Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1873-08-14
COL. CR1CKLEY,s HORSE.
A Racy Sketch.

I have never been able to ascertain
the origin of the quarrel between the
Crickleys and the brakes.
They had lived within about a mile
of each other in Illinois for five years,
and from the first of their acquaint
ance there had been mutual feeling
of dislike between the two families
Then some misunderstanding about
the boundary of their respective farms
revealed the latent flame, and Col.
Crickley having followed fat buck
all one afternoon, and wounded him,
came up to him and found Drake and
his sons cutting him up. This incident
added fuel to the fire, and from that
time there was nothing the two fami
lies did not say to annoy each other.
One evening Mr.. Drake, the elder,
was returning home with his pockets
full of rocks from Chicago, whittier
he had been to dispose Of load Of
grain. Sam. Braston was with him in
the wagon, and as they approached
the grove which intervened between
them and Mr.. brakes house, he oh
served to his companion:
sWhat beautiful mark Col Crick
ley's old roam is over yonder!"
Hang itr' muttered old Drake, $50
it 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 a queer smile, the old hun
ter took up his rife from the bottom
oP fo hic
shoulder, drew sight on the Coloners
horse.
"Beautiful r' muttered Drake, lower
ing his rife, with the air of a man re
sisting a powerful temptation. 81
could drop old roam so easy"
Shoot suggested Sam. Braston
who loved fun in any shape.
mo, no, 'twouldn't do,'' said th,
old hunter, glancing cautiously arounC
r him again.
81 won't tell" said Sam.
"Wal, l won't shoot this time, any
how, tell or no tell. The horse is to-
nigh. If he was fifty rods off instea
Of twelve, so there'd be a bare posi-
bility of mistaking him for a deer, L,
e let fly. AS it is, I'd give five dollar
for shot"
At this moment the Colonel himseI
stepped from behind big oak, nc
half dozen PAGES distant, and befor
Mr. Drake.
''Well, why don't you shoot"
The old man stammered in som
confusion: ''That you, Colonel2
Il was tempted to, declare! AnC
as said, I'll give you a w for or
. pull
= ''Say an * and it's bargain
. Drake felt for his rife and looked
old roam.
Chow much is the horse worth
he murmured in Sans ear.
H about fifty:''
''Gad. Colonel, I'll do it. Here
your *
The Colonel pocketed the none
7 Hanged, if I thought you'd take n
{! up"'
With high glee the old hunter put
fresh cap on his gun, and stood up
his wagon, and drew a close sight {
old roam. Sam Braston chuckled. T.
S. Colonel put his hand before his fa
and chuckled to.
~ s'Crack % went the rifle The hunt
tore out horrid oath, which will n
repeat. Sam. was astonished. T
. Colonel laughed. Old roam never
much as stirred.
y Drake stared at his rife with ia
as black was Othello's.
whats the matter with you, he
IS! Fus' time you ever served me gu
such a trick, l swarf'
And Drake reloaded the piece W
ves in great wrath and indignation.
pill "People said you'd lost your kn'
iESe nre of shooting" observed the Colonel,
> or a cutting tone and satire.
re, s'Who said so it's a liep p' thunde
.ens eRs Drake. 81 can shoot"
tes- ga horse at ten rods ha ha =
y Drake was livid.
"Look here, Colonel, I can't st;
that!" he begun.
"Never mind, the horse can," snt
ed the Colonel. "Ill risk YOU"
Grinding his teeth, Drake produ
another ten dollar bill.
'Here'' he growled, 81 am bo,
to have another shot, anyway"
k. "Crack away" cried the Color
pocketing the note.
Drake did crack away-with des
aim, too, but the horse did not N
IS! the bullet in the least. To the I
and unutterable astonishment of
hunter, old roam looked him righ
the face as if he rather liked the
I ftTN