The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-10-02
NEAR KILLING POINT
But the Rare Diplomacy Of a
Girl Prevented a
Duel.
BY ELLIoTT WALKER.

renunclatory curse, quite duulole W
the white faced girl planted squarely
with spread feet and barring arms in
the cottage doorway.
"There!" he exclaimed, wrathfully
Have your own way. Now, will you
let me out, Mel Hanwood?"
Yes, on one condition"
We'll, rap 1t on. l shan't put up
with any more nonsense. What is it?'
He took a step forward.
only that you'd kiss me and say
you amt mad"
Melvina's voice held a sob OF relief.
mingled with a reproachful tender
ness; a very different tone from the
shrill appeal of the previous minute.
Augustus Sharley vented snort Of
impatient despair. He laughed grimly.
"Of course I'm mad" he snarled;
but his fierce eyes softened to a
milder light, and he took another
step. You women beat the devil"
Certainly we do. That's what we're
for. If it wasn't for us the old Nick
would have every one of you men.
There's one hot-headed, good-for-noth-
ing l want for myself. Come here,
Gus"
Sharley struggled in vain to tear
away from the clinging arms and
caressing lips, trying to maintain his
fast dissipating fury of purpose.
Don't laugh, Mel" he said, serious
ly. We've sworn to shoot on sight.
and Clews is looking for me. It'll be a
fair meeting. He won't drop me with
out warning, nor l him. Too much
has been said on both sides for any
make up business. l tell you when
old friends fall out like this, it's worse
than strangers. Every little difference
we've had for years, and kept down
because we were friends has boiled up
to the killing point and there's no way
out. We know each other Either
man would rather die than take back
his word. What do you think we're
made of, anyway"
Iron and butter" smiled the girl
still holding him. According to cir
cumstances. But won't say another
word dear. It's your fuss and III
back you, just as you say Dave Clews
girl is backing him. My hope has
been that you two men might cool
off,"
I'VE won't. Not while our blood's
circulatin'. Now, I've lstened and let
you have your way, Mel. There's my
gun. I'll go up through the woods to
Snake Spring, sit there for half an
hour, think it over and come back
That's what you asked. It's of no use
though. The more l think the uglier
| get"
Melvina HAYWOOD released him sud
denly.
Go, then" she said, turning he1
face.
His hand, long and sinewy like his
frame, rested for a second on the
bright hair, then his leaving stride
crunched out among the scraggy
pines.
1T makes a little time, anyhow,
sobbed the girl, land keeps EN- part
Dave is as set as Gus. wouldn't &c
to him, even if thought he'd listen tc
sense. He's down at the cross roads
probably, knowing Gus will have tc
go by to reach home. Do hear father
snoring on the porch! How mad he'll
be to miss shooting, but | won't tell
him. No, sir. Like as not he'd take
his rifle, get full, bore somebody, and
hang, He is behaving now. and
want one relation left"
Holly the sun poured its rays on the
fragrant pine chips littering the yard
as Melvina stepped out with pan Of
scraps for the chickens. In her per
plexity and woe she went mechanical
ly about her duties, hoping DULY for d
cyclone to sweep clean the face oi
Turpentine City, and watt its 200 in
habitants to that realm where the 10
cal product would be everlasting de
mand. All but herself and Gus. They
should be spared for life of happi
ness and peace. She smiled sadly al
the childish thought, gazing at cloud
less blue over the silent trees. Tbs
outlook was not cyclonic.
A shadow fell across the Lntidy
plot. Instinctively, MelVina felt its
substance to be Dave CleWs.
Standing transfixed, her brail regu
lating to a clear Intensity of wary
thought, Melvina continued, with un
seeing eyes, to stare at the sky, 8
slight. motionless. absorbing figure ir
brown calico, open-mouthed, apparent
ly unconcerned.
"Mornin' Mel. What you see W
thar?" The gruff voice was amused
and hearty.
The girl wheeled slowly with {
merry, welcoming laugh.
An angel" she retorted, "a six-foot
stout-armed angel, In a slouch hat anC
high boots, with lovely, droopin
mustache, and eyes of--er-no partic
ular color, comm to fetch me g pal
Of water from the big spring because
our well-rope has gone 20 feet to thu
bottom And 10! here he is. Wait ;
roinute and I'll get the pail
Darling inside to the pantry, sht
caught up a big tin milk pail. and re
turned to find Clews standing in thu
doorway. his eyes fixed upon the ia
ble
Whose gun, Mel?" he inquired
sharply. Seems to me know tina
weapon"
You ought to, Dave. Gus bought /
Uf you." returned Melvina. carelessly
u remember the time. 1t was whel
you was pinned down by a fallen tree
and rattlesnake singing death SOM
just behind your head. You reached
that same revolver to Gus, for h
couldn't use his AK quick enough. Of
| account of the tree trUuk Lucky TO