The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-12-29
DUEL or KNIFE
VS.. PISTOL

had concerned persons Of their ac
quaintance when Colonel Pit2ei
Martin Of Texas entered into the sub
; iect
Il s'pose you all think a man Will
a knife would have a mighty small
chance against a man with gun
and dead shot at that-in regular
paced-off go-at.the.signal encounter
don't YOU"
There was a unanimous chorus of
assent ana the Colonel" shook his
gray head in a knowing sort of way
and smiled family.
Il thought so, too, until one day
a few years back, down in the Pecos
valley section, where / saw one or
the oldest duels l reckon was over
fought. It was between Bob Ander.
son and Mexican known only TO us
as Savior We never bothered much
with the last names of greasers in
those cow-pnnching days. Bob and
Savior never got along any too wen
some trouble over a Mexican girl,
I belieye-but they never came to an
open rupture, partly, believe, because
Bob always packed a gun. What's
more, he knew how TO use that same
gun.
Savior had no use for a gun. His
weapon was long -bladed knife with
a heavy handle II was homemade
affair and Savior set a heap by it. and
how Savior could juggle that knife,
He handled it Mexican fashion. of
course, the hilt down almost to his
finger tips, the blade passing over his
wrist. The first and little fingers
holding the weapon steady. Savior
could throw the knife with a peculiar
jerk OF the forearm and send the
point true to the mark every time.
We were rounding up one day near I
Toyah when the quarrel between the 7
pair broke out with fresh violence.
1t ended with Bob knocking Savior
down, then stepping back and draw.
ng his gun, ready for the attack he
expected; but Savior made no such
move. He got up. his lips white and
MS black eyes blazing. Wen. there
vas some lively exchange Of talk
or few minutes. Savior calling Bob
coward for striking an unarmed"
nan, and Bob offering to settle with
lists if Savior would drop his knife
greelng. in turn, to discard his gun.
lut savior was physically no match
or Bob, and be knew it, You fight
le? he asked eagerly Yen fight
knife against your gua? You
i've me chance to get eyea2 You
tand off and shoot throw knife
es YOU one brave man. You do il,
know, and Savior shook with min
led rage and eagerness to meet the
lan he hated, on what seemed to be
quail grounds
1T didn't seem quite fair for the
as we figured it;
Ut he was keen for a fight and Bob
as fairly begging for chance to do
p his enemy The boss Of the outfit,
no had kept from mixing up in the
latter, now took hand in the game.
e said 1t was only a question of time
afore one or the other man would
Z killed and the sooner 1t was over
lie better
Savior dictated the terms of the
iel We didn't care much what he
iked for because we figured it was
lad open and shut case that he would Z
ave a bullet in him before he had Z
me to throw his knife. Savior stipu-
ted that he and Bob were to stand
de by side that Bob should step 2
rwatd ten PAGES, gun In hand. but +
I'd muzzle down at arms length. T.
the end of the ten PAGES h. was -
turn and fire the instant his foot. Z.
arking the end of the tenth pace.
uched the ground Il
AS Bob stepped ont. Savior .
ouched down, holding his knife in "
sirion 20 throw There could be no d
stake about the counting. Every u
ne Bobs foot hit the ground =,
orus of voices called out the mum
T. AS his heel touched for the
nth time he raised his gun above
) head and whirled about-just In r
ne 10 catch the blade of the Next
MS knife in his throat. II was all
ne so quickly that we scarcely knew
lat had happened until We say Bob
oh forward on his face and lie still.
! undischarged gun rolling in the
ass beside him. After we got our
nses a bit. We realized the whole
ng. The greaser had watched ike
cat and the instant Bob's heel hit
E turf for the tenth time. he let y
with the knife II had only d
tance OF about Is feet TO travel and a.
went that distance while Bob was ,,
sing his gun and swinging around
little reflection showed as that az iI
matter of fact. Savior had de- os
ed advantage We didn't saw much
out II as We had all been un-ou-
Gus parties to it. but the boss init. 81
ted to Savior that he had better aot an
main with the outfit any longer s
10 he could help and when he went.
60 far. far away. And Savior did" Is
Coal Burned by Steamships.