Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-12
The Mississippi Bubble
By EMERSON HoUGH
Author Of The Story Of kbs CoDbey.' "7he az kbs
Halfway Aouss." Etc.


, that. Driver, turn back for home!"
The coachman at the box touched his
hat with puzzled air. II beg pardon,
SIR" said he, "but was under orders
, Of the gentleman inside"
"You were sent for Mr.. John Law"
For Mr.. Law"
"But am John Law, sirrah!"
"You are both Mr.. Law? Well, sir,
I scarce know which Of you is the
proper Mr.. Law. But must say that
here comes coach drove fast enough,
and perhaps this is the gentleman I
was to wait for, according to the first
Mr.. Law, sir"
He is coming them" cried John
Law, angrily "I'll see into this pref
ty meeting. If this DEVILS own fool is
to have crossing of. steel, I'll fair &C
commodate him, and we'll look into the
reasons for it later. Sit We down! Be
quiet, VIII, boy. say!"
With one leap he sprang from the
carriage, leaving Will half dazed and
limp within.
Even as he left the carriage step,
he found himself confronted with an
adversary eager as himself; for at
that instant Beau Wilson was hasten
Ing from his coach. Vain, weak and
pompous in way, yet lacking not in
certain personal valor, Beau Wilson
! stopped not for his seconds, tarried not
to catch the others speech, but himself
strobe madly onward, his point raised
slightly, as though he had lost all
care and dignity and desired nothing
SO much as to stab his enemy as swift
ly as might be.
1t would have mattered nothing now
to this Highlander, this fighting Ar
gyll, what had been the reason animat-
Ing his opponent. It was enough that
he saw weapon, barred Too late
then. to reason with John Law, Beau"
Law of Edinboro, "Jessamy" Law, the
best blade and the coolest head in all
the schools Of arms that taught him
fence
For a moment Law paused and
raised his point, whether in query or
| in salute the onlookers scarce could
tell. Sure it was that Wilson was the
first to fall into the assault. Scarce
pausing in his stride, he came on
hlindly, and, raising his own point,
lunged straight for his opponents
breast Sad enough was the fate
which impelled him to do this thing.
| 1t was over in an instant. 1t could
not be said that there was an actual
encounter. The sidestep of the young
| Highlander was soft as that of a
panther, as quick, and yet as full of
savagery. The whipping over his
wrist, the gliding, twining, clinging Of
his blade against that of his enemy
was so swift that eye could scarce have
followed it. The eye of Beau Wilson
was too slow to catch it or to guard.
He never stopped the riposte, and in
deed was too late to attempt any
| guard. Pierced through the body Will
son staggered back, clapping his hands
4 against his chest. Over his face there
swept swift series of changes. Anger
faded to chagrin, that to surprise, sur
prise to fright, and that to gentleness.
Sir" said he, you've hit me fair,
and very hard. l pray you, some
| friend, give me an arm"
And so they led him to his carriage,
and took him home corpse. Once
more the code of the time had found
its victim.
Law turned away from the coach of
his smitten opponent, turned away with
a face stern and full of trouble. Many
| things resolved themselves in his mind
as he stepped slowly towards the car
riage, in which his brother still sat
wringing his hands in an agony of
perturbation.
Jack, jack" cried Will Law, ooh,
heavens! You have killed him! You
have killed a man! What shall we
| do?"
Law raised his head and looked his
brother in the face, but seemed scarce
to hear him. Half mechanically he
was fumbling in the side pocket of his
coat. He drew forth from it now q
peculiar object, at which he gazed in
tently and half in curiosity. 1t was the
little beaded shoe of the Indian woman,
the very object over which this ILL
fated quarrel had arisen, and which
now seemed so curiously to intermin-
| gle itself with his affairs.
Twas slight shield enough" he
said slowly to himself, yet it served.
Hut for this little piece of hide, me-
thinks there might be two of us going
home to-day to take somewhat Of
| rest -