The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-07-30
CHAPTER VI.

1ESPITE his fifty odd years,
D Colonel Moreau set out for
ks,56z1 his destination at so vigorous
CEay pace that Tom Randall. who
confidently expected to dog the others
steps. was dlsagreeably disappointed.
for by the time he had gained the first
corner around which the estimable de-
fender of the family had disappeared
the latter was nowhere in sight Fa-
miliar with the city and its environs.
the boy possessed knowledge of sew
eral time saving short cuts 10 the
dueling oaks. but this on the present
occasion he considered useless. for, ig-
norant of the exact spot where the
combatants were to meet, there exist
ed no alternative but to press on In the
wake of Moreau. who he had every
reason to believe had taken the famil-
lar and direct route. Thoroughly i'm
bued with the desire and expectation
of witnessing Kirbys death and thus
in measure glutting his vengeance.
young Randall broke into run. conf
dent that on turning each successive
corner he would come In sight of the
serene and indomitable colonel. But
time and distance few by until at
length the tall trees bordering the
grove broke upon his vision. and as yet
his quarry had not been run to earth.
Momentarlly perpexed and mysti-
fed. the boy turned and scanned the
way by which he had come. Could he
have In some cryptic manner passed
the other on the road, or. contrary to
all expectation. had Moreau taken the
short cut, and was he even now in the
grove face to face with Cameo Kirby :?
For immediate and conclusive answer
two pistol shots ratified out. shattering
the cool. serenity Of the morning
and sending bevy of frightened rocks
clrcling and cawing high into the
brooding blue dome of the heavens.
Cursing his III luck. young Randall
raced furiously toward the distant
grove
Colonel Moreau, considerably more
familiar with the town than Tom RAN
dali. had indeed availed himself Of the
shortest cut possible and one which
would lead him directly to that en-
trance the situation of which Larkin
Bunce had been at pains to explain.
No time could be wasted for Kirby
was already there, and to keep an ad-
versary waiting smacked not only of
cowardlce. but was a direct breach of
the code regulating such affairs of
honor. 1t was characteristic of Mo-
reau that If left TO himself he would
serenely outrage all codes by shooting
man In the back. but that when off,
clally entered for combat-such as
on the present occasion-he punctil.
iously observed both the spirit and the
letter.
Kirby living meant serious men.
ace; Kirby dead meant security and u
tighter grip on the spolls of the river
reoccupation of the premier position
from which he had been ousted. BuA
ness interests and his own life clam
ored for Kirby's death. For Bunce
If he grew troublesome. he would ac.
count and he could rely on the latter's
remaining true to the code Of Their
professlon-carrying no tales to the
Randulls, but instead. II he considered
at. lighting out the issue with the
slayer Of his partner. 1t can thus bt
seen that Morean In his usual opti
mistic fashion hal 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 thu
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