Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-10-07
NEAR KILLING POINT
But the Rare Diplomacy of a
Girl Prevented a
Duel.
By ELLIOTT WALKER.

Sharley laid his revolver on the deal
table in Tanner Hanwood's kitchen,
struggling his wiry shoulders with a
ren11ciatory curse, quite audible to
the white faced girl planted squarely
with spread feet and barring arms in
the cottage doorway. E@--..
| THERE" he exclaimed, wrathfully.
Have your own way. Now, will you
let me out, Mel Hanwood?"
Yes. ON one condition"
well, rap it 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 sob of relief.
| mingled with 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. Ii 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.
". 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 ] him. Too much
has been said on both sides for any
make up business. 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 tn ere'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 I 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
on"
we won't Not while our bloods
circulatin'. Now, I've listened 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 think the uglier
! get" 1E..
Melvina HAYWOOD released him sud-
denly.
Go, then" she said. turning her
face.
His hand, long and sinewy like his
frame. rested for second on the
bright hair, then his leaving stride
crunched out among the scraggy
pines.
1T makes q little time, anyhow"
sobbed the girl, land keeps EN- part.
Dave Is as set as Gus. wouldn't 60
to him, even If thought he'd listen to
sense He's down ar the cross roads,
probably, knowing Gus will have to
20 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 it's 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
cyclone to sweep clean the face OF
Turpentine City, and watt its 200 in.
habitants to that realm where the To-
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 at
the childish thought, gazing at cloud
less blue over the silent trees. The
outlook was not cyclonic.
A shadow fell across the untidy
plot. Instinctively, Melvina felt Its
substance to be Dave Clews.
Standing transfixed. her brain regu-
lating to q clear Intensity OF wary
thought. Melvina continued. with I'M
seeing eyes, to stare at the sky. q
slight. motionless. absorbing figure in
brown calico, open.mouthed. apparent
~ unconcerned.
-Mornin' Mel. What you see up
thar" The gruff voice was amused
and hearty.
The girl wheeled slowly with
merry. welcoming laugh.
An angel" she retorted, "a six.foot.
stout.armsd angel. In q SLOUGH hat and
high boots. with lovely, droopin'
mustache. and eyes of-er-no partic-
ular color, comm to fetch me pail
Of water from the big spring because
our well-rops has gone 20 feet to the
hottom And LOT here he IT, Wait n