Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-03-26
NUMBER u.
Colonel Crickley's Horse.


brakes. They had lived within a mile of each
other for FIVE years, and from the first of their
acqu aintance there had been mutual feeling of
dislike between the two families. Then
misunderstanding about the boundary of their
respective farms revealed the latent flame, and
Colonel Crickley having followed a fat buck all
ore afternoon, and wounded him, came up to
him and found old Drake and his sons cutting
him up. This incident added fuel to the fire,
and from that time there was nothing the two
families did not do to annoy each other
One evening Mr. Drake the elder was return
ing home with his pockets full of rocks, - from
Chicago, whittier he had been to dispose of
load of grain. Sam Btrstow was with him on
the wagon, and as they approached the grove
which interviewed between them and Mr.. brakes
house, he observed to his companion.
"What beautiful mark Crickky's old roam
is over yonder |"
Hang it ~ muttered Drake, L" so it is"
The horse was standing under some trees
about twelve rods from the road.
lnvountarily Drake stopped his team-he fur
lively glanced around, then with queer smile
the old hunter took up his rifle from the bottom
of the wagon, and, raising it to his shoulder,
drew n sight on the Colonel's horse.
" Beautiful y he mut;ered, lowering his rifle
with the air of "A man resisting powerful temp
tation. 81 could drop old Roam so easy p
Shoot, suggested sam Barstow, who loved
fun in any shape.
glancing around him again.
al won't tell, ," said Sam.
Wal, won't shoot this time, any way, tell
or no tell. The horse is too nigh. It he was
fifty rods off, instead Of twelve, so there'd be
bare possibility OF mstakine him for deer, I'd
let fly. AS IL is, d give the Colonel five dollars
for shot"
AT that moment the Colonel himself stepped
from behind big oak not half dozen PAGES
distant and before Drake.
Well, why don't you shoot2"
The old hunter stammered in some confusion
-" That you, Colonel II was tempted to, and
as said, IN give II V for one pull"
"Say an aud its n bargain -
Drake felt of his rifle aud looked at old Roam
" How much is the hoss worth p he muttered
in Sans ear.
About fifty"
Cad, Colonel, I'll do it Here's your X"
The Colonel pocketed the money mutterng-
Hanged if thought you Il take me up -
With high glee the old hunter put n fresh cap
on his rifle, aud stood up in his wagon, close
sight on old Roam. Sam Barsow chuekled.
The Colonel put his hand before his face aud
chuckled too.
Crack, went the rife. The hunter tore out
horrid oath, which will not repeat Sam
astouished. The Colonel laughed. Old Roam
never stirred
! Drake stared at his rife with look black as
| " Othello's.' whats the matter with you,
| hey r Fust time you ever sarved me quite such
IL trick, swar p
Aud Drake loaded The piece with great wrath
and indignation.
People said you lost your knack of shoot
ing" observed the Colonel, in cutting tone of
satire.
"Who said so2 It'sa lie /" thuudered Drake,
81 can shoot"
" A horse at ten rods Ha, hap
Drake was lvid
Z" Look yere, Colonel, | can't stand that" he
began.
Never mind; the horse can" sueered the
Colonel. III risk you"
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced another
ten dollar bill
"liere p he growled, 81 am bound TO bave
one more shot, anyway"
Crack away" cried the Colonel, pocketiog
the note.
Drake did crack away-with a deadly aim, too
but the horse did not mind the bullet in the
least To the rage and unulterahe astonish-
ment of the hunter, the old horse looked him ia
the face, as ii he rather liked the fun.
" Drake" cried Sam, "you're drunk
horse at a dozen rods-oh my ewes"
" Just shut your mouth, or III shoot you"
thundered the excited Drake. "The bullets
was hollow, I'll swear. The man lies who says
can't shoot. Last week, | cat off goose's
head at fifty rods, and kin do il agn. BY the
Lord Harry, Colonel, you can laugh but I'll
bet you thirty dollars that can bring down old
Roam at one shot"
The wager was readily accepted, The STAKES
were placed in Sans hands. Elated with the
idea Of winning back his two tens aud making
an " > into the bargain, Drake carefully Sc
lected perfect ball, and buckskin patch, aud
beaded his rifle.
A minute later Drake was driving through tho
grove, the most enraged, the most desperate of
, men. His rifle, innocent victim of his ire, lay
with broken stock in the bottom of the wagon.
Sam Barstow was too scared to laugh. Mean
while the Colonel was rolling conyulsed with
mrth, and old Roam was standing undlsturbed
under the tree
When Drake reached home, his two sous dis
covered his ill-humor aud the mutitIed eoud-
ton of his rifle stock, and FASTENED to arouse
his spirits with piece of news which they were
sure would make him dance with joy.
" Clear outl growled the angry old man, :"
don't want to hear any news get away, or ! u
, knock one of you down T.
, - But, father, It's such trick -
" Blast you and your tricks ~
played off on the old ColonelW
"On the Colonel, cried the old man, begin
ming to be interested. Cad, it you We played
, the Colonel trick, let's hear il #"
"Well, father, Joe and tes afternoon went
out for deer"
" Hang the deer-come to the trick"
" Couldn't find any deer, but thought We
must shoot something's so Joe banged away ut
, the Colonel s old ROhn-shOt him dead y
' Shot old Roam" thundered The old man.
"By the Lord Harry, Joei did you shoot the
, Col0ne's hOssY'
i" | didn Z do anything else"
" Devil, devil ~ groaed the old hunter.
"And then" pursued Jack confident the
joke part of the story must please his father,
- Joe aud propped the dead horse up and tied
his head back with a cord, and left him stand
ing under the trees exactly as if he was alive.
Ila, ha, fancy the Colonel going to catch him
Ho, no. ho, want il a joke p
Old Brakes head fell upon his breast. tic
, felt his empty pockeJ book, aud looked at his
, rife. Then, in rueful tone he whispered to
! hia hova