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LIKE OTHER MEN
By Frederic Van Rensselaer I)cy,
Author of “The Brotherhood of Silence,” “The
Quality of a Sin," Etc.
Copyright, 1001, by Frederic Van Rensselaer Dey.
CHAPTER rv.
A I.ASSO DUEL.
\ ;: T ANARUS) MAXWELL did not.
li iMever, solid his son away,
hut In- dal the next best tiling
SHSK-J from his standpoint, of the
circumstance's—lie kept him constant
ly at his side on one pretext or another,
so that Lisle had very little chance to
follow out any inclinations that were
original with himself. Ilis father’s
watchful, restless eyes and keen intel
ligence anticipated everything which
might have embarrassed His theories
or created interrogation point* In the
mind of the youth, and day after day
passed without Incident other than
those of such constant occurrence that
they had ceased to be noticeable. It
was rarely, too, that Craig Thompson
found an opportunity to converse with
his young friend, for whom lie had
conceived such a strong and unaccount
able liking.
One day when the work of sorting
and separating was nearly completed,
Craig rode over to Maxwell’s camp and
asked for Lisle, and one of the men
having pointed him out, at some dis
tance, where he was riding slowly to
ward the slope of the mountains, Craig
gave chase and soon came up with
him.
"Say, Lisle,” he said as soon as they
were side by side, “do you remember
Juu Cummings
"No; 1 never heard of him,” was the
reply.
“Well, he thinks he lias heard of you.
1 thought he had gone east, but he’s
shown up here, aud he’s looking for
you.”
“Looking for me? I don’t know him.
Who Is lie?”
‘Tie’s the fellow that worked for me :
that you winged—the one who said
that yon were cut out for a girl and all :
that. Remember now?”
“Yes."
“He’s minus a bit of one of his ribs, |
but he’s about as good as ever, and
he's a bad egg if there ever was one.
He’ll hurt yon If lie gets a chance.
That’s what 1 wanted to tell you."
“I do not fear him,” said Lisle
haughtily
“Who said you did? Not 1. 1 would
not be heri preaching toyou if I thought
tlini you were afraid. Put l want to
warn you about this fellow. He hasn't
made any breaks, and he won’t, be
cause he knows that if l had a handle
to take hold of Hint would prove that
he was looking for you Pd make mince
meat of him in no time. lie hasn’t said
anything: not a word; not he. but he
stands around and watches you out of
the corners of his eyes and grins like
a bloody coyote, so that l know that
he’s up to something. All that I want
ed to say on this matter is for you to
keep your eyes peeled so that he can’t
get a chance to take you unawares.
The games will he coming on In a day
or so now, and then ;s when you must
have your peepers behind as well as in
front of you The txiys like to have the
games mixed up with a light or two,
and if Cummings gets a fair chance at
you and opens the ball in what these
cusses call a gentlemanly way it would
not do for me or for Dick Maxwell to
take a band in, for if we did we’d have
seven or eight outfits goitw all at once,
and there’d be a graveyard started
here that a dozen eastern doctors could
not fill in two years AM you’ve got to
do is to keep your ’trinkets' In good
working order, so that you can use any
of them at short notice. Do you know
him by sight?”
“Yes— that is, I will remember him If
I see him.”
"All right; that’s all. I’m going back
lie went away then, and Lisle rode
on. speedily forgetting everything that
Craig Thompson Lad said, for hts mind
was busy with other problems that had
been suggested to it by his sojourn in
the Smoky valley and which were des
tined to tax to the utmost the explan
atory powers of his father.
The day soon came when the work of
the round up was completed, and the
time for play arrived. There was a
broad stretch of level ground near the
center of the valley, and that was se
lected for the place where exhibitions
of skill in horsemanship and the use of
various weapons were to take place.
The men. nearly 200 all told, lined up
*>n either side of the selected ground,
borne remained In their saddles, oth
ers stood leaning against their horses,
and others, still, tethered their animals
some distance away and stood In
groups, discussing the events that were
about to take place or busied them
selves arranging for succeeding ones.
