Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-27


to you they would hold me account
able. I can handle this affair much bet
ter without you than with you, and
want you to leave 1t entirely In my
hands"
Atwood demurred for awhile. but
finally consented, provided that If there
was any serious risk TO be taken he
was to be permitted to take it HIM
self. This closed the conference. and
the two parted.
Chandler went to the hotel, where he
asked for Mr.. Markham, and when
that gentleman was pointed out to him
asked for a few moments private con-
versation. Markham led him apart
from the others, and Chandler said:
MY friend Atwood has received
what he considers a challenge from
you and has asked me to say to you
that he will meet you; but, being the
challenged party, he insists upon max
ing the terms. He proposes that. to-
morrow morning at 6 o'clock, you leave
this hotel and ride down the stage
road eastward. He will meet you
within a mile or two Of this place,
probably near the yellow house. Just
three miles from here. You are to car
~ one 10 caliber six shooter; he tho
same. When you meet on the road
either or both are at liberty to open
fire at will"
Markham pronounced these terms
very different from the code to which
he had been used to in the south, but
they appeared to be fair and he con-
scented to them.
That evening Chandler, Atwood and
the ladies spent at the bungalow to-
gether. All Chandler said about the
affair with Markham was that 1t was
! in a fair way of settlement. He pro-
posed cards and appeared to take so
great an interest in the game that nei-
| Their the bride nor her sister suspected
that anything Of Importance was at
/ hand. All went to bed at II O'clock.
| Long before dawn Chandler went out
in his stockings, carrying his boots in
his hands, and. going to stable near
by, got out a horse, mounted him and
took the road TO Idaho Springs. He
went. however, only as far as the yell
low house he had mentioned to Mark
ham, where he left his horse and at
o'clock started to walk back to
| Georgetown.
The mountains inclosing this valley
are very high. The moon standing
on the meridian had that CHASTITY hue
it takes on when daylight has robbed
her Of her normal golden color. The
air was crisp. Just the morning for
orIro ~
to himself.
When Markham saw Chandler he
was three miles distant. Chandler was
of different build from Atwood and
the fire eater thought him some one
else.
When q third OF the interval be
tween them had been eliminated,
Chandler fired a shot to let his enemy
know that he was the man to be killed.
| Markham was surprised. He consid-
cred that he had run n great risk in
not recognizing the coming man as his
enemy, judging Chandler to be about
500 yards from him. He waited till
sufficient time had elapsed to draw his
enemy within range, then, taking a
sure aim, sent n shot The enemy did
not fall. Nor did he open fire. He
continued to advance. Markham sent
, another shot 1t produced no effect.
! having fallen short, though Markham
did not know this. He was astonish-
ed that though his opponent continued
/, to advance he got no nearer. What
could be the matter? Was his enemy
a real man or phantom?
Presently Chandler raised his weap-
on and fired. Markham was not yet
within range, and Chandler knew 1t. He
sent the shot to start up his enemy.
He succeeded. Markham, thinking his
, antagonist to be within a few hundred
, feet of him, sent two shots in rapid
succession.
Chandler had expended one shot to
Markham's four. They were not yet
, within range, but Chandler raised his
revolver and appeared to be taking a
deliberate aim. This drew another
. shot from his enemy.
They We're now barely within killing
distance Chandler fired shot, but It
fell a trife short Markham emptied
; his last chamber. The ball struck
/, Chambers shin, but only bruised IL.
He was about to fire again when he
, saw Markham draw another revolver.
Running forward zigzag, Chandler
, suddenly stood face to face with his
! enemy. took deliberate aim and shot
, his man through the heart.
When the story of the fight was told
, in Georgetown Chandler was upheld
, as having done his duty as citizen
toward visitors. Atwood complained
that Chandler had taken risk that he
i, had promised he atwood should take
! IL it were to be taken at all. But
, Chandler averred that with an enemy
a unused to the Colorado atmosphere
there was no risk in the premises.
+ Miss Thurston saw Nr. Chandler in
. an entirely different light from before
r the saving Of her brotheein-law's life.
r She not only consented to be his wife,
n but to remain with him in a region
n which she had found to contain real