The daily Alaskan., 1904-07-29
HIS GRUDGE :?
LOririnaLl

Empire saloon last night. 1aS' lue Texas man shot tother feller when he was lookln down on the floor for a half dollar he'd dropped. They'd had some words about the cards, but none of us bout here expects a man to shoot when t'other feller isn't expect in uOthin'."
 Do you know the Texas mans name, suhP
 "No, sir; he hain't been here long, Why are you concerned about himF'
 "Ive been lookin' fo' a man, suh, and when heard that this Texas man had done a mean, murderous trick won dered if he weren't the man I'm lOokin' for. Has he been arrestedy'
 "Weu, no. There ain't nobody hero as likes to tackle him."
 By this time a number of citizens had gathered round the man who was looking for some one. He was a white headed old man, but very erect and with plenty of vigOr, ot least in his eye. He was well dressed and had the air of a gentleman.
 'aThere he is now" said one of the bvstanders as man emerged from a saloon and walked across the street.
 The stranger started, the blood rush Ing into his face, then rushing back again. His hand shook. Indeed he trembled all over. Then he mastered himself and said cOOlly:
 "Gentlemen, that's the man I'm look in fo'. I request yO' purmission to change the co'Se of the law somewhat. I would like to fight the accused
 There was a look of surprise on the faces of those standing by.
 "Oh, he'd eat you up,' said one of them. He's young and spry and mean enough to rob a dead nigger You're too good stun to buck against a man like that"
 q know I'm not young, suh How could be when served under Gener al Lee in Virginia? Trust me, suh, I've Just enough grit left in me to tao kle that man-not another man; that particular man."
 The stranger turned and walked to- ward the object of hls search. The crowd went with him. The Texas man saw them coming and gave them a de liant glance. Suddenly he recognized the stranger and pglcd,
 i've found yo' at last, Jim, said the old man, "but I've had long hunt ' Then. turning to the crowd, he added: This man and desiah yo' puutss!on to settle a private matte. Will any gentleman present make the arrange mentsT
 A representative man was urged for ward and at once began to provide for meeting. The principals were to step back into the clearing" oI the street. stand thirty paccs apart and at a signal advance, firing tin their re volvers were emptied. The crowd sub, mitted under protest, for they did not doubt that the Texas man would com- init another murder. However, some of the onloOkers observed that he was growing nervous under the veterans glittering eye, which was never for moment withdrawn from him.
 Slowly as at a burial, for no one doubted that one at least of the enc miles would die, the party passed be- tween two houses and proceeded over cracking twigs through a wood to the clearing. The Texas man and the stranger walked a little in advance, the former peering straight before him, as If to escape the fixed glance of the veteran, who kept his head turned to- ward his enemy, never for a moment relaxing his gaze. Once only did the murderer turn to meet that relentless glance, and then he shuddered as if the very marrow in his bones had been frozen. One of the followers who held the advance and saw the expression of the old mans eyes dropped back and whispered to another: "Thct Gin't no live man. He's come back from the dead to avenEe some wrong"
 In the center of the cleared space the party stopped the manager of the affair examined the principals to make sure they had no concealed weapons, relieving the Texas man of a revolver and a knife, and then placed them in position, handing each a revolver. The master of ceremonies stood with a pis- tol in his hand waiting for the crowd to get back out of the way. Now that the Texas man was face tO face with his opponent he seemed to have pass ed under a spell. He was covering under the others merciless glance, vainly endeavoring to turn his own aside. Then the veteran, as if to give the man a chance to recover hi1 equanimity, turned to the manager
 "We ar waitin' fo' yo', suh."
 The manager with deliberation rais- ed his weapon to give the signal, the veteran still looking at him, then just before the signal turned again to his enemy. The Texas man had apparent ly recovered from the spell and when the signal shot rang out raised his weapon with the rapidity of lightning and sent a bullet tearing his oppO- nents coat at the side of the left breast and passing between the breast and the arm. Before he could fire again the veteran had emptled a chamber of his revolver. The Texas man stretch ed himself upward on his toes (there was a red hole in the very center of bfs forahaedl and fell His enemy stepped over to where he lay and look ed down at him. The fallen man shud derpd and was dead