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Show )! A NOVEL. DUEL. The Principalg TValk iuto a Dark Room Fiiled with Tarantulas. The details of one of the strangest duels ever fought has been brought to this city, says a Las Vegas letter, by a prospector who has been in the mountains moun-tains southwest of Las Vegas. The country is near the border line between Old and New Mexico, and the people " " thereare a mixtni'fyf the two races. Mexican fell out over a young woman they both loved, and the result was that the enmity became too great to be carried, car-ried, and it was determined to end it in a duel. The matter came about in an unusual way, however, and it was not a regular challenge and acceptance, but while in company of mutual friends the Mexican taunted the American with being a member of a race of cowards and said the Americans had no bravery. The American, of course, disputed this and said he would test the Mexican's bravery brav-ery if he wished it. He would be willing will-ing to go into a dark room with the Mexican and there decide the point. But the stipulation was that in the dark room there should also be a lot of tarantulas turned loose. If either came out alive he was to have the girl. If either showed the white feather and came out before the death of the other, or before all the tarantulas was killed, he should give up all claim to the girl. The Mexican was disposed to refuse, but the fear of being looked upon as a coward caused him to accept. The room was prepared and the two men went in. There were at least:a dozen tarantulas in the room and also two scorpions. The American walked boldly into the room and took his stand, while the Mexican followed, but was hesitating hesitat-ing in his manner. The doors had been closed but a short time until the Mexican Mexi-can was heard to scream out that he was bitten and was dying. The doors were opened and he staggered out and fell to the floor. The American walked out unhurt, and then it was found that the Mexican had not been bitten at all, but had scratched his hand on a protruding nail in the wall and had thought it a spider's bite. |