The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-11-13
Colonel Crickley's Horse.

within mile OF each other for five years.
and from the first Of their acquaintance
there had been mutual feeling Of dis
| like between the two families. Then
some misunderstanding about the boundry
of their farms revealed the latent fame,
and Colonel Crickley having followed a
fat buck all one afternoon, and wounded
him, came up to him and found old Drake
and his sons cutting him up.
This incident added fuel to the fame,
and from that there nothing the two
families did not do to annoy each other
One evening, Mr. Drake, the elder,
was returning home with his 'pocket 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 in
tervened between them and Mr.. brakes
house, he observed to his companion,
"What beautiful mark Crickley's old
roam is over yonder -
Hang it ~ muttered Drake, $50 it is"
The horse was standing under some
trees about twelve rods from the road.
Involuntariy Drake stopped his team.
He g anced furtively around, then, with
queer smile, the old hunter took up his
rife from the bottom of his wagon, and
raising it to his shoulder, drew sight
on the Colonel's horse.
beautiful - he muttered, with the air
of man resisting a powerful temptation
Il could drop old roam so easy"
"Shoot p suggested Sam Barstow, who
loved fun in~any shane
mo, no; wouldn't do" said the old
hunter, glancing around him again.
81 won't tell, said Sam.
oval, don't shoot this any way, tell
or no tell. The horse is too nigh If he
was fifty rods off instead of twelve, 80
there'd be bare possibility of mistaking
him for deer, I'd let fly. As it is I'd
give the Colonel FIVE dollars for shot"
AT that moment the Colonel himself
stepped from behind large oak, not half
dozen PAGES distant, and before Drake
"Well, why dou't you shoot ?"
The old hunter stammered, in some
confusion: : "That you, Colonel? II
was tempted to aud as said, I'll give a
'V' for one pull"
'Say an X and it's bargain"
Drake felt for his rife and looked at
old roam.
"How much is the horse worth ~ he
muttered in Sans ear.
about fifty"
"Gad, Colonel, I'll do it. Here's you
X"
The Colonel pocketed the money, NUT
tering: Changed if [ thought you would
take me up -
With high glee the old hunter put
fresh cap on his rife, AMI standing up in
the wagon took close sight at old roam.
Sam Barstow chuckled The Colonel
put his hand before his face and chuck
led too. Crack went the rife. The hun
ter tore out terrible oath, which | will
not repeat. Sam was astonished. The
Colonel laughed Old roam never stirred
Drake stared at his rifle with look as
black as Othello's.
whats the matter with you, hey ?
Fus' time you ever served me quite such
a trick, swar"
And Drake loaded the piece with great
wrath and Indignation.
"People said you'd lost your kuack of
shooting" observed the Colonel, in a cut
ting tone of satire.
WHO said so 2 It's lie ~ thundered
Drake. Il can shoot
"a hoss at ten rods Ha ! ha -
Drake was livid.
"Look yere, Colonel | cant stand
that" he began.
Never mind, the horse cam" snecred
the Colonel.
"I'll risk you"
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced
another ten dollar BILL
Here !" he growled. I'm bound to
have another shot any way"
"Crack away" cried the Colonel, pock
citing the note.
Drake did crack away-wth deadly
aim too-but the horse did not mind the
bullet in the least. To the rage and
unutterable astonshment of the hunter,
old roam looked him in tie face as if he
rather liked the fun.
Drake" cried Sam. "you are drunk
A horse at dozen rods-oh my eyes ~
"Just shut your mouth, or Ill shoot
you ~ Numbered the excited Drake
The bullets were hollow, I'll swear. The
man lies who says | cant shoot. Last
week cut of goose's head at fifty rods,
and kin do 1t agn. BY the Lord Harry.
Colonel. you can laugh, but I'll bet now
thirty dollars that l can bring down old
roam at one shot"
The wager was readily accepted. The
stakes were placed in Sans hands ElateI
with the idea of winning his two tens,
aud making an "X" 10 the bargain, Mr.
Drake carefully selected a perfect ball
and buckskin patch, and loaded bis rihe'
A minute later Drake was driving
through the grove the most enraseu' the
most desperate Of men. Eils r'ne, lnno
cent victim OF his ire. lay with broken
stock on the bottom of the wagon. Sam
Barstow was too scared to laugh.
Meaawhile the ColoBel was rolling con