The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-01-07
Drake stared at his rifle with face black

u
as Othello's.
"What's the matter with you, hey? Fus'
time you ever served me such a trick,
swami"
And Drake loaded the piece with great
wrath and indignation.
"People said you'd lost your mack o.
shootin'," observed the Colonel, in cut.
ting tone of satire.
"Who said so? It's a lie!" Numbered
Drake. II can shoot
"A horse at ten rods! hal ha!'
Drake was livid.
"Look yere, Colonel, can t stand that!'
he began.
"Never mind, the horse can," sneezed
the Colonel. "I'll risk you.'
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced an.
other ten-dollar bill.
"fere!" he growled, "I'm bound to
have another shot, any way"
"Crack away" cried the Colonel, pock.
eting the note.
Drake did crack away-with deadly
aim, too-but the horse did not mind the
bullet in the least. TO the rage and un-
utterable establishment Of the hunter, old
Roam looked him right in the face, as if he
rather liked the fun.
"Drake," cried Sam, you're drunk! A
horse at dozen rods-oh, my eye"
"Just you shut your mouth, or III shoot
you'll" thundered the excited Drake. 1.-THE
bullet was hollow, I'll swear. The man
lies who says can't shoot Last week
cut off goose's head at fifteen rods, and
kin dew it again. By the Lord Harry,
Colonel, you can laugh. but III bet now.
thirty dollars, | can bring down your old
Roam at one shot.
The wager was readily accepted. The
stake was placed in Sans hands. Ella.
ted with The idea of winning back his two
tens, and making an X in the bargain,
Blake carefully selected perfect ball,
and even buckskin patch, and beaded his
rifle.
twas now nearly dark, but the old hun.
ter boasted Of being able to shoot bat on
the wing by starlight, and without any hes.
itation, he drew clear sight on old Roan's
head.
A minute later, Drake was driving
through the grove, the most enraged, the
most desperate of men. His rifle, inno-
cent victim Of his, lay with broken stock
on the wagon. Sam Barston was too
much frightened to laugh. Meanwhile, the
Colonel was rolling on the ground convul.
sed with mirth, and old Roam was stand.
ing undisturbed under the trees.
When Drake reached home. his two
sons discovered his ill-humor and the mu.
lilated condition Of the rifle stock, hasten
ed to arose his spirits with piece of news,
which they were sure would make him
dance for joy.
"Clear out!" growled the angry old man.
ii don't want TO hear any news, get away,
Or | shall knock one of you down."
"But father, it's such trick!'
"Blast you and your tricks!"
"-Played off on the Colonel"
"On the Coonel?" cried the old man,
beginning to be interested. Cad, i'll
you've played the Colonel trick, less
near it."
"Well, father, Jed and this afternoon,
went out for deer
"Hang the deer come to the trick"
"Couldn't find any deer, but thought we
must shoot something; so Jed banged
away at the Colonel's old Roan-shot him
lead!"
"Shot old Roan?" Numbered the hunter,
by the Lord Harry, Jed did you shoot
he Colonel's hoss?'
81 didn't do anything else."
"Devil! DEVIL" groaned the hunter.
Sand them" pursued Jed, confident the
oke part of the story must please his faith
sr, ''Jim and | propped the hoss up. and
lied his head back with cord, and left him
under the trees exactly as if he
was alive. Ha! ha! Fancy the Colonel
going to catch him! no! no! wasn't it
oke?"
Old brakes head fell upon his breast.
He felt Of his empty pocketbook, and look
ed at his broken rife. Then in a rueful
tone, he whispered to the boys
sit is joke! But if you ever tell of it
or if you do. Sam Barston--I'll skin you
alive! By the Lord Harry, boys, I've been
at that dead horse half an hour at
ten dollars shot''
AT that moment, Sam fell into the gutter.
Jed dragged him out insensible. Sam
had laughed himself almost to death.
LACONICS.
All human virtue increase and strength
Al nj (.L