The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-10-26


the whole Of the mystery. He believes
tnat we are actually going TO tho lake on
Friday evening, and this persuasion of
his will greatly increase tas spread OF
the delrsion among those whom we wish
to reach and will also obviate any pos
sib1e indiscle elton on Toms part, for
there is no telling but the one particular
and confidential crony to whom aloneh he
would venture to confde the great secret
might turn out to be the very individual
to whom it would be of the utmost pos
sible use. In times like these your near
est friend may be your deadliest enemy.
So it behooves to keep your eyes open.
Off they went and in due time came
back, having fully succeeded in their OBJ
ject, at least so far as filling the neigh
borhood with news of our proposed ex-
pedition was concerned They had also
loaded themselves down with sardines,
bologna sausage, smoked beef, canned
soup, hardtack and all other such mis-
cellany as amateur pioneers are supposed
to want. We could have Jared sumptu-
ously in the wilderness for month on
the supplies laid in for single "a hours.
To be sure, most of the things would be
as good next year as they were now, and
this was probably not their first year
either
'sThe army's stores are ample" said
Henry at last after we had all been talk
ing and laughing together for awhile,
"but how about the arnory and the drill?
Which of the warriors here present can
perforate green turtle soup can at 20
paces?"
The challenge was received with ac-
CARNATIONS. We all went out on the
grass plot at the side of the house toward
the knoll, and Henry drove two forked
stakes into the ground at the foot of the
accliyity and close together, laid the soup
can in their crotch in such way that its
circular end was presented toward us at
height of feet above the ground, then
measured off 20 PAGES, and we all took
our places. Sinfire standing by to adj
judge and award the prize-an oriental
dagger, with jeweled hilt, which Hen
ry had brought from Damascus. Then
John shot first and nicked one Of the
stakes just below the crotch. It was q
good liner, but miss all the same.
Henry came next, and his bullet grazed
the top of the can, cutting swath in
the paper label posted upon it and
scratching the surface of the tin. The
dagger was his unless I could "get into
the SOUP" as he expressed it. aimed
carefully, but must have been in bad
form. My shot few wide by several
inches. We had all used 32-caliber re-
volvers of the best make.
''Well, Harry, you're the lucky man"
said John. And if my honest brother
were capable of double meaning !
should have looked for it in that speech.
But Sinfire said: Il am the judge. I
say none of you can have the prize, for
none of You have hit the mark. could
shoot better than that myself"
''If it were human heart, ! could be-
| ieve you. but soup can-no!" said
Henry, glancing at her, with laugh
| She met his look, and retort seemed
on her lips, but she closed them and
/ drew from the pocket Of her dress her
little derringer. Extending her arm and
scarcely seeming to take aim, she pulled
the trigger. The small weapon went of
with loud bang, the soup can vibrated
as with mortal blow, and, behold! there
was round hole in the center of the tin
disk, out of which welled the essence OF
the green turtle. The dagger was Sin.
fires
But she waywardly refused to take it.
II was not in the match" she said.
'But you drew the first soup" argued
Henry.
81 don't care for daggers. l prefer
derringers," she returned.
$50 suppose. But have you no re-
gard for your friends?"
"Well, I'll compromise with you," she
said at last 81 will accept the dagger az
a legacy. You may bequeath it to me il
your will"
$50 be it. Only that codicil must con
tain stipulation that the bequest shal
not be carried out in case the testatol
1ioo of n 1arripUay -