Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-06-11

and was coming back to camp. I was
lettering along the trail waiting for him
to come up He was about half mite
away from me when frss saw him com
ing along in the queer little hop-tros
that his buckskin had. When | looked
over there the second time l saw some
one on horseback swpoping down on
Moutie from behind The boy didn't
notice the newcomer at first, but he
turned bis head when he heard the clat-
ter of the hoofs on the ground, and when
he turned | saw be had his six shooter
in his hand. So the fellow COZ ming on
was Big Dorkin, of course, and l was
going to see some fire ay. Mind you
now, it was their own fight. Why
should have taken hand in it, A two
to-one combination is 1 low down thing
for man to go into, even though you
do feel like helping out a friend. So
kept out of range and the greasewood
sort of hid nc, but they didn't notice me
anyway any more than 30 if I'd been
jack rabbit or a coyote
1t was the prettiest shooting ever saw
for the distance. They didn't get close
together. You see Dorkin thought that
would be an advantage to him, but he
didn't know how much practicing Monte
had done at longe range. Every shot
fired hit something. One took Monte
in the left arm l knew that, for saw
the arm fall, limp-like, when DorAin
pulled, and then there were two shots
almost together. | think Monte's
punched hole in Dorkin's neck, aud
know that the other struck the boys
mustang, for he gave an awful plunge.
Well, they had it back and forth; Monte,
like fool, firing fast, while Dorkin took
it slow. But the big fellow seemed to
be getting lightheaded, for he reeled and
nodded in his saddle and there wa, blood
running from his head and from his hand
But Monte was pretty we'll pinked. /
could see that, though he sat up steadily
enough.
Eleven shots fired and Dorkin had the
twelfth
Monte couldn't slip in another cart
ridge very easily because his left hand
was no good, and SO he sat there and
waited for that last shot.
Dorkin didn't seem to be in any hurry
to fire 1t. He had it all his own way
now. He rcelel and bowed minute
and then he steadied up and walked his
horse toward Monte with a grin that
spread all over his big face. 1t wasn't
the kind Of grin thai makes a man sleep
well after be has seen ia ghastly,
nasty grin.
WANTED to yell to Mopt;c to give his
mustang the pin wheel, bat somehow |
couldn't DO it. Maybe his clean. steady,
oerve, as be sat there waiting for Dorkin
| TO come up, took my breath away. l
know tais. that it made INV face tingle
and nv tiuyers to clench to see him
| there. .
Was that big brute never going to
STOP? 1t looked as though he were GO
ing to ride the boy down. 1t was time
that took 4 hand. Way hadn't done
it as socn as the boys last shot was
/ zone
isbncl tue spurs INTO Nance and sh'
gave bound forward. putting me al
most IN range, bat in that second Dor
! kin raised his pistol with an aim tha,
was rs firm as an iron rail aud gave AN
other ghastly grin He was within ter
feet of the boy, who sa1 therr with
smile On his face. Jnstas was expec'
ing u hear the pop and see the tla'.
down fell Dorkin's right hand. His ie:'
c!utched his side. his hea Topped doN'
over his horse neck and the bali FRI !
his pistol nearly took the shoe off iro;.
| Montie's buckskiu.
One Of Monties bullets hal done i
work, just on the scratch, aS yol mi1l
say.
Monte aud | shook hands with ont
word. No, he didn't cry that time.
saw he needed \ doctor, but therr 50
something else to be !one Just then.
s'Do you really want to marry tha
Beamster girl.' asked. The youn
saphead srinnei as he said. "i~s
.Well, you'll never 10 il in the wor!
till TINS things fixed up all right
pointed 10 Dorkin's we'll peiforate
body.
"whs. do you neani'
Cant you seel She won't dream {
having you if she knew that you plunN.
the life out Of that man. He's be-