It was a wild and beautiful picture,
and even the cattle grazing along the
slopes raised their heads oftener, sniff
ed the air more frequently and mur
mured their muttering bellows in a
deeper tone, as though the excitement
of autieipnLon had communicated it
self to them.
The first entertainment on the pro
gramme was a foot race, and Richard
Maxwell was requested to measure off
the distance to be run. This he de
clined to do. whereupon Lisle volun
teered to act. His services were ac
cepted. and he dismounted from his
horse, leaving it in the care of one of
his mea while he started off alone
down that stretch of open ground.
CTeig ' ..ymn s:,w 'im leave his
horse and ,_o to the center of tin
ground, where, after marklmr the; uoli:
of beginning, lie began to pace the dia
tance for the contestants to run.
"The fool!” muttered the old ranch
man. “If I haven’t lost all, my Judg
ment. this is Just e chance that Jim
Cummings will take.”
Nothing occurred, however, until
Lisle had paced the 150 yards and fac
ed about to return. Then, up at the
head of the line, a horseman was seen
to detach himself from the surrounding
group, spur his horse into a gallop and
dash at full speed straight toward the
solitary figure In the center of the tour
nament ground. He was bending well
forward In his saddle, his right arm
was raised above him, coiling and
twisting- like a long and sinewy ser
pent was the loop of his terrible lasso,
more feared on the plains as a weapon
of offense than all other known imple
ments of warfare.
Lisle saw and recognized him in
stantly, and if he had not the loud
shout that went up from the spectators
would sufficiently have warned him,
for there was not a man there who
did not know the meaning of such an
act. An old grudge Masto be settled.
A long standing feud was to come to
an end one way or another. A duel to
the death Mas to be fought In their
presence, and, although everybody
could see that the advantage Mas un
fairly on one side and that the man on
the ground was practically at the mer
cy of the other, that was regarded as
his own fault, one that he should not
have committed while an enemy M-as
near at hand, one Mitli which they
eouid not and would not Interfere.
Many of them were aware of the inci
dent of the shooting affair between
Cummings aud Lisle Maxwell, and
now they were to witness the final act.
The “code of the plains” permitted the
man attacked In such a manner to
make use of any weapon at Ids com
mand, aud the unerring marksmanship
of the youth was familiar to every man
there. Every one expected to see him
pull his revolver aud curtail hostilities
with a single shot.
At the instant when Lisle discovered
that he was an object of attack be
glanced toward tlie spot where he had
left his father. He sau Hiui start for
ward os if to run to his assistance, and
be saw Craig Thompson, who had
hastened to his side as if he antici
pated the move, seize him around the
body and hold him firmly, and he could
Imagine what the ranchman said, al
though of course he could not hear It
“ Keep hack. 'Dick: keep back! The
kid'll be enough for him. and besides
the boys would put a rope around you
before you had gone a dozen steps.”
That was what he did say. and after
ward he retained bis grasp upon Rich
ard Maxwell's arm. fearful of what be
might do In the excitement that was to
come.
Lisle smiled, well pleased. He real
ized thoroughly the dangpr of hla posi
tion, but he was not afraid. As he
turned bis eyes back again toward his
antagonist he drew his revolver and
raised It, but as he glanced along the
barrel he saw that If he tired there was
Imminent danger that the bullet might
pass through or beyond its objective
point and Injure one of the spectators
who formed the group around his fa
ther. He thrust It back again Into his
belt and drew his knife, smiling when
he heard a cheer go up from the crowd
In admiration of his coolness and brav
ery. Then, planting his feet wide
apart, he waited.
He knew that if that fatal loop once
settled around his shoulders he would
be dragged down to certain and horri
ble death. Cummings km w It, too.
and so did the men who looked on.
There was a hideous grin of exulta
tion on the face of the hoi*seman while
be rode slowly toward his intended vie
tint. There was no need for haste.
The lad could not escape. The loop of
the mounted man’s rawhide lasso coll
ed and twisted, writhed and hissed
above and around his head as lie ad
vanced to the attack, and Lisle stood
with upraised knite awaiting him.
