The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-01-08

from my seat anu UOOK Sttp ""hih
the ruffian, but a surveyor pulled me
back, and with difiidence and eowar-
dice Cf which | ever since have been
ashamed, ! did not make second
movement.
saw the father turn slightly pale,
but he made no protest, only following
his daughter from the room, and re-
turning several minutes afterwards as
calm as ever,
No one seemed to resent this fearful
insult, which, perhaps, no where else
in the civilized world would have been
permitted to go unpunished, and in a
day or two we almost ceased to think of
IL, as other brutal acts on the part of
Dunlaw came under our notice.
The third dav after the above Incl
dents took place we were OFF duty. 1t
had threatened rain during the morn
ing, aud the day proved dark and
cloudy. Shortly after noon one of our
party, anxious to see some specimens
of the iamed'rihe shooting of the West,
took from his bagcagea a finely mounted
powder flask, which he offered as a
prize to the best shot.
mere WtIt lldll-h-uOLth
and the details were speedily arranged.
Three shots each were to be allowed,
at one hundred and fifty PAGES, and the
man whose three shots made the
shortest string, measuring from the
centre of the bulls eye, was to receive
the flask
Jack Dunlaw and Stephen Ranney
were among the contestants. | had
been quite curious to see how these two
persons would meet, but | noticed no
change in the young mans department,
lie spoke but little, and when the list
was arranged for the precedence, volun-
tarily took the last place. Then folding
his arms and leaning against the door
way, he carefully watched the trial,
Jack was one of the fir.t to try his
skill, and when three shots had been
fired it was found that one of his bullets
had struck within an inch of the centre,
while the other two were not more than
half an inch farther removed.
Four incbesl' the surveyor an
nounced, after carefully measuring the
distance of the several shots.
Yas," growled Jack, throwing
himself upon a pencil; "l'll wait here
till you beat that, some on yer, and when
yer dew it ye kin take that ther little
powder-box.''
The Others fred in their several turns,
and our party was quite surprised to
find the shooting no more accurate. In
deed we began to look with distrust
upon the wonderful stories OF romance
writer's.
All had fired at last save Stephen
Ram, v, and Jack had made much the
shortest string
The young mau took his place, and
raised his rifle, which WAS considerably
shorter than any of the Othors.
Look here, youngstor," growled
Jack, with q wink to his admirers,
"yOud better have pop>gun /; that
wouldn't hurt anybody, and you'd be
jst as likely tew hit the mark as yer
will with that boys playing
Stephen made no reply, but placing
his weapon in rest, bowed his cheek to
sharp report rang out.
"ln the edge of the bulls eve, half
an inch from the centre - shouted the
marker. "The best shot yet"
4" It's an accident He can't hit the
board next time % cried Jack
/ saw from his manner that he was
getting excited and angry; but Stephen
reloaded his weapon in the most uncon-
cerned manner imaginable. AS he was
about to fire, Jack walked toward the
target to mark the effect OF the shot.
1t was given as promptly as the first,
and to the surprise of every one, 1t
struck almost exactly in the centre of
the bull's-eye, But without waiting TO
hear the result, Stephen turned to re-
loa his piece.
With stride like that of an enraged
elephant, Jack Dunlaw moved up tJ
the side of bis successful competitor.
"Don't We dar' do that ag'in y he
hissed between his shut jaws. " If yer
do. twill be hard day for yer. Now
mark what tell yer | amt going to
fool around no upstart like you. Ye've
made lucky hit twice; now let that
end it|"
The Young man made no answer;
but saw his cheeks become shade
paler, aud his hand trihe less steady,
as he rammed home the bullet. Then,
with lips tightly compressed, and eyes
fixed upon the target, he dropped upon
one knee, and leveled his rife.
'Now don't yer make another mis-
take = was Jacks last admonitiOp, ac-
by shake of the fist so close
to the young mans face that began to
feei like grasping the bully from behind
and dragging him from the scene.
The third shot sped aS the others had
done, and then the young maa sprang
to his feet, dropping his rifle to the
ground in a manner which showed that
patience had nearly ceased to be his
ruling virtue. Still could not 0ntici-
pate the scenes which were to follow.
The last bullet had struck just out
side the bulls eye, and after carefully
the three, Tom Tarbox, he
who had offered the prize, and kept the
stepped up among the
crowd now gathered, and said
" Gentlemen, Mr. Ranney has made
the best record, his three shots measur-
h..N H.. 70 Il