her, but she had already vanished in the thicket.
The Colonel came up panting. "I've looked all over town for you, and be
dashed to you, sir. Who was that with you?"
"A lady." (Culpepper never lied, but he was discreet.)
"D--m 'em all! Look yar, Culp, I've spotted the man who gave the order
to put me off the floor" ("flo" was what the Colonel said) "the other
night!"
"Who was it?" asked Culpepper, listlessly.
"Jack Folinsbee."
"Who?"
"Why, the son of that dashed nigger-worshipping psalm-singing Puritan
Yankee. What's the matter, now? Look yar, Culp, you ain't goin' back on
your blood, ar' ye? You ain't goin' back on your word? Ye ain't going
down at the feet of this trash, like a whipped hound?"
Culpepper was silent. He was very white. Presently he looked up and said
quietly. "No."
Culpepper Starbottle had challenged Jack Folinsbee, and the challenge
was accepted. The cause alleged was the expelling of Culpepper's uncle
from the floor of the Assembly Ball by the order of Folinsbee. This much
Madrono Hollow knew and could swear to; but there were other strange
rumors afloat, of which the blacksmith was an able expounder. "You see,
gentlemen," he said to the crowd gathered around his anvil, "I ain't
got no theory of this affair, I only give a few facts as have come to
my knowledge. Culpepper and Jack meets quite accidental like in Bob's
saloon. Jack goes up to Culpepper and says, 'A word with you.' Culpepper
bows and steps aside in this way, Jack standing about HERE." (The
blacksmith demonstrates the position of the parties with two old
horseshoes on the anvil.) "Jack pulls a bracelet from his pocket and
says, 'Do you know that bracelet?' Culpepper says, 'I do not,' quite
cool-like and easy. Jack says, 'You gave it to my sister.' Culpepper
says, still cool as you please, 'I did not.' Jack says, 'You lie, G-d
d-mn you,' and draws his derringer. Culpepper jumps forward about here"
(reference is made to the diagram) "and Jack fires. Nobody hit. It's
a mighty cur'o's thing, gentlemen," continued the blacksmith,
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