The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1910-08-26
meeting. saying that he would think i,


he told me he had formed plan. i
was to purpOsely meet Murphy and
slap his face. Some OF our friends
were to 60 with me to see that MUIR
ply did not draw knife or pistol
on me. the object being to force him
to challenge me. The plan the doctor
had In view turned upon the terms.
which were sure to give me an advan-
tage over my e1emy-indeed. 50 great
an advantage that. while could con-
Quer him. ! need not kill him. In 9TH
er words. the affair was to be not a
duel. but a method of Kidding us both
of Murphy's persecution.
The next evening went to the bar
room of the tavern where Murphy had
given the insult and where knew he
was to l,e found every evening drink
INK mint juleps. entered the room
With two friends. and. that ! might
not be considered to have come espe-
cio'ly to find him. we called for juleps.
paying no attention to Murphy. who
sat ut a table with another man. On
seeing .sie he scowled. but said moth
ing till we had finished our juleps and
were about to leave. As we passed
him he Kissed:
yankee curr'
brought the palm Of my hand
across his cheek and quickly stepped
back. and my friends placed them
selves between him and me. One Of
them said to him:
You have repeatedly injured a man
whose ancestors were South Caro-
linians. He Is worthy Of his fathers.
and. though they were gentlemen.
which you are not. be is ready to give
you satisfaction. shall expect to
hear from you at my house at your
convenience"
With that we left the tavern.
Mr.. Murphy now had to choose be-
tween sending me challenge and be-
Ing considered In the neighborhood
what he had called me-a eur" The
challenge came. and l handed 1t to DR..
Armitage. A reply went back that I
would meet Murphy. but. being the
challenged party. must insist on my
own terms These were cavalry sa-
bers In dark room, the time limit Of
the contest to be fifteen minutes. Mt
the expiration Of which the doors
were to be thrown open and the affair
ended. The hour Of the meeting was
to be o'clock p. m. or at twilight.
Twenty-four hours elapsed and we
were beginning to think that Murphy
had been bluffed when a reply came
accepting the terms. A bedroom was
secured at the tavern from which ev-
cry article of furniture was removed
except the carpet There were but two
windows. which were boarded up, rem
dering the room as nearly dark as pos
sible.
At half past DR.. Armitage, my Sec
ond. and myself entered the tavern
and passed upstairs to a waiting room
that had been assigned us. The doc
tor took out Of his vest pocket a vial
and camel's hair brush.
''Sit down there" he said. pointing
to an easy chair.
! obeyed. and. dipping the brush In
the vial. the doctor drew the former
across my eyes. This done he band
aged them. and ! remained for some
twenty-five minutes in total darkness.
At 8 O'Clock the bandage was remov-
ed. passed across hallway and en-
tered the room where was to meet
Murphy. There was another door by
which he was introduced to the ROOM
The two doors were closed simultane-
ously. and we were in total darkness.
At least we were supposed to be in
total darkness. Murphy was really so.
! was not. DR.. Armitage, having Glilat-
ed the pupils Of my eyes by means OF
drug and then having kept them
bandaged for awhile. had enabled me-
to take advantage of the little light
that filtered through any crack in the
windows or bet ween the door and the
Sill. was astonished. knowing. as l
did. that every possible ray had been
shut out from the room. that could see
Murphy with fair distinctness. could
also see that he was obliviOus to every
object in the room. including myself.
advanced stealthily and touched
his chest with the point of my saber.
He drew back. aud | made a defour
to another part of the room. 1t was
amusing to see him grope. every mo-
ment expecting that he might receive
a thrust. could not discover the ex-
preston on his face. but bis attitudes
were quite plain TO me. Most of the
time he sidled along the wall. but at
the slightest sound from me would
retreat In any direction his fright die
tated.
For awhile amused myself by
getting quite near him and touching
him with my saber. His agony at
such times must have been extreme.
But. finding that my increased sight
was diminishing. l presently began
to give him some singing blows with
the nat Of the steel. In this way
felt justified In Furnishing him for his
insolence and now and again be-
labored him soundly. He struck at
me wildly. but was never where his
thrusts came or his blows fell Once
he made so quick stab that barer.
had time to avoid getting the pc, at
OF his weapon In my ribs. Irrits' red.
/ ADDrOachpd him md uovo -