The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-08-04
.,,;.ht. 1893. byths AinsIes MeAIne
COPS Company

,,omentarily perpIexed and myst-
tho how turned and scanned the
neu' ~ which be had come. Could he
SsTs in some cryptic manner passed
y" other on the road, or, contrary to
o~noctation. had Moreau taken the
- emf and was he I'VE now in the
DOro face to face with Cameo Kirby1
=. Immediate and conclusive answer
-istol shots ratified out. shattering
Ms cool serenity Of the morning
ND sending a bevy Of frightened rocks
.,-c,inp and cawing high into the
S.ooding blue dome Of the heavens.
cnrcinp his Ill luck, young Randall
s"cad furiously toward the distant
grove.
Colonel Moreau, considerably more
familiar with the town than Tom RAN
soT had indeed availed himself OF the
shortest cut possible and u which
would lead him directly to that en-
+rence the situation Of which Larkin
pnnce had been at pains to explain.
No time could be wasted, for Kirby
was already there, and to keep an adj
versary waiting smacked not only OF
cowardice. but was a direct breach Of
the code regulating such affairs OF
honor. II was characteristic Of Mo-
roam that if left to himself he would
serenely outrage all codes by shooting
a man in the back, but that when OH
eially entered for a combat-such as
m the present o~ccasion-he punctfl-
iously observed both the spirit and the
letter.
Kirby living meant a serious men,
ace: Kirby dead meant security and a
tighter grip on the spoils OF the river.
a reoccupation Of the premier position
from which he had been ousted. Bus1
ness interests and his Owl life clam
ored for Kirby's death. For Bunce.
if be grew troublesome, he would ac-
count, and he could rely on the latter's
remaining true to the code Of their
profession-carrying no tales to the
Randalls, but instead, II he considered
fit, fighting out the issue with the
slayer Of his partner. It can thus be
seen that Moreau In his usual Opt
mistic fashion had the future arrang-
ed entirely to his satisfaction.
Meanwhile he had cautiously entered
the shadow Of the dueling oaks and.
pistol In hand, was slowly threading
his way down the path. the weapon
cooked and resting across his left fore
arm. Thanked on either side by the
giant trees through which fugitive
sunbeams fickered, shooting their
small golden arrows Of light into the
dense and rank underground, he found
some difficulty In accurately discern.
ing distant objects. Although the path
was straight, thus obviating any turn
ing Of angles and a consequent sud
den and unexpected meeting. he could
not see Kirby, and for a moment the
fears Of an deliberately planned am
buscade arose in his unworthy mind
Indeed, the setting offered many In
ducements to one who, like himself
might entertain such a lAudable pur
pose.
These momentary misgfvings were
however, abruptly dispelled, for iron
far down the path Kirby's voice sud
denly broke the silence:
Good morning, colonel! Is tina
you? Are you quite ready? Stand bJ
for I'm coming!'
Moreau instantly turned until b
faced the trees on his right Thus b
presented the smallest possible surfae
to his advancing foe. Although, tn
articles Of agreement called for a. mu
tual and simultaneous advance, he wa
aware that It il. easier to IRE from
fixed platform, and he consequent
deliberately halted, his left ghOulde
thrown forward and the pistol levG
with his eye. He could now dlscer
Kirby. who. unmindful Of all tactics
or strategic advantage, came saunte'
Ing toward him, the right hand daE
Cling carelessly at his side. He wa
whistling. but had Moreau been neare
he would have noted the sinister lin
running from nose to mouth and th
fxity Of purpose in the breeding eye
all Of which. belied the CHEEKY carol.
Moreau, standing like a rock whic
OL- F|"L 1870 40 -
disputed the others progress. waite
and watched. Once he made a sudde
violent movement in the hope
drawing Kirby's fire, but the latte
y needing, continued his seemin
" careless advance. On he came, thi
y PAGES; twenty. and still no sic
rom either man; fifteen, and II
reaus hand whitened at the knu
Kes and his head came slowly dow
as he impaled the other on the sigh
OF his pistol. On came Kirby, st
Whlstling, as if on a pleasure stro
the right hand still dangling careless
at his side.
The nervous tension was fast gro
ing unbearable. Moreau's lose look,
plnched, and the breath whistl
through it. On came Kirby 1T