Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-09-24
Copyright. 1900. By stanley J. weyman.)
CHAPTER v--continued.

Well, hear Il him.
Il have been in many lamps and
many companies, gentlemen" the COL
oneI resumed, and those OF many Ia
lions But wherever | have been /
have found that II a man brought no
ofense. he received zone. l am a
stranger here, for l 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 ar sure, gentlemen. with a good
intent. And az | have Jared elsewhere
l am sure ! shall fare at your hands.
Well. sure" from the background,
land haven't we made you welcome =
Almost too freely" the colonel re-
piled, smiling good humorcdly. "A
reaceable ma who a not lived as
long as ] have might nave found him
self al a loss in lace OF so
q welcome. Corks, perhaps, are more
in place in bottles"
And a dale more in place out of
them" from the background.
But II you viii permit me 10 explain
my erTand. | will say no more Of that.
Ny name, gentlemen, Is sullivan, Col
onel John Sullivan, of Skull, formerly
OF the Swedish service and much at
your service. / shall be still more
obliged IL any OF o will be kind
enough to inform me who Is the pur-
CHASER
Payton interrupted him rudely. I'VE
have a enough OF this!" he crieds
sink all purchasers, i sayl" And with
a drunken crow he thrust his neigh
Dor against the speaker, causing both
20 reel, How IL happened no one saw
whether Payton himself staggered In
the act, or flung the wine wantonly;
but somehow the contents OF his glass
few over the %colonels face and neck
cloth.
Half q dozen men rose from their
seats. Shame an indignant voice
cried.
Among those who had risen was the
sallow man. "Payton, he said sharp
". what did you do that for?"
because I choose. IL you likei' the
tout man answered What is it 10
you? ! am ready to give him salts
faction when he likes and where he
likes, and no heel taps! And what
more car he want? DO you hear, slr?"
he continued In q bullying tone.
Swords or pistols. before breakfast or
after dinner, drunk or sober, Jack Pay
on's your a IL shall never be said
in my time that the TIL suffered a
crop cared Irishman TO preach to them
IN their own messroom! You can send
your friend TO me when you please.
He'll hnd me-"
The colonel was wiping the wine from
his chin and neckcloth. He had turned
HtIdnECty pdl6 Ut tile DlOIleII OF the
Insult. More than one 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 the course he took when
he spoke. Nothing In his bearing had
prepared them for 1t; nor anything In
his conduct, which, SO far, had been
that OF a man of the world not too
w FHrfA nt a fnOa- Axsnw a. ~ 80 -
circumstances in which he was placed.
* do not fight" he said. "Your chal-
Aenge is cheap, sir, as your insult"
Payton stared. He had never been
more ~astonished In his life. You do
not fight? Heaven and earth and you
a soldierin
II do not fght.'
After that, man. Not~-after"-
NO" Colonel John said between his
teeth.
And then no one spoke. A something
In Colonel Johns tone sobered the spec
tators and turned that which might
have seemed an ignominy into a trag-
cdy In which they all had their share.
For the insult had been so wanton that
there was not one OF the witnesses
whose ~sympathies had not been with
tthe victim.
Payton acne IA moved only by con-
tempt.
Heavens. man he cried, finding his
voice agaln. Are o a Quaker II
so. why do Q call yourself a soldier?"
ar, iv sSus ser. 0ufunci Jonu an
sswered. but ! do not fight duels.'
"Why?"
"If I killed you the Colonel replied.
cycling him steadily, would IL dry my
neckcloth or clean my face2"
No Payton retorted with a sneer.
"bat II would clean your honor! 1t
@~s.sf ~ewnn$aI 49,. Al.k HM ..-agl.. -
beasts that perish. you valued some
thing more than yonr life"
II do
WHAT Payton asked with a care
Tess disdain.
Among other things. my duty
Payton laughed brutally. why, by
the powers, you are q preacher, he re-
torted Hang your duty. sir. and you
for q craven. Give me acts. not words!
It's a man's duty 10 defend his honor.
and YOU talk OF your neckcloth. There's
for q new neckcloth," He pulled out a
half crown and flung 1t, with an In
suiting gesture. upon the table. SHOW
as your back and FOR the future give
gentlemen OF honor a wide berth. You
arc no mate For them"
The act and the words were too
strong A murmur rose, for If Payton
wax feared he was not loved. and the
Salfcw faced man. whose name was
Marsh. spoke out. Easy payton." he
said. .'The gentleman''--
THE gentleman, eh2"
fSid mot como mere or his own ae-
cord, and you've said enough and lone
enough. For my part
II did not ask for your Interference
the other cried insolently.
Well, anyway
Al ! don't want it! And I won't
fh1rc II. do YOU hear, Marsh ~ Pay.on
rpneatcd menacingly. You know me.
and ! know YOU
know that you are a better fencer
and = better shot thar 1 am Marsh
repHcd. Struggling his shoulders. and
! dartsay than any OF us. We are ant
"a heileve It. anyway. But
II would advise you to let that be
enough" Payton sneered.
Il MAS then thRt the Colonel smoke
and in q tone somewhat altered. II am
much obliged to o sir" he said. adj
dressing the-~aow faced man. ~
ne1 1e TO say one WORD e..ss yshseb
tsey come home TO some among Won
We are all az times at the mercy OF
mean persons. Yes. sir. OF mean per-