Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-06-05

~~sSAuih6 ooen Vi tuClu W ullu. IOu
honor me in doubling my good faith"
he remarked as Strathgate took one
Of the pistols. eHaight," said Caring;
ton, take your station amidship. out
Of range, and count three. There
shall be no firing done by either Of us
until after the word three Are you
agreed, Lord Strathgate." -
Entirely" returned the other, step
ping forward.
But Master Haight did net propose
to have his vessel turned into field
Of honor, which would be a field Of
blood, He interposed vigorous CD.
lection. s-.-- .,... =
Gentlemen" he began, 'T'll have no
murder done here"
There shall be none" said Caring.
ton. "'Tis fair duel with each man
q chance for his life."
II don't know about that. my mas.
tiers" returned the sailor, but say
this: This boats. mine, I'm the cap.
tain Of IT. and I'll have no fightin
aboard. Savin' yer honois' graces, it
cant be done. You agree with me,
Cooper? You. Jack? You. Ned?"
"Ay, ay." returned the others. clos
Ing about Haight and interposing be.
tween the would-be combatants.
Gentlemen" continued Haieht, who
was not without. a certain decision of
character, Il swear to God there amt
goin' to be no fightin on this boat. !
don't know the rights and wrongs OF
this quarrel, but this boats mine and
won't have II. You'll oblige me,
Lord Darlington, by givin' me that
pistol. And you. sir" turning to
Strathsate, will do the like. When
you get ashore I've naught to say
about Your actions. but here"
He held out his hand, imperiously
for Lord Carrington's pistol and mo.
toned Cooper to take that Of Lord
Strathgate. J W % ~ }. 9a.
The boat had shot. up into the
wind and lay idly rocking, practically
drifting. Coopers cutter had been
shaken OF and was . floating wreck
some distance Away. Cooper had q
distinct interest In the quarrel, for he
muttered: .Ver 81 so "a '''.' p
You're right Haight, there can't be
no shootin'. hera Honder1 gentleman
might get . bullet In his in,ards and
then who'd pay mo for my sunken
boat!" - b. f.s,,.ssl, or. -, =,
strathgate interrupted With q laugh,
one Of those irritating laughs that
drove Darlington nearly frantic: =
did you arrange all this with the
captain Of your boat, Darlington p
queried. stathsats. is this a, Bit Of
hrayado. with the appearance of thi,
worthy sailor At the proper mo
ment?"
Curse you'll" cried Darlington, leap
ing up to windward. Come up Il
windward with you"
He leveled his pistol full at Strath
gate, having sprung clear of the hud
die OF men who happened to be Il
leeward. Strathgate had followed hi,
movements and two shots rang out 81
multaneously. Quick as had been the
rush Of the two men, however, the
sailors had followed suit. Haighr
threw himself upon Darlington ant
bore him back against the low rail
nearly throwing him overheard, while
Cooper struck Strathgate's arm suct
a violent blow as he pulled the trig
ger that his pistol was hurled back
wards and fell into the sea.
! Haight was the first to recover him
self.
Gentlemen" he said in tones tina
indicated he had come to a final de
cision, you've had 1t out now ant
there's got to be no more Of it. I'm
less you give me your word" he said
turning to Strathgate, "and you Civ,
me yours, Lord Darlington, to abid,
peaceably in the boat until We ge
ashore, so help me God! I'll lash you
down to ring bolt with rope
and" -4
| There's naught for IT," returned
Darlington whose pistol, knocked from
his hand, had been taken possession
OF by one Of the men, but to Civ,
you the promise. for you have m!
pistol, the other has gone overheard
and while / have a sword Lord Strath
gate is without a weapon"
"0h, you have my word, too" sale
Strathgate carelessly.
Hell keep the forward end Of thu
boat and you'll stay aft, my lord,
said Haight to Darlington, "and nov
we'll put back to harbor."
My lord Strathgate amused himsel
during the hours that elapsed before
he and Darlington we're landed at thu
same wharf whence they had takel
their departure, by humming graceful
little tunes, whistling merry little air
and in general disporting himself a
II he were having a delightful time.
My lord Darlington, who had NOR
at stake, was gloomy and silent HI
did not cast glance in the direction
Of his brother earl reclining on tn,
deck forward until the vessel wa
made fast to the wharf. Then h
sprang out and touched Strathgat,
on the shoulder.
I'VE have matters Of moment Il