The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-09-23
ec0pyrIsht. lsO. 0y STANLEY J. weymaa.l
v-contlnued.

M - ~ @NN1 $1,000
speak" the sallow man said. And
you, Payton. have done with your fool
Ing, will your"
"Well. hear to hint"
Il have been In many camps and
many companies, gentlemen" the coli
onel resumed, "and those OF many ma
tions. But wherever / have been !
have found that IL a mar brought no
offense he received none. am a
stranger here. for / have been out OF
my own country for a score of years.
On my return o welcome me" he
smiled. "a little boisterously. perhaps,
but / am sure, gentlemen, with a good
Intent. And as / have Jared elsewhere
I am sure I shall fare at your hands"
"Well. sure from the background,
.and haven't we made you welcome? 2
Almost too freely" h colonel re-
piled, smiling good humoredly. "A
peaceable man who had not lived as
long as ! have might have found him
self at a loss in face OF so strenuous
q welcome. Corks, perhaps, are more
in place in bottles
"And a dale more In place out OF
them!" from the background.
but IL you will permit me to explain
my errand, l will a no more of that.
My name, gentlemen, Is Sullivan, Coll
onel John Sullivan, OF Skull, formerly
OF the Swedish service and much at
your service. I shall be still more
obliged II any OF you will be kind
enough to inform me who is the pur-
chaser
Payton interrupted him rudely. I'VE
have had enough of this!" he cried.
sink all purchasers, / say!" And with
q drunken crow he thrust his neigh
Dor against the speaker, causing both
TO reel. How 1t happened no n saw
whether Payton himself staggered in
the act, or flung the wine wantonly;
but somehow the contents of his glass
few over he colonefs a and neck
cloth.
Half a dozen men rose from their
seats. "Shame!" an indignant voice
cried.
Among those who had risen was the
sallow "Payton," he said sharp
Iy, what did you do that for?"
Because / choose, IL you like!" the
stout nan answered. What is 1t to
your ] am ready to give him salts
faction when he likes n where he
likes, and no heel taps! And what
more can he want2 Do o hear, slr?'
he continued In a bullying tone.
Swords or pistols, before breakfast or
after dinner, drunk or sober, Jack Pay
tons you man. 1t shall never be said
In my time that the -th suffered a
crop cared Irishman to preach to them
In their w messroom! You q send
your friend to me when you please.
He'll find me-"
The colonel was wipIng the wine from
his chin and neckcloth. He had turned
strangely pale at the moment of the
Insult. More than n of those who
watched him curiously, noting the slow
preciseness OF HIS movements, expected
some extraordinary action.
But no one looked for anything so
abnormal as tho course he took when
he spoke. Nothing In his bearing had
prepared them for It; nor anything In
his conduct, which. so far, had been
that OF a man Of the world not too
much at q loss even In the unfayorable
circumstances In which he was placed.
II do not fight" he said. Your chal-
lenge is cheap. sir, as your Insult"
Payton stared. He a never been
more astonishcS in his life. you do
not fght7 Heaven and earth and you
a soldier!"
IT do not fight"
AFTER that, man.! Not-after'---
mo" Colonel John said between his
teeth.
And then no ono spoke. A something
in Colonel Johns tom sobered the spec
tators n turned that which might
nave seemed an ignominy into a trag-
edy in which they all had their share.
Eor the insult a been so wanton that
there was not n of the witnesses
whose sympathies had not been with
the victim.
Payton alone was moved only by con-
tempt.
Heavens, mani" he cried, findirg his
voice again. Are o a Quaker II
90, why do you call yourself a soldier?''
~ am no Quaker" Colonel John an
swered, but l do not fight duels."
Why"
IF I killed you,'' the Colonel replied,
cycling him steadily, would IL dry my
neckcloth or clean my face?"
NO" Payton retorted with a sheer,
b u 1t would clean your honor! II
would prove. man. that, unlike the
beasts that perish, you valued some.
thing mor than your life"
Il do"
"what?" Payton asked with a care
less disdain.
Among other things, my duty"
Payton laughed brutally. why. by
the powers, o are q preacher:" he re-
torted. Hang your duty, sir, and you
for a craven! Give me acts, not wordsl
It's a mans duty to defend his honor,
and you talk of your neckcloth! There's
for a new neckcloth!" He pulled out q
half crown and flung IT, with an in
Eulting gesture, upon the table. "Show
US your back and for the future give
gentlemen OF honor a wide berth. You
are no mate for them
The act and the words were too
strong. A murmur rose, for IL Payton
wa feared he was not loved, and the
sallow faced man, whose name was
Marsh, spoke out. Easy PAXTON" he
said. The gentleman"-
1.-THE gentleman, chr"
did not come here OF his own ac-
cord, n you've said enough and done
enough. For my part"-
Il did not ssk for your interference
the other cried i~nsolently. r
u sWeIi, anyway s.,
"And ! don't want It! And I Won't
have II; do you hear, Marsh?" Payton
repeated m~enacingiy. you know me,
and i know you"
II know that you are q better fencer
and a bettsr shot than I am" Marsh
replied, struggling his shoulders, "and
daresay than any OF US. We are apt
to believe 1t, anyway. But
II would advise you TO let that be
enough" Payton sneered.
II was then that the Colonel spoke
and in N tome somewhat alf~-ad uT an