Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-05-11

Whats the matter with you, hey 2 Fus
time you ever served me such trick, swan l''
And Drake loaded the piece with great wrath
and indignation.
People said you'd lost your mack o shoot
ing" observed the Colonel in a cunning tone OF
satire.
"Who said so ? it's lie!' thundercd Drake,
| O. can shoot"
! "a horse at ten rods ha ha -
| Drake was livid.
g Look yere. Colonel, can't stand that" he
| began.
Never mind, the horse can,' sneered the Co.
lionel, I'll risk you"
| Grinding his teeth, Drake Produced another ten
dollar bill.
.'Here," he groaned, I'm bound to have an
other shot, any way"
E'Crack awav," cried the Colonel, pocketing
the note.
Drake did crack away-wih deadly aim, too
but the horse did not mind the bullet in the
least. To the rage and unutterable astonsh-
mem of the hunter, old Roam looked him right iu
the face, as if he rather liked the fun
g Drake" cried Sam, you're drunk \
horse at dozen rods-oh, my eye"'
''Just shut your mouth, or I'll shoot you !''
thundered the excited Drake. g The bullet was
hollow, I'll swear. The man lies that says
can't shoot !'' Last week cut off a goose's head
at fifty rods, and can do 1t agin. BY the Lord
Harry, Colonel, you can laugh, but I'll bet now
thirty dollars, l can bring down old Roam at one
shot,
The wager was readily accepted. The stakes
placed in Sans hands. Elated with the
idea of winning back his two tens and making
an X into the bargain, Drake carefully select
ed perfect ball, and even buckskin patch, and
beaded the rifle.
1t now nearly dark, but the old hunter
boasted of being able to shoot bat on the wing
by starlight, and without hesitation he drew a
clear sight at old Roan's head.
minute later, Drake was driving through
the grove the most enraged the most desperate
of men. His rife, innocent victim of his ire, lay
with broken stock on the bottom of the wagon.
Sam Barston was too much frightened to laugh.
Meanwhile, the gratified Colonel rolling
the ground convulsed with mirth, and old Roam
was standing undisturbed under the trees.
When old Drake reached home his two sons
discovered his i'll humor and the mutilaled con-
dition of his rifle stock, hastcned to his
spirits with a piece of news, which they were
sure would make him dance for joy.
9 Clear out ~ growled the angry old man, q
don't want to hear any news get away or I'll
knock one of you down"
:. But father, it is such trick"
Blast you and your tricks
played off on the Colonel
On the Colonel" cried the old man, begin
ming to be interested. @ God if you'ye played
the Colonel trick, let's hear it."
''Well, father, Joel and l. this afternoon, went
out for deer"
Hang the deer come to the trick
Conldn't find any dear, but thought that we
must shoot something; so Joel banged away at
! the Colonel's old Roan-shot him dead
Shot him dead - thundered the hunter.
q By the Lord Harry, Joel, did goa shoot the
Colonel's old hoss
= l didn't do anything else"
I Devil Devil ~ gIoaned the hunter
:. And then" pursued Joel, confidant the joke
part Of the story must please his father, g jim
| and propped the horse up, and tied his head
back with a cord and left him standing under
the tree exactly as ifhe was alive. Ha ha
| fancy the Colonel going to catch him no ho
wa mt it a joke
! sOld brakes head fell upon his breast. He
felt for his empty pocket-book, and looked at
his rifle. Then in rueful tone he whispered to
the boys:
s.It's Joke. But ifyou ever tell ofit-or il
you do Sam Barston-I'lI skin you alive! By
the Ford Harry, boys. I've been shooting at that
dead horse half an hour, at ten dollars shot.
At that moment Sam fell into the gutter. He
had laughed himself almost to death.