The News and courant. (Cartersville, Ga.) 1901-1904, December 19, 1901, Image 8

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mot = 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. When Your .Joints Ai e Stitt’ and your muscles sore from cold or rheumatism, when you slip and sprain a . joint, strain your side or bruise your ankle or hurt your self, Painkiller will take out the soreness anti fix you right in a jiffy. Always have it with you, and use it freely. Avoid substi tutes, there is but one Painkiller, Perry Davis’. Price 25c. and 50c. A DEEP MYSTERY. It is a mystery why women endure Backache, Hcabache, Nervousness Sleeplessness’ Melancholy, Fain ting and Dizzy Spell when thous ands have prQved that Electric Bitters will quickly cure such troubles. “I suffered for years with kidney trouble,” writes Mrs. Phebe Cherley, of Peterson.. la., “and a lame back pained me so f could not dress myself, dut Elec- ’ trie Bitters wholly cured me, and, although 73 years old. I now am able to do all my housework.” It overcomes Constipation, improves Appetite, gives perfect health. Only 50c at Young Bros’. Drug store. A ll Evangelist’s Story. “I suffered for years with a bronchical or lung trouble and tried various remedies but. did not obtain permanent relief until I commenced using One Minute Cough Cure,” writes Rev. James Kirkrnan, evangelist of Belle River, 111. “I have no hesitation in recommendfng it to all sufferers from maladies of this kind.” One Minute Cough Cure affords imme diate relief tor coughs, colds and all kinds of throat and lung troi - bles. For croup it is unequaled. Absolutely Very pleasant to take, never fails and is really a favorite with the children. They like it. 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 is safety in plumpness. Summer has tried your food works; winter is coming to try your breath-mill. Fall is the time to brace yourself. But weather is tricky; look out! Look out for colds especially. Scott’s emulsion of cod-liver oil is the subtlest of heips. It is food, the easiest food in the world; it is more than food, it helps you digest your food, and get more nutriment from it. Don’t get thin, there is safety in plumpness. Man, woman, and child. A. J. 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Browns’l>*o Bitters is sola by all dealers. (960 Drops] Wmm AYcgetable Prcparalionfor As similating the Food and Regula ting the Stomachs and Bowels of iNTANH/CHILDftEN I Promotes Digestion,Cheerful ness and Rest.Conlains neither Opium .Morphine nor Mineral. Not 74arc otic . afOUl Dr SAMUEL PITCHER fran/Jan Seal' . jtlx.Smna * I HaktlU Salts - I jbdse Seed e 1 fesu** / WirrpSeed- \ hmteryreen Flavor. / Aperfect Remedy forConstipa- Tion. Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ■ness and Loss of Sleep. Fac Simile Signature of NEW YORK. Alb mnnifis oldk . J 5 Don vs - ]yOt N rs' EXACT COPY OF WRAPPER. If You Are in Need of FURHITURE. It Will Pay You to Call On Jackson, Griffin & Cos. We carry a lull line of cheap, medium and fine furniture, carpets rugs, mattings and trunks and .-an suit von in both price and quality COFFINS ATS I> CASKETS. In stock at all times and our Mr. Jackson is prepared to doeinbalming when desired. Call and see us for anilnng von need in our line. JACKSON, GKIFFIN A CO. A BIG SALE IN GRRTERBELE. # Selling Out at Cost MY ENTIRE STOCK OF GlotliiSlioes.Htits, 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 going to make a change in business by the first ot the 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 For Infants and Childs The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the / . Signature /Kv' of w j\ Jr ,n /yf Use For Over Thirty Years CmORIA THE CENTAUR COMPANY. NEW YORK CITY.