The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-09-13
AN Old MANS
VENGEANCE
Murderer's Career Brought
to a Fitting Close.

contestants took an unIalr uuVahthge
Of the otherf'
"Yer referrin' to the set-to In the
Empire saloon last night. Vas; the
Texas man shot t'other feller when he
was lookin' down on the floor lOr a
half dollar he'd dropped"
ado you know the Texas mans
name, suh?"
mo, sir; he hain't been here long.
why are you consarned about hlmT
"I've been lookin TO man, sub, and
when heard that this Texas man had
done a mean, murderous rick / won
vered IL he weren't the mai, I'm lookin'
for. Has he been arrestedf'
"Well, no.. There amt nobody here
as likes to tackle him."
BY this time number Of citizens
had gathered round the man who was
looking for some one. lie was white
headed old man, but very erect ana
with plenty of vigor, at least In his
eye He was very well d.essed and
had the air of n gentleman.
There he is now" said pne OF the
bystanders as man emerged from a
saloon and walked across the street.
The stranger started the blood rush
ing into his face, then rushing back
again His hand shook. Indeed, he
trembled all over. Then T. mastered
himself and said coOlly:
Gentlemen, that's the man I'm look.
in TO-. request yO' purmission TO
change the co'se Of the law somewhat
] would like TO fight the accused
There was a look of surprise on the
faces Of those standing by.
"Oh, he'd eat you up" said one Of
them Hes young and spry and mean
enough to rob dead niger"
81 know I'm not young, sub. How
could | be when served under Gener.
nj Lee In Virginia? Trust me, sub;
rye Just enough grit left In me to
tackle that man-not another man; that
| particular man"
The stranger turned ana walked to.
ward the object of his search. The
crowd went with him. The Texas man
saw them coming and gave them de.
fiant glance. Suddenly he recognized
the stranger and paled.
| 'I've found yo' ut last. Jim." said the
old man. "but I've had n long hunt
Then, turning to the crowd, he added:
"rhis man and desiah yo' purmission
TO settle private mnttah. VIII any
gentleman present make the arrange
mentsT'
A representative man was urged for
ward and at once began to provide fol
a meeting. The principals were tt
step back into the clearing" Off the
street; stand thirty PAGES apart and n
signal advance, firing TIL their re
volvers were emptied. The crowd sub
mitted under protest, for they did no
1 doubt that the Texas man would com
NIT another murder.
Slowly as at u burial, for no ont
doubted that one at least Of the enc
niles would die. the party passed be
tween two houses and proceeded owe
cracking twigs throuf'i wood to tn
clearing. The Texas man ana tn
stranger walked little In advance
the former peering straight before him
M IL 10 escape the flxed glance OF tn
veteran, who kept his head turned to
ward his enemy, never for n momen
relaxing his gnze o. q only did tn
murderer turn to meet that relentles
glance and then he shuddered as
the very marrow In his bones had bee
frozen. one of the followers who hel
the advance ana saw the expressio
of the old mans eyes dropped bac
and whispered to another: "rhet ain
no live man. He's come back from tn
dead to avenge some wrong"
In the center Of the cleared spac
+ the party stopped. The manager Of tn
: affair examined the principals to max
n sure they had no concealed weapons
v relieving the stranger of two revolver
n and knife. and then placed them
V position, handing ench II revolver. Th
master of ceremonies stood with "A phi
:. tol In his hand waiting for the crow
70 get back out OF the way. Now thI
the Texas man was face to face wit
" his opponeat he seemed to have passe
@ under II spell lie was covering III
d der the others merciless glance. vainl
= endeavoring to turn his own asld
= Then the veteran, AS II to give the ma
n a chance to recover his eQuanimit
:. turned to the manager and said
1--WE ar waitin' TO yO, sub"
, The manager with deliberation rai
= ed his weapon to give the signal. Il
+" veteran still looking ut him. then ju
d before the signal turned again to h
B. enemy. The Texas man had apparen
p ly recovered from the spell and whf
x the signal shot rang out raised h
g. weapon with the rapidity Of lightnir
and sent bullet tearing his opponent
coat at the side Of the left breast al
passing between the breast and Il
arm. Before he could fire again Il
veteran had emptied chamber OF h
revolver. The Texas man stretch'
himself upward on his toes there wi
u red hole In the very center Of Il
u forehead and fell. His enemy stepp'
10 over to where he lay and looked dow
ID at him. The fallen man shuddered al
rs was dead
II. "Stranger." said the manager. I'VE
a. = a. A. !,