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Show 83 It 0 E l3 U UK. \V 0 haYC triell to rnn a 1nn<:hinc th:-tt c:-ttft go right nnk~:1 you 1nak' thir1 y 1nil1i on~ o[ propl UIHlerstnnd t1 1e :ut ~f goyrrnmrnt. It rrC]nircs n1l tbo:c Yank('es nwny np in l\l:1ine to nndrrst:~ n(~ .the in1rrr r. ·ts of n11 tho~e ireol 8 aw:1y (lown in T.Jotw,mna. ) ott set> tho end of jt,, ana nOW you ·wanL to 1ight for a frc" goYcrmnent of the same sort. Yon JlHtfiL be Y(•ry <.1 rnnk to-<lay, Bob. N O\\r, Sin1. Franks, you ought to be :l sol<.1ier. Your ~ knll is a life-insuranec." " You take care of yotu· own Rkn1l. 'Vhy don't you volunteer?" " Oh, I intenll to be a. con1111issary. I "~ant to bo in the eating uncl drinking dep:ntn1rnt. I'll make one big conLincntnl ~·JH·ce out of this 'vnr." "I never thon ght you 'vas a cownr<l nforc." "Because I mu not a coward, 1nm:>t I fight n1ercly for fnn ?" ' I've seed you do it." ""\Vell, hero is fun," s:1.id Baxter, turning t~ look into the street. Two 1nen there sat on horseback, facing one nnoth0r. They had the nppearancc and dress of n1iddling 1:n·n1 r;;. One had a reel hcacl and the hair of the otJtcr ·wn~· whit.y-brown. They had evidently tastocl the cup \Vl1ieh docs inebriate. Ilalting at the same n1otncnt, they eyed each other with drunken defiance, and th n engngeu in n. polite and obliging conversation, 'vhieh att.ractccl the aLtention of Baxter. "Sir," said the man of fiery top-knot, " you must excuse me, sir, but I have been credibly informed, sir, that you said, sir, you 'vould whip 1nc, sir, the first time you laid eyes on Inc, sir." " Yes, sir; your infonnation is correct, I an1 happy to jnform yon, sir." " If you are not blind, sir, you can lay eyes on me now, sir." HOEllUCK. S7 .. "If ?ron 'vi1l c1o 1nc thr fhvor to got oiT yont horse, su, I wilt 11ow <.1o wl1nt I )H'On1iRc l Fiir." "\Vith great plcnsnn', r~ir. " T.h~y Ji.·mo nnLed, :t11<.l giving th eir hri 11es ton. s'"\rYanL 1 rmn tho tavern, took oH' 1 h ir onts nll<l f'qn:lrccl 1ltcmseh:cs_ for n (1.ucl of iists. They nppro:wh <1 c:ldt other Wlt.h a pqrade of fuirncss anu civility tho u.c•lt ·with nn te~ay g:tit. ' ·""' ~. N O\V strike 1ne, ~ir, if you please," sniu ·\Vhit;rbro\ vn. "No , ~J.r , you are nnclcr pro1niRc to ·whip n1e. sir. Si.rike first, Hi r." The 1nan of threats aeccpte<.l t.he invitation nnd after a flo uri ·h .or fi.tP? di~-;ch:u·s· 'cl a blo\v with nll l1is n1ig ht. Bu,,t ahe n11sseu h1s nnt.ngoui~t and i~ll upon the oTonncl. t . . r b e up: sn·, I )_'OU ~~l c~ ' C," Rai(l llC of t11C red lJnir, and he '~~utc<l lutt tl lus requc~.;t \vas obeyed and tho othrr bell,gorcnL \\':ts r ady for a Rl'C01l<1 romHl. Then wi~h 1nore i()rtunate ain1 th:u1 111(' latler, J1 Hcnt th~ :vluty-bt.·own head to the ground ngnin. ACt r lookIng- at hun in the dust a n1oment, tl1e olhrr walked oir towan.~ a gra::;s plot besi<lc the ro:td, an<l said-'' Come here, sn·; that street is <.lirty, sir." The [;t1J 11 bcllio-ereut arose a~1d followed hin1. Then the fight contin~lcd for SOine tnnc 'vith various fortunes, but as both combatants " rcrc c:tsil y up ·et and n either 'voul<l strike a daugerous blow, very little Ja1nngc ,vas done. At la t, 'vhcn both ·were 'veary, n.nJ the challcno-er or threat~ner \\'as dowu, his ad vcrsary stood ov~· hin1 and satd- " Now cry enough, sir; l'1n sure you've got enongh." "N over." "Tl1 cn, st· r, you :tre drunk or a fool, sir. I scorn to fight a n1an, sir, that's too drunk to kno'v ,vhen ho's 'vhipped, sir." |