Then he paced off ten paces, gave the men the choice of positions by tossing up a dollar, and Kent Lomax won.
Both took their positions, Schuyler Cluett with a quiet smile of confidence upon his face, and Kent Lomax calm, cold, but haggard, stern and determined.
The sun was now up, gilding the tree-tops and causing the dew to sparkle like diamonds upon the grass.
It was a pretty scene, and yet one that had been selected to be desecrated by a tragedy.
Each man took his position, revolver in hand, and standing to one side, Rayford said:
"Gentlemen, I am to give the word as follows:
"One, two, three, fire!
"Between the words three and fire, you are to pull trigger, and you can keep firing until one or the other falls, or you empty your weapons.
"Now, are you ready?"
Both nodded in the affirmative, and then in a loud voice came the fatal words: