The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-28

replied.
/" Very WELL, sub. Major Billings will
wait on Captain Davis within an hour.
1T was through the left shoulder that
I had shot the governor, and of co'se
he could still hold pistol in his right
hand. The duel was as speedily ar
ranged as the other had been. Sunrise
was again the hour. and the governor
was all there. / had settled 1t In my
mind to plunk him through the otner
shoulder this time, but 1 first gave him
a chance to apologize. He wouldn' t
hear of it. When we fired my bullet
went true. while his went in search
of the rising sun. / advanced to offer
my sympathies, but he turned his face
away.
had got hold of the two affairs, and
was glad to find that 1 was not held
to blame. 1t was pointed out to the
governor by the. newspapers. and ms
friends that he was in error, but ne
was not the man to take anything
hack He still contended that he was
in the right, and 80 days had not pass
ed when I received a message ASKING
Tme to- call. / responded, hoping that
he meant to give way at last, but he
had no such idea in mind.
"-Colonel Bunker he said, when
had entered his presence and offered to
shake hands. in the military history l
am writing I shall be compelled, to say
that the reason the enemy escaped an
Inhalation or capture was because you
We're not pushing enough. You mad the
not the man to seize it. You halted.
You temporized. Your courage began
to ooze out just when--
He was stopped again, suh," said the
colonel, land for moment i wondered
if he had gone crazy. Then 1 made up
my mind that he was7a human mewl
instead. and L slowly and carefully an
swered him:
Governor Bates, you are a wound
ed man..
That makes 10 difference
Il doubt if you can hold pistol
u shall have it tied to a tree, sun
tied to a tree and pull string tied to
the trigger with my teeth.
u can't ask wounded man to
meet me on the field of honoh.'
Then I brand you as a coward,
subj
.'That settled it, Major Billings and
Captain Davis had matters all ar
ranged within a couple of hours A
dozen or more people went to the gov
ernor and asked him to retract, but he
was as firm as a rock. He was on
hand with the rising of the sun. He
had found that he could clasp the butt
of pistol and fire from his hip, and
cided that the duel should go on. 1
put another bullet into his left shout
der but where his went to no one
knew. I had turned away from him
and gone few rods when ne calied 10
me and returned.
"'Colonel Bunker he began, with
in the last few seconds have discov-
cred that 1 am the victim of a strange
mistake. All along I have had you
and YOUR battle of Cedar Mountain
mixed up with Colonel Taylor and his
battle of Green HILL and 1 wish now
to apologize and tell you how much
regret my error.
Eyes, sir, those were the words of
the governor, and it is needless to say
that 1 was both surprised and pleased
Three duels-three wounds. and all
for nothingi He had COMPOUNDED me
with another man, and 1 had given
him enough pains and aches to- last
him for the rest of his life.
Eyes, sub, that was the way of it,
and now, If you feel agreeable, and
that darby boy is around heath any
Uhere-'
1t ended in the usual way.-(Copy-
righted by K. NJ. Whitehead.)