Twice Cummings rode all the way
around him. toying with the lasso and
Jeering In an ecstasy of fury, circling
to the left and decreasing the radius
with each turn, playing with his in
tended victim, and as he circled Lisle
continued to face him, never taking his
eyes from the hand that held the rope.
Then Cummings perceptibly Increas
ed the speed of his horse, describing
the circles still more narrowly. Riding
madly at last, he approached nearei
and nearer to his intended victim, the
deadly rope never ceasing to writhe
and twist above his head, as if it were
possessed of life and hatred and was
eager to fall upon its prey.
Suddenly bis arm straightened out,
and the loop was released from his
grasp. At the same Instant Lisle leap
ed into the air. The rope struck him
upon the head and fell harmleasly
aside, and another cheer went up from
the spectators. Cummings laughed
and dashed away, gathering the lasso
quickly for another throw. In a mo
ment he was ready, and the circling be
gan anew, while Lisle, seemingly as
cool as ever, faced hhn steadily and
with unflinching courage. Three times
the horseman made the turn. Then
Lisle saw him rise in his stirrups. The
deadly loop left his hand. It seemed
to hang in midafr over his head In ser
pentine curves which changed their
forms with every fraction of those per
ilous seconds which seemed like hours.
Lisle made no further effort to dodee.
He knew that such tactics must soon
become futUr; that ultimately the rope
must cue tacks him. II wave better that
It should do so now while he was fresh
and still master of every faculty. He
remained perfectly still and waited un
til the loop was almost upon him. and
then, with a quiet motion, be placed
his hands in the position that one as
sumes wljco In the act of diving—to
gether and directly above hts bend—
and so permitted the cell to encircle
him.
It fell true and accurately. The horse
ridden by Cummings was pulled back
upon hts hasssches. sad tfeen. Impelled
by the cruel spurs and ti#bt vein of its
master. It wheeled and leaped auay.
As the coll tightened around him Lisle
managed to seize the rope beyond the
knot with his left hand. His right
hand mil grasped Use knife. Then
came that awful Jarir. Be was drag
ged from his feet headforemost to the
earth. As be fell he succeeded In
sbortnktßff Ms Ml arm and reaching
out hts right hand, which had not loos
ed Its hold upon fha knife. The keen
edge touched the ttphSeaed rawhide,
and it parted.
Instantly he was upon his feet again.
There M-as blood upon his face, but he
did not know it. He turned and ran
with all hia speed tseaei the nearest
group of spectators.
A bowl of derision went up from the
mob. It thepqhs tMPhs eras-running
away. But that mob did not know
Lisle Maxwell.
“Somebody's horse!" he shouted as
be ran. "Lend me a borse and a
rope!"
A man spurred toward him, dis
mounted and thrust the bridle into his
grasp. It was Craig Thompson. But
Liale did not sea Man He only saw
the horse. ,In an Instant he was In the
saddle with Craig’s lasec firmly in his
graep. He wee ahafcea and breathless
by the experience through which he
# K
BP jHHk mB •.
Hit arm straiqhtened out and stiffened
had Just passed, tea# Its van upon equal
ground with his antagonist now, and
he gloried in the consciousness of his
own superior ability. Something new
had awakened wMMa him, and he
dashed Into f%* BMa gg tor the
combat. Not half a minute had parsed
since the cutting of the lasso, and yet
Cummings had found time to tie an
other loop and wm riding madly back
ago rii. The hoottag of the crowd
changed again to chasm ft was not to
be cheated at Mn mm after ail. The
kid was game. Be wootd not run
away.
Warily, though rapidly. the antago
nists approached cash other, guiding
their horses atVpCtoalty. ftwlftly and
silently they rode round and round,
their riatas twisting and hissing like
cotltag suba to Um air above them.
The first throw mast hs the last, for if
one failed the other would succeed.
Both linear that. Stsategy alone could
mark the victor to that strange duel.
Both mads the cam at the same In
stant Both were tree. Cummings'
arms were ptaleaed a* his sides, but
Lisle, with admirable forethought, kept
his right hand poised In tbs air, so that
the lasso to Mfflhp ewer httrf caught
and held only hts Mi ana against his
body. The boroca, trained by lone
practice, knew quite as well as their
riders the parts fhap had to perform.
They remained stock still, straining
upon the ropw and holding them taut.
The tableau lasted oatp so Instant,
but it wae a toe ml us at time that was
fraught with tremendous excitement.
Then Lisle's free hmd dropped to his
holsters. It leaped up again, the arm
straightened out sad stiffened with
deadly aim, these mss s loud report,
and Jim Ct warnings pitched headlong
from his ss ßfito to too earth. Ills horse,
frightened, started away. Lisle would
have been dragged down and killed
even then had not his right arm been
free. He dropped the pistol and seized
the rein*, digging the agon Into Thomp
son’s bores, ehsstag the ether, and rid
ing tbns madly ho succeeded In thrust
ing his one fire# herd Into one of bis
pocketa Wtmm ha Anon It forth It
contained a clasp knife. He opened the
blade with hi* teeth and cut the rope.
While the cowboys were cheering
and throwing their asmbreroe into the
air, firing tbetr pistols and otherwise
testifying to tbefe far and sedevlng the
pressure at susprtiss tmdsr which they
had labored, Ogig Thompson rode out
to Lisle and met him.
"Kid," hs ssM, and his voice was
husky with emotion, Tro proud of
you! Hang me If 1 ain't! Jnst make
S speech to them fetors now, short and
to the point*
But Lisle scarcely beard him. He
cantered to tbs center of the ground
and raised his right arm to enjoin si
lence. Wins fe WSP SMhtored. be rose
in his stirrups and lunWft bis head
slowly from side to side until be took
In all who were there. Then he spoke
In a elsar, ringing voice which every
one beard.
“If there to any ether person here
who thin** fta t warn cot out for a
woman and spotted la the making,
now to the time to ■peak,’* be said.
He*d aMaama fallowed his words, and
after waiting arfMnl time be raised
his hat, sainted them all and cantered
to his father's aid*. But the only words
that greeted him where be expected
the mpMat *ra*as taaa the calm an-
nonncemeai:
"\Yc will take tlie trail in n hour.
Lisle. See that you are ready You
i may invite Mr. Thompson to accompa
! nv us if lie cares to do so.” And then
without n word in reference to the
' combat lijcfiani Maxwell mounted his
horse and rode away.
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Perry Davis’. Price 25c. and 50c.
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Great Weather Calendar.
The Chattanooga Medicine Cos.,
the manufacturers of McElree’s
Wine of Cardui and Thedford’s
Black Draught, have just issued
the 1902 edition of the Caidui
Weather Chart and Calendar. This
calendar has sprung into universal
prominence by accurately foretell
ing the Galveston flood and pre
dicting the droughts and floods of
the past summer, a year ahead of
each occurience. This office has
just received one of these calen
dars, which consists of twelve
sheets of paper, 13x20 inches in
size, all fastened together with a
gilt tin strip and a brass loop
hanger. Each sheet cohtains the
calendar for one month in large
figures that can be read across the
room. Under the figures patent
weather signals indicating Prof.
DeVoe’s Weather forecasts for
every say in the year appear. We
understand a few copies of it can
be secured by sending 10 cents
apiece in postage stamps to The
Chattanooga Medicine Cos., Chat
tanooga, Tenn.
DON’T GET THIN
get fat; get nice and plump; there
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But weather is tricky; look out!
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A. J. Snell wanted to attend a
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that two doses cured me and en
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Druggists.
<0
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A BIG SALE
IN
GRRTERBELE.
#
Selling Out at Cost
MY ENTIRE STOCK OF
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Dry Goods, Etc.
Now is the time for you to get your Bargains.
Come and sne at once the goods must be sold as I am
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year. Don’t fail to see me before you buy as I will
save you money.
J. BERNSTEIN
At the Blue Front,
West Main Street, Cartersville, Ga
uu
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Signature /Kv'
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