The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-23

thin legs hanging from the hammock.
| was enjoying indolently his Henry
Clay while he debated whether he
should go over to see the major now.
or wait until it was cooler. He had
| just decided in favor of waiting. when
| he heard trampling from the side OF
the house.
For a moment he gave it little at
tention. Then the long drawn bay of
a hound came to his ears. The colo
nel's feet dropped to the floor and his
head was raised. Another howl from
| the invisible hound, and he pulled
himself to his feet, picked up his hat
and turned down the low stone steps
in the direction of the sound.
As he came around the corner of the
house there was a sudden crunching
of the gravel on the driveway, a bel
low of mingled fear and anger, and
tho colonel was knocked fiat by a
yearling heifer. which. snorting it's
surprise, trailed across the grass plot,
hotly pursued by the colonels hound.
The colonel quickly scramb bled to
his feet, INDUCED in an appropriate
amount of profanity and looked about
for the cause of his downfall. He saw
the heifer and the hound. The pur-
sued was making at top speed for a
gap in the stake-and-rider fence,
where the crushed rails showed that
its head and feet had been at work.
AS his eye fell upon the broken fence,
he again indulged in some highly
favored remarks. and followed them
with an encouraging yell to the
hound. Inspired by this, the dog
promptly bit the heifer in the flank.
nearly tum bling it over in the gap of
the fence and drawing from it cry of
distress. The colonel dashed forward
to urge on the hound, hut just as he
reached the fence there was a shot
from the bushes and the hound came
scurrying back, its tail between its
legs. At almost the same instant a
long-legged man emerged from be-
hind tree-trunk little way off and
ran forward, all the while endeavor-
ing to pour powder and shot into the
barrel of the gun which he carried.
At the fence-gap he confronted
Colonel Beebe. There was q mutual
start as the men recognized each other.
Then the colonel recovered himself.
''Major Hawkins!' he broke out: Il
believe you have shot my hound?"
81 have done that verv thing" re-
turned the major with decision.
And let me add. sab, that | shall re-
peat the performance every time that
brute of yours chases my CATTLE
The major and he were old croniea.
and, thought both were hot blooded,
they had never had a serious falling
out, and the colonel tried hard to re-
strain his temper. But this was the
third time that the majors heifer had
broken down the fence separating the
properties and made havoc with the
colonePs garden The latter felt that
! Ill -, l.. , l.
virtue, particularly now in view of the
ma jor's threats
Major Hawkins" he began. and
there was a significance in the use of
the title; Il have no wish to foment
any trouble; but most positively /
shall not allow that cattle of yours
on my place again. See that she is
kept off, please! AS to shooting my
dog, sab; that is matter which only
an apology from you can recompense
me for, and trust you will render me
one immediately?''
Il will do nothing of the kind. The !
best thing you can do is to shoot your
whelp, and save me the trouble of do |
ing SOL" and the major tapped his gun
Then all l can say" came slowly |
from the colonePs lips, lis that you !
are no gentleman
The major 1tarted as if he had been |
;tung. For the instant he did not |
realize the import of the words. Then |
1 dull flush crept into his cheeks, |
usually very salIow, and he said con-
,iSely: You are a liar, Sah!"
The fatal words were spoken. The !
,olor leaped into the Colonel's face. and |
,he ma ajor's flush grew deeper while his
Eyes returned the flash in those of the |
,ther. The two faced each other in
silence for a moment. Each was SO
aiken aback that for the instant the
INSULT of the other could find no
adequate return in speech.
Then the colonel drew himself up |
and said icily;
"You can understand that this
means only one thing?"
The major replied with the slightest
If bows.
81 have pair of pistols at my
your permission | will send for them. /
The sooner this is settled. the better"
The major inclined his head trif1e, |
and the other turned and called:
Israel. Israeli
There was no reply, and again he
raised his voice This time there was
an answering call and shuf11ing of
feet, whiah gradually hecame more
distinct A little later white-haired !
old darkey came into view.
''D'yO call, marse kunn'l? he asked. |
stopping at the edge of the bushes and |
scra aping with one foot while he finger
ed battered straw hat.
Yes" said the colonel. You |
know those pistols of mine in my |
Fetch them to met
''Yo dewelin pistols?"
"Yes. Be quick!'
The darkey looked at the men in !
turn. He noted the attitude of each |
and the look in their faces.
"Yo' amt goin' t fight, marse?" he |
anXiously, not moving.
That's none of your business, you
rascal!' thundered the colonel. ''Gor'
An instant the darkey stood, nerv- |