mrs. Eaton was the
one question worth duelllng with such
a bully about; but for the duel to
be of suppressive virtue, it is required
to have the easus belli surely shown.
Noah was profoundly right in these
arguments: the next days sequel of
silence on the cautious. parts of our
anti-Eaton swashbucklers remarked as
much.
You speak of this Catron as a
bully" commented Hill. Il know moth
ing of your code, for it does not OBJ
tain in New Hampshire. But is a
gentleman bound to take notice of the
vaporing of a bully-a mere Slack
guard"
zone may be a bully" returned the
steady Noah. land none the less pa
trician for that. Indeed. your prince
oft takes his purple blood for license.
Who was Alcibades but a bully-b boy
of Athens? Who had been the DULLES
of London town, with their Mohocks
and Hell Fire Clubs. but the nobility
and royal princes? No, believe me,
sir" and Noans lip twitched sarcas-
tically, "the bully's blood is sometimes
blue"
1t was settled that should second
the interests of Noah. At first blink.
this arrangement might have the look
of the Generals fat in the fire, since
we professed anxiety to keep his name
clear of the muddle. But there are
two ends to a lane; our purpose was
attained when the Generals want of
personal knowledge found demonstra-
ton. That plain, it was next good to
have it understood how the jackson
interest was at the Noah shoulder.
These reasons, and because l owned
experience of such arbitraments-for
had lived where pistols barking at
ten PAGES, were rife enough-taught
Noah his preference for me over Ken
dali and Hill, who had seen fewer of
these bickers, the latter none at all.
"They will be the challenging par
ty" 1 observed to Noah; that gives
us the choice of arms"
SHOULD Kendall be right" said
Noah "as to the FiOrantine Studios