Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-12-11
COLONEL CRICKLEr's HORSE.

the origin of the quarrel between the
Crickleys and the brakes. They had
lived within o mile of each other for
five years, and from the first Of their
there had been mutu-
al feeling of dislike between the two
families. Then some misunderstood
ing about the boundary of their re-.
spective farms revealed the latent
flame, and Col. Crickley having fol-
lowed fat buck all one afternoon,
and wounded him, CAME up to- him
and found old Drake and his sons cut
ting him up. This incident added
fuel to the fire, and from that there
was nothing the two families did not
do to annoy each other.
One evening Mr.. Drake the older
was returning home with his "pock-
ct full of rocks" from Chicago,
whittier he had been to dispose of a
load of grain. Sam Barstow was
with him on the wagon, and as they
approached the grove which inter
vened between them and Mr.. brakes
house, he observed to his companion
"What beautiful mark Crickley's
old roam Is over yonder 2"
Hang 1t ~ muttered Drake, $50 II
is"
The horse was standing under some
trees about twelve rods from the road.
Involuntarily Drake stopped his
team-he glanced furtively around,
then with q queer smile the old hun
ter took up his rife from the bottom
Of his wagon, and raising it to his
shoulder, drew asight on the Colonels
horse.
Beautifully" he muttered, lower.
ing his rifle with the air of man re.
sisting powerful temptation. al
could drop old roam SO easy ~
Shoot" suggested Sam Barstow,
who loved fun in any shape.
4" No, no, 'twouldn't do" said the
old hunter, glancing around him
again.
~ won't tell" said Sam.
"Wal, I won't shoot this, any way,
tell or not tell. The horse Is too high.
If he was fifty rods off instead Of
twelve, SO there'd be bare possibili.
ty Of installing him for a deer, I'd
lot fly. AS it is, I'd give the Colonel
five dollars for shot.
At that moment the Colonel him
self stepped from a big oak, not a
half a dozen PAGES distant, and before
Drake.
"Well, why don't you shoot ?"
The old hunter stammered In some
That you, Colonel p
IL was tempted to, and as / said
I'll give avn for one pull"
Say an AK" and it's bargain =
Drake felt of his rifle, and looked
at old Roam.
How much Is the hoss worth p
he muttered in Sans ear.
"About fifty"
"Gad, Colonel, I'll do it? Here's
your "X.n
The Colonel pocketed the money
Hanged IL I thought you'd take me-
upw
With high glee the old hunter put
a fresh cap on his rife, and stood UP
in the wagon, a close sight on ole
Roam. Sam BarstOn chuckled. Tit
Colonel put his hand before his face
and chuckled too.
Crack, went the rifle. The hunter
tore out an horrid oath, which / will
not repeat. Sam was astonished. =
The Colonel laughed. Old Roam
never stirred.
Drake starred at his rife with a
look, black as Othello's, "What',
the matter with you, hey? Fus tim,
you ever sarved me quite such trick
l swareW
And Drake loaded the piece with
great wrath and Indignation.
People said you-lost your knack O
shooting" observed the Colonel, In I
cutting tone of satire.
"Who said so? It's q liew thun
dered Drake" / can shoot"
A horse at ten rods ha la !"
Drake was livid.
Look yere, Colonel, can't stant
that he began.
"Never mind, the horse can,
sneered the Colonel, I'll risk YOU"
Grinding his teeth, Drake produce,
another ten dollar bill.
Here !" he growled, "I'm boun,
to have another shot, any way"
"Crack away" cried the Colonel
pocketing the note.
Drake did crack away-wlth dead
ly aim too-but the horse did no
mind the bullet In the least. To tn
rage and unutterable astonishment q
the huutcr, old Roam looked him Il
the face as ifhe rather liked the fun
Drake" cried Sam, lyon mr.
drunk? horse at a dozen rods-oll
my eyes "
AUST shut your mouth, or III shoe
you" Numbered the excited Drake