Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-05-07
Dear shooting.

nois two families by the names of Crick.
ley and Drake. There had always been
fierce rivalry between the two fami.
lies, both il field and farm pursuits,
which rivalry was further intensified
when one afternoon Colonel Crickley,
having followed wounded buck for
several hours, at last came up with him,
and found old Drake and his sons cut
ting 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. They shot each
others ducks in the river, purposely
mistaklng them for wild ones. and then
by way of retaliation, commenced kill
ing off each others pigs and calves.
One evening Mr.. Drake, the elder,
was returning home with his 'pocket
full of rocks" from Chicago, whittier he
had been to dispose of load Of grain.
Sam Marston was with him on the
wagon, and as they approached the
grove which interviewed between them
and Colonel Crickley's house he obser.
we'd to his companIon:
''What a beautiful mark Colonel
Crickley's old Roam is, over yonder!
Hang it ~ muttered old Drake, $50
lit is"
The horse was standing under some
trees about twelve rods from the road.
lnvoluntarily Drake stopped his team
He glanced furtively around, then with
a queer smile the old hunter took up
his rifle from the bottom of his wagon,
and raising it to his shoulders, drew a
sight on the Colonel's horse.
Beautiful !" muttered Drake, low
ering his rifle with the air of a man re-
sisting powerful temptations; 81 could
drop old Roam so easy"
"ShOot ~ suggested Sam Marston.
who loved fun in any shape.
"No, no; 'twouldnt do, said the old
hunter, glancing cautiously around
him.
II won't tel" said Sam.
''Wal, won't shoot this time, any
way, tell or no tell. The horse is too
nigh. If he was fifty rods off, instead
of twelve, so there'd be bare possibili.
ty of mIstaking him for deer, I'd let
fly. AS 1t is, I'd give the Colonel five
dollars for shot"
At that moment the Colonel himself
stepped from behind big oak, not half
a dozen PAGES distant, and stood before
Mr. Drake.
well, why don't you shoot?"
The old man stammered in some con-
fusion. That you, Colonel? IL was
tempted TO, declare And, as said,
I'll give you 'V' for one pull"
Say an 'X' and it's bargain.n
Drake felt of his rifle, and looked at old
Roam.
"How much IS the horse wuth 2" he
muttered in Sans ear.
About fifty"
Cad, Colonel, I'll doit. Here's your
.X."
The Colonel pocketed the money.
muttering, Hanged if thought you'd
take me up"
With high glee the old hunter put q
fresh cap on his rifle, stood uD in his
wagon, and drew a close sight on old
Roam. Sam Marston chuckled. The
Colonel put his hand before his face
and chuckled, too.
Crack went the rifle. The hunter
tore out horrid oath, which will not
repeat. Sam was astonished. The Col
onel laughed. Old Roam never stirred.
Drake stared at his rifle with a face
as black as Otbello's.
whats the matter with you, hey /?
Fus't time you ever served me quite
such trick, swan"
And Drake loaded the piece with
great wrath and Indignation.
People say you've lost your knack
o'shOoting," observed the Colonel, In a
tone of cutting satire.
"Who said soy It's lie ~ thun-
dered Drake. ~ can shoot"
"a horse at ten rods, ha, ha ~
Drake was livid.
Look here, Colonel, 1 can't stand
that" he began.
Never mind, the horse can," sneer-
ed the Colonel; ''I'll risk you."
Grinding his teeth, Drake produced
another ten dollar bill.
''Here, 'he growled, 81 am bound to
have another shot, anyway"
'Crack away" cried the Colonel.
pockcting the note.
Drake did crack away-with deadly
aim,, too-but the horse did not mind
the bullet in the least. To the rage and
unutterable astonishment of the hun
ter, old Roam looked him right in the
face, as If he rather liked the fun.
''Drake," cried Sam, you're drunk!
A horse at dozen rods, oh, my eye ]"
Just you shut your mouth or I'll
shoot you," thundered the excited |
Drake. 1.-The bullet was hollow, I'll |
swear. The man lies who says can't |
shoot ! Last week cut off gOose's |
head at fifty rods, and kin dew it agin. |
by the Lord Harry, Colonel, you can
laugh, but I'll bet now, thirty dollars,
L 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, and making an TX" into
the bargain, Drake carefully selected
perfect ball, and even buckskin patch,
and beaded his rifle. 1t was now near
ly dark, but the old hunter bOasted Of
being able to shoot bat on the wing
by starlight, and without hesitation
drew Clear sight on old Roan's head.
A minute later, Drake was driving
through the grove, the most enraged,
the most desperate of men. His rifle,
innocent victim of his ire, lay with
broken stock on the bottom Of his
wagon. Sam Marston was too fright
ened to laugh. Meanwhile, the graft
fled Colonel was rolling on the ground
convulsed with mirth, and old Roam
was standing undisturbed under the
trees.
When Drake reached home, his two
sons discovering his i'll humor, and the
condition of the rifle stock,
FASTENED to arouse his spirits with q
piece of news, which they were sure
would make him dance for joy.
''Clear away" growled the angry old
man. IL don't want to hear any news;
get away, or shall knock one Of you
down."
But, father, it's such trick"
''Blast you and your tricks"
'.Played OF on the Colonel"
''On the Colonel 7" cried the old man,
to be interested. "Gad, il
you've played the Colonel trick, les
hear it,"
well, father, Jed and l, this after
noon, went out for deer"
'.Hang the deer, come to the trick"
Couldn't lind any deer, but thought