The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-02-17
The COlOnel,s Horse.

laugh over its perusal
have never been able to ascertain the
cause of the quarrel between the Crick
leys and the brakes. They have lived
within mile of each other in Illinois for
FIVE years, and from their first acquain-
lance there had been amutual feeling of
dislike between the two families.
One day, Mr.. Drake, the elder, was
returning home from Chicago. where he
had been to dispose Of load Of grain,
and Sam Barton was on the wagon with
him. AS they approached the grove
which intervened between them and Mr..
Brakes house, Sam observed to his com
panion
What beautiful shot old Crickley's s
roam is over yonder 7 =
Hang it, so it is,' muttered old Drake.
The horse was standing under some
rees twelve rods from the road.
Involuntarily, Drake stopped his team
He glanced furtively around then, with
q ueer smile, the old hunter took up his
rifle from the bottom Of the wagon, and
raising it to his shoulder, drew sight
on the Colonels horse. 4a.e, I -
Beautiful. muttered Drake, lowering
b is rifle with the air of man who had
resisted a powerful temptation. Il could
drop the old roam so handsome
Shoot!' suggested Sam Barton, who
loved fun in any shape. @
No, 'twont do said the old hunter,
glancing cautiously around.
l won't tell,' said Sam.
wall, | won't shoot this time, tell or
not tell. The horse is too night he
was fifty yards off, instead of twelve, so
there would be bare possibility Of mis-
taking him for deer. I'd let fly. AS it
is, I'd give old Crickley five dollars for
a shot"
AT this moment the Colonel himself
stepped from behind big oak, not half
a dozen PAGES distant, and stood before
Mr.. Drake.
Well. why don't you shoot p
The old man stammered out some
words in confusion.
That you, Colonel IL was tempt
ed to, declare. But as l said, III give
you V for pud.'
Say an X, and it's bargain
Drake felt for his rifle, and looked at
the old horse.
How much is old roam worth p he
whispered in Sans ear
About $50.'
well. I'll do it. Here's an X
The Colonel pocketed the money, NUT
terlng I'll be hanged if | thought
you'd do it,
With high glee the old hunter put a
fresh cap on his rifle. stood up in his
wagon, and drew close sight on old
roam. The Colonel put his money in his
pocket, and chuckled too.
Crack we 1t the rifle. The hunter let
out horrid oath which l will not here
repeat. Sam was astonished, the Colonel
stared !; old roam never stirred.
Drake stared at his rifle with face
black as Othello's.
What's the matter with you, hey
tust time you ever served me such
trick, | swan =
And Drake reloaded his piece with
great wrath and indignation.
People say you've lost your knack of
shooting, said the Colonel, in tone of
cutting sarcasm.
who said so? It's lie = thundered
the enraged old hunter. Il can shoot
: A horse at ten rods. Ha ha!
Drake was livid.
Look here, Colonel, | can't stand
that he began.
Never mind, the horse can, sneered
the Colonel.
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced
another \. Here he growled. I'm
bound to have my shot, saa
Crack away said the Colonel, pock-
citing the note ul
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 disgust of the old hunter, roan
stared him right in the face, as if he liked
the fun. .srio.r e.I3ss.H t..s
Drake cried Sam, you're drunk.
A horse at dozen rods o Lordp
Shut your mouth, or TIL shoot you,'
cried old Drake. The man lies who
says | can't shoot. Last week Lieut. a
goose's head at fifty rods, and l can do
il again. Crickley, you can laugh now,
but III bet You fifty dollars that | can
bring down old roam at the very next
shot, -d'
The wager was readily accepted. The
stakes were placed in Sans hands. Flat
ed with the idea of winning back his two
tens and making several in the bargain,
Drake carefully selected perfect ball,
and with buckskin patch, carefully
loaded his rife. is ~
1t was now nearly night, but the hun
ter was in the habit of boastng that he
could shoot a bat on tie wing by star
light, and without hesitation he drew
bead on old roan's head. vsM pess
A moment later, aud Drake was driv-
ing through the grove, the most enraged
and desperate of men. His rifle, inno-
cent victim of his ire. lay with broken
stock in the bottom Of the wagon. Sam
Barton WAS too frightened to laugh. In
the meantime. the gratifed Colonel was
rolling on the ground, convulsed with
mlrth, and old roam was standing under
the trees. ~ 'is5
H Whan IL n.o1,o Il,