Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-03-20

felt no desire for further thought, only
an intense anxiety for them to hurry
the preliminaries, and have the affair
settled as speedily as possible. l was
aroused by Moorehouses rather nasal
voice.
Gentlemen, will you please take
your positions. Major Brennan, you
will stand three PAGES to the right
of that sapling, facing directly south.
Captain Wayne, kindly walk straight
west from the shed door until you
come opposite the Majors position"
l noted Brennan throw away the
stump of his cigar, and then l walked
slowly forward until | reached the
point assigned me. My heart was beat
ing fast now, for fully realized the
probabilities of the next few minutes,
and felt little doubt that serious in
jury, if not death, was to be my por-
ton. Yet my trained nerves did not
fail me, and outwardly / appeared
fully as cool and deliberate as my OBJ
ponent. Years Of constant exposure to
peril in every form had yielded me a
grim philosophy of fatalism that now
stood me in most excellent stead. In
deed, l doubt not, had | chosen to put
it to the test my hand would have
proven the steadier of the two, for
Brennan's face was flushed, and he
plainly exhibited the intense animos-
ity with which he confronted me.
fho IND
crates in such moments of exciting
suspense. | recall remarking a very
slight stoop in Brennan's shoulders
which l had never perceived before,
l remember wondering where Moore
house had ever discovered a tailor to
give so shocking fit to his coat, and
finally | grew almost interested in
two birds perched upon the limb of
a tree opposite where | stood I even
smiled to myself over a jest one of
the young officers had made an hour
before. Yet with it all | remained
keenly observant and fully aware of
each movement made by the others on
the field. l saw Cation accept the der
ringer handed him and test it care
fully, the long, slim, blue barrel look
ing deadly enough as he held it up be-
tween me and the sky. Then Moore
house approached Brennan with it's
fellow in his grasp, and the Lieutenant
crossed over, and stood beside me.
Here is the gun, Wayne" he
side, land l sincerely hope you
have changed your decision. There is
no mercy in Brennan's eyes"
$50 I notice" l answered, taking
the derringer from him, and examining
it with some curiosity, "but l shall do
as I said, nevertheless. 1t is not any
sentiment of mercy feel which spares
him, but duty that appeals to me
even more strongly than hate"
by Heaven. wish it were other
wise"
Who gives the word?" 1 questioned
Il do; are you ready?"
Perfectly"
l held out my hand, and his fingers
closed upon it with warm, friendly
grip. The next moment Brennan and
| stood, seemingly alone, facing each
other, as motionless as two statues.
His coat was buttoned to the throat,
his cap-visor pulled low over his eyes,
his pistol hand hanging straight down
at his side, his gaze never waver1ng
from me. 1 knew he was coolly, de-
liberately measuring the distance be-
tween us with as deadly a purpose as
any murderer. The almost painful
stiffness was broken by Cation, and
marked the tremor in his voice
Are you both ready, gentlemen"
Il am" said Brennan.
Ready" l replied.
''The word will be one, two, three
fire; with a slight pause after the
three. A report from either pistol be-
fore the final word is spoken l shall
take personally. Be prepared now"
Ready" said the voice once more;
rise, l lifted mine also, and covered
him, noting, as / did so, almost in won
der, with what steadiness of nerve
and wrist I held the slender gauge
just beneath the visor of his cap. De-
nberately, as though he dreaded the
necessity, Cation counted:
"One two; three-fre!"
My pistol exploded, the charge strik.
ing the limb above him, and | stag,
gered backward, my hat torn from my
head, white line cut through my hair
and a thin trickle of blood upon my
temple. | saw Cation rushing toward
me, his face filled with anxiety, and
then Brennan hurled his yet smoking
derringer into the dirt at his feet With
an oath.
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