Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-08

seen. the coloael gave up the afternoon
e arra4a gag als papess and writing let
ters.
Or Z. q me town Girardeau and
were ths o1Iy ones not il Ills miserable
practical joke
Ext morning abont tsy break they
i z-l ne gE ana tc1k Ele - the gTopnd.
a1.at = Ili. : fr,.ua the sra1jel. fAe sfe-
onds hsld nroaght tbs f0ur pistols under
their overseas. Il 49, quite chilly
Wheu ~ reached ghs pl.ce thag put
a8Wu fh- plst i and r.gau nleasrr-ll.s
On The distance thIFty -nse pace
-aihk they lasae II; long ones Toe.
Nh.le tle5 were - occupies. the colonel
~-pt ~ - aaee tls pistols wese AMI
began ezlI4 .aIas ti-sa. nOt closely.- no
seemed Inere so te taaAms tEem. What
struck NE as strange az the tllne Was
fhat his sdv-rsar.es ana tas seconds
watches h-l. closely.
sud- MS gro colonel toot up, and II
a loud and stately voice said, looking
toward hls Cppoueats.
"tiaHtlsIneu, - seems u rae markedly
unfair toward Two III yoa that yea stand
frautiag nae IL a rOw, as my secou. tells
me has been arranged. Now, when l
stoot / of course must choose one u
yog. a-d as / Lay get killed on TIE Arst
shCt 1t ) manlleztiy Unfair that two u
you should moi aave the chance II being
killed hy me The one l shoot al VIII
be- killed certainly | am an expert.
Now. gent. men, ALLOW me 20 suggest
L. Mr. GILLIAN. who II both taller and
broader rhan either Mr.. O'Farreu or
Mr.. Schrader. that lac stand IL the rear;
that Mr. O'Farren. who Is next IN size,
stand IN fronc ~ Mr. Gillian, and that
Mr. Schrader who is diminufive, stand IN
front OF both and all stand close up. In
that way you can al shoot one over the
other, and each enc may thus have a
chance Of getting shot in case my car
fridge is heavily loaded with powder"
They all acceded Immediately.
There was pause. The colonel was
locking away, thinking. OF a sudden
he turned around. and lifting his hat
said, with your permission, gentle
men," then took Up pistol, cooked IL
and aiming quickly at an oyster can
about fifty yards of fred. The can was
not hit | heard him mutter, This is
strange" He cooked the revolver again
-again fred. What, not even dust?'
heard him say.
Again he cooked the revolver, then
aimed and fired Nothing.
Gentlemen" he said. turning around,
there is something wrong here, but
fortunately have some 44-caliber car
tridges In my coat-enough to load all
four guns" and he walked toward his
Overcoat.
The two seconds and the three princi.
pals looked at each other. When they
saw the colonel pull out box of car
tTidges they turned around simultane-
ously and ran-up the road, toward tie
bend. the curve in the track.
The colonel had his back toward the
runners, and was so occupied throwing
out the empty shells that he did not hear
them going. the doctor and alone re
naming. Suddenly he yelled:
Blank cartridges. Fraud, by -
and turning around he saw them dis
appearing. He grabbed few cartridge:
ont Of the box and started after them
loading as he ran. Then we saw him
op-aim-fre-then fire again. We
saw his second give @ lunge; then we
heard his yell; then we saw him run
faster than before. The colonel sent
another shot after them. but they were
too far. Then he returned TO US.
We examined all the pistols. AL
were loaded with powder and paper
wads.
Girardeau was white with anger.
This insult shall never forgive"
He grabbed his box of cartridges and
started after them, loading his pistol a.
be- went. We followed. When we
reached the crest OF the hill they saw Us
and started on again. When they saw
US still coming they continued up the
track on run, one limping badly.
We saw them flag freight train, and
as it slowed up they swung on. We
then returned TO town.
left NEXT morning for Washington,
having requested DR.. X. 10 write me
the particulars of the outcome.
Here Is the letter:
Ny DEAK SR-AbOut three days after you
left. oyertares were made 20 Girardeau 70
allow the men ~ return. They thought that
his anger b. that time would have cooled. Bu,
il had rot.
Mrs Gillian finally was obliged to call on the
colonel. her money was all gone. and. her
husband not being ~ work. tradesmen refused
"a trust her. she won her cssc.
she ;heu began pleading for o'FarreA
"AiNdam." said the colonel. do you need two
hushsuds2'
"Of course not" she answered. turning aery
red
Il thought not" said he. "a be politely
opened the door g. LEI her pass out. MADAM
Jour husband for yoIr sake can return with
perfect ssfcLy So far s. am concerned, but
The others return ss the risk Of their lives OF
mine gsod dag"
Gillian has returned. O'Fsrrcll and ScbrndsI
have found work ~ Soe0rro. and the two .s--
onls have sort ~ thelr taiays and are going
up north.
I arr glsl 10 tay tbat one practical joke Las
turned out a. nst tbe lokers.
A. vs.s corning here % write this letter ]
meet Oirsrieal ia iho star Of the West
"foanei, saio. "f-1.n year experience Of
the .sst fef ll.r wl.t Is your advicef"
ITO IA 9srsolaily o. - the wUrldl"
''ra Use world"
Then ,sli tie world tbs. Do not mon sey
With Nis-osri' -
With sia3e.t regards from the coloncl ard
ms self VOWS sfuC-rel.T y. NJ o.
-Frs1k Ieringea IN san Francisco Ar
goaaut
. Works Eofh WAYS.
Vichars- Way don't sou have your
poetry types rtsen2 Iou can get a much