The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-03-20

minutes slipped by in this manner
and once more Fentress addressed Ma
haffy.
'Do you know what could have de-
tanned him." he inquired, the ghost Of
a smile curling his thin lips.
81 don't" said Mahaffy, and relapsed
into a moody and anxious silence. He
held duelling in very proper abhor
renee, and only his feeling of intense
but nerve-declared loyalty to his friend
had brought him there.
Another interval of waiting succeed
ed.
81 have about reached the end of my
patience; l shall wait just ten min
utes longer" said Fentress, and drew
out his watch.
Something has happened" began
Mahaffy.
81 have kept my engagement; he
should have kept his" Fentress contin-
ued, addressing Ware. 81 am sorry to
have brought you here for nothing,
Tom"
"Wait!" said Mahaffy, planting him
self squarely before Fentress.
81 consider this comic episode at an
end" and Fentress pocketed his watch.
Scarcely" rejoined Mahaffy. His
long arm shot out and the open palm
of his hand descended on the colonel's
face. 81 am here for my friend" he
said grimly.
The colonel's face paled and colored
by turns.
Have you a weapon?" he asked,
when he could command his voice. Ma
haffy exhibited the pistol he had car
ried to Belle Plain the day before.
"Step off the ground, Tom" Fen
tress spoke quietly. When Ware had
done as requested, the colonel spoke
again. you are my witness that was
the victim OF an unprovoked attack"
Mr.. Ware accepted this statement
with equanimity not to say indiffer-
ence.
Are you ready" he asked; he
glanced at Manaffy, who by slight il
clination OF the head signified that he
was. 81 reckon you're a green hand
at this sort of thing?" commented
Tob evilly.
YES" said Malay tersely.
well, listen; shall count one, two,
three; at the word three you will fire
NOW take your positions.
Mahaffy and the colonel stood fac
ing each other, distance OF twelve
PAGES separating them. Mahaffy was
pale but logged; he eyed Fentress un-
Quick on the word Fen
tress fired, an instant later Mahany's
pistol exploded; apparently neither
bullet had taken effect, the two men
maintained the rigid attitude they had
assumed; then Mahaffy was seen to
turn on his heels, next his arm drop
ped to his side, and the pistol slipped
from his fingers, a look of astonish-
ment passed over his face and left it
vacant and staring while his right
hand stole up toward his heart; he
raised it slowly, with difficulty, as
though it were held down by some in.
visible weight.
A hush spread across the field. 1t
was like one of natures invisible
transitions. Along the edge of the
woods the song Of birds was stricken
into silence. Ware, heavy-eyed-Fen
tress, his lips twisted by a tortured
smile, watched Mahaffy as he painted
for breath, with his hand clenched
against his chest. That dead Cypress
i've silence lasted but moment; from
out of it came cry that smote on
the wounded mans ears and reached
his consciousness.
Its Price" he gasped, his words
bathed in blood, and he pitched for
ward on his face.
Ware and Fentress had heard the
cry, too, and running to their horses
threw themselves in the saddle and
galloped off. The Judge midway of the
meadow roared out furious protest
but the mounted men turned into the
highroad and vanished from sight, and
the judges shaking legs bore him
swiftly in the direction of the gaunt
figure on the ground
Mahaffy struggled to arise, for he
was hearink his friends voice now,
the voice of utter anguish, calling his
name. At last painful effort brought
him to his knees. He saw the judge,
clothed principally in gaily colored
bed quilt, hatless and shoeless, his
face sodden and bleary from his de.
bauch. Mahaffy stood erect and stag
gered toward him, his hand over his
wound, his features drawn and livid,
then with cry he dropped at the feet
of his friend.
Solomon! Solomon" And the
;,5o, lnolf boci5o him