The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-29

Dickinson. The following is the ex-
tract containing that story:
Dlckenson,' said the General, maxi
ing no flourish of talk in explanation
Oh readiness to describe adventures
winch some folk for the red ending
might have shrunk from; "Dickenson
was the tool of a conspiracy made
against my life, and politics was at
the bottom of it. l was too popular;
was IN the way; the grave was a
place for me-thus argued my enc
mics And then they went about to
draw IN Dickinson to be their cats
paw.
"Dickenson was young and vain
ana Wlthal willingly cruel enough to
act as my murderer for the illustra-
ton 1t would bring. He counted him
self safe, since he was reckoned the
surest, quickest hand in all the world
The man could shoot from the hip
like a flash and as accurately as one
might put ones finger.
Once the plan was laid Dickinson
took sure course; he spoke evil of
my wife" Here the General picked
up the two pistols, a butt in either
hand, and looked first upon the one
and then upon it's fellow. Follow
l owned l had bought these pistols
They are hair triggers and a breath
unhookS them. Also, they are sight
ed to shoot as fine and as true as the
moral law. l gave to their purchase
my last dollar and devoted them to
the destruction of what scoundrels
should vilify my wife. They have
done their work and never failed me.
ut was conceded by Oyerton and
myself, as we went up and down the
business in advance, that Dickinson
would kill me. Our hope was that
I'd last long enough to kill him-he,
the defamer of my wife
THE thought on our side was for
me to brace myself and take Dicken-
sons fire. 1 could not rival him for
quickness or for sureness. And the
haste of an attempt would waste and
throw away my aim.
/. 1--WE We're put up, 1 say; the words
were to be Fire-one-two-thre
Stop We might fire at any moment
between 'Fire!' and Stop And Ov-
erton had the word. AS I took my
place l slipped a bullet into my
to steady my hand.
"OVerton cried the word and began
the count. With the word 'Fire!
Dickensons weapon flashed. I heard
the roar of it and felt the numb, dull
shock as the lead crashed into my
side. But 1 sustained myself. I was
held on my feet by hate. l thought
he had slain me, but with him out
of hell 1 would not rest in my grave.
when I did not fall, but stood firm,
Dickinson started back.
" My God, 1 have missed him. he
cried.
"'Step to your peg, sir!' roared Ov-
erton, pausing in his count and cock
ing a pistol; step to your peg, or III
blow your head from your body!'
Dickinson stood again to his peg
and turned his eyes from me; his face
was the color of tobacco ashes.
"Overton resumed his count. One!
"'Clck!' My pistol caught at half
cock
"Overton paused and reckoned my
nistol. Dickinson, white and firm to
his peg-a man who had played his
life away.
"'TwoI cried Overton.
''My pistol responded; the lead tore
its way through the midst of Dick
enson's body. He crippled slowly
down on one knee, and then he fell
along on his face, and next turned
over on his back with sort of
twitching jerk. 1 never took my
eyes from Mill
"And your wound" said 1, was
serious one, 1 well know that
my ribs were broken, while my
boot was clogged with the blood
which ran down beneath my gar
ments. The bullet I placed between
my teeth was crushed as fiat as
two-bit piece"
1T was hardy work" said I. "bear-
ing up and firing on the heels of such
a wound"
"Sir, was thinking of her
glancing at the miniature. Il should
have killed that man though he had
nut his bullet through my heart!"
Mrs Pendleton's Four-In-H Hand"
by Gertrude Atherton. The Macmillan
Company, 66 Fifth avenue. New York
CITY. publishers. Cloth, 50 cents. This
is the fourth of MacMillan's series Of
short stories and very charming Sc
ries il is. The stories are by the best
authors and all of them are bright and
entertaining The present one is the
story of a charming widow, "a years
of age, who, one morning, in Newport,
received an offer of marriage from each
If four men with whom, during her
husbands lifetime. she had carried on
a rather lively Irritation. Suspectlhs
there was collision between the men
because of the reception of the offers
Of one and the same time she accept
ed all of them, and the acceptance
brought about a rather ridiculous sit
nation. The story is one that will be
read with genuine pleasure.
.~rbe Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch" by
Mrs Burton Harrison. D. Appleton
g. CO., publishers. New York city. Cloth
st25. This is an exceedingly well-told
story that hasn't a happy ending. 1t
is founded upon divorce and shows the
trapedv that too often exists where
tbe Justice Of divorce is admitted both
nv the law and society. OF course
the story is a pathetic one and sym
,athv ID with the woman. She is
driven by a sanctimonious, but brute
~ . husband into furnishing grounds
Sor q separation. The wife's offense Is
not condoned. 1t is a painful story,
hut an artistic one. II Is probable that
.his viii be one of the popular books
~ the srsnmer season. II deals with
a timely subject.
MAGAZINES.