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Show 190 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. played that little trjck to test his affection, she said, and if he did not come soon, she would think he didn't love her and would sneak off like a guilty thing and drown herself. The old dough-head believed her, yoked up his oxen, went to Denver, and brought her home to train again! Better a mill-stone had been hanged around his neck, for they said she talked to him in sulphurous dialect, serenaded him with chin-music after the lights were blown out, found cobwebs in his hair and split kindling-wood over his shoulders. Finally she ran off with another gambler, and the old man actually died of a broken heart. "There is nothing like a frontier town for thrilling events," he continued. " We have had some very remarkable duels here. About twenty years ago two gentlenfen, who were in every respect valuable citizens, quarreled about some trifle, I've forgotten what, but it resulted in a challenge to mortal combat. We were all greatly distressed, for they were good fellows and we made every effort to pacify them, but without effect. They agreed to fight with hatchets, thirty paces apart. Mr. Bressler, that handsome blacksmith across the way, sharpened the hatchets, and the work was well done; they were as keen-edged as razors. The gentlemen practised so earnestly that almost every tree around the town received a scar from their weapons. The evening before the fight was to come off one of them received a letter from his mother, in which she informed him that his antagonist was the son of her dearest friend, and she hoped the boys would love each other like brothers. This letter brought about a reconciliation, and they are still living, both filling prominent positions in other States. "Well," said he, "I started out to tell you about a duel, |