Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-19


volume of gold that was being taken
own his heart grew harder and harder
toward the man who had swindled
him. Time and again he determined
to go and have it out with Bryant, but
each time he was soothed and dissuad-
ed by his wife, who argued that either
he would kill Bryant or Bryant would
kill him. If he killed Bryant he would
be murderer. He always gave way to
her persuasions.
One day while Starkweather was out
prospecting he found it necessary to
pass around the side Of q cliff where
the trail was but from one to three
feet wide. Looking ahead, he saw q
man coming. Starkweather was in
rags. The other man was dressed In
an expensive mountain costume. A
second glance told the former that the
latter was the de facto owner Of the
Excelsior mine. He had grown ro-
tund and about him was an air OF i'm
portance begotten by prosperity.
The meeting was one Of contentment
and despair. Mrs. Starkweather was
not there to caution her husband and q
resolution flashed upon him to take at
least a slight revenge. He would force
the man who had ruined him and his
family to give way before him. There
was no part Of the path between them
more than twenty-four inches wide.
Bryant. seeing a man such as he was
used to commanding coming. did not
change his gait, expecting to be per-
mitted to pass without trouble. Stark
weather stopped at the narrowest spot,
standing square in the trail.
"Step aside. my man." said Bryant
You don't recognize me-"
Bryant started. The voice first told
him who opposed his passage. Then !
beneath a beard that had grown griz-
ely under trouble the face Of his for
mer partner revealed itself to his Wis
ion.
"well?" said the mine owner, NOE
knowing what was to follow.
Turn about and go back" >;
"why should 1 do thatr'
Because it is fitting that q rascal
should give way before the man he
has swindled."
Bryant was frightened at being
caught with a precipice below him,
his way stopped by the man he had
defrauded, but made a desperate ef-
fort to appear calm.
"My old and esteemed friend" con-
tinued Starkweather, II have often re-
solved to take out Of your hide re-
venge for my ruin. but my patient
wife has always dissuaded me on the
ground that IL I killed you would be
a murderer. Here Is an opportunity
for us to have 1t out together, neither
surviving to pass into the hands of
the hangman. I propose that at a
given signal-you may give 1t II you
like-we draw and begin firing"
81 am unarmed," replied Bryant,
| paling. Having but a short distance
to go, left my revolver behind me-"
| Starkweather took his weapon from
its holster and threw 1t over the cliff.
! Some seconds after 1t reached the bot
| tom the sound came up to them.
LET 1t be a fight with fists" he
said, ''or a wrestle with arms and
legs"
Bryant looked in Starkweather's eye
and saw there resolution to take his
revenge at the expense of hia own
life.
Are you readyr' asked Starkweath-
er, advancing a step.
Had it not been for an immutab BILE
purpose. plainly written in Stark
weather's eye, his opponent might
have tried to argue with him or to de-
ceive him by promises. but he saw
certain death for himself and the man
| he had wronged
"What do you wish me to dor"
Flight"
~ mean what recompense for any
wrong l have done you do you wishr'
"Oh. never thought of thatr'
II will agree" Bryant proceeded. 10
turn over to you some Of my stock IN
the Excelsior Mining company"
1T is not your stock; it Is mine
Come. let US begin the struggle.
don't wish to take any advantage Of
you while your mind Is on another
matter"
For heavens sake. mani At the
slightest jar we viii both go over the
cliffw
II have made up my mind to that"
81 will do anything you ask"
You will never get out Of this fight
without acknowledging on paper how
you swindled me-"
Bryant hesitated. then resorted to a
subterfuge. 81 have neither pen nor
paper" he said.
81 have both. In my pocket Is q
map of region In which am on the
way to prospect, and have pencil"
Taking both from his pocket, he add
ed. write confession. and / will let
you pass without a fight"
Bryant knew that 1t was death or
surrender. so be wrote the confession.
That night when Starkweather went
home he showed the paper to his wife
and they were happy for the first time
since they had become argonauts The
Excelsior mine was reorganized with
the controlling interest In the hands
Of its real owner.