The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-23

so Dalziel proposed my having few
shots to get used to the Winchester
which 1 was to use. About two hun
dred yards away stood an old shanty
empty and tumble down: on this Dial
ziel stuck the white lid of a box, offer
ing a plain mark of perhaps twelve
| inches square. l took the rifle and
after firing two shots for direction and
| elevation walked over to see how
| had got on, then came back and re-
sumed firing. When I got through
three and twenty cartridges, we all,
that is, the rest Of the men in the store
with Dalziel and myself, walked over
to the target.
Great Scottr exclaimed old Mot
tram, why there amt a single bullet
within five feet of that box-lid. You
amt got no show at all agin Croclsy,
Mr.. Compton, an if 1 was you I'd own
up and apologize.
/" 4 thank you for your advice, re-
piled; Il believe have more chance than
you fancy, but if l had none. this affair
would have TO go on, unless indeed,
your man should beg my pardon for
throwing his glass in my face
There amt much chance of that, /
fear. He's dead set on shooting yer, sir,
but wish there was some way of stop
pin this affair. It seems unreasonable
that you should meet a man sich ire
menjous lot better ner yourself when
your life most likely hev to pay the
stake
''Crockford soon arrived at the store
bringing his rifle with him, and, of
course, a whisper or two from his
friends made him acquainted with the
results of my target practice. Dalziel
made last attempt to prevent a meet
ing, and addressed Crockford upon the
evil of carrying this affair to a termina-
ton.
There amt no particular reason
for fighting. if he will apolergize fer
strikin' that blow, but he's got ter to it,
and got ter do it humble, too, or else
let him git hold of his rifle; won't say
no more
Il impatiently waved to Dalziel to
desist, and signed to Mottram to pro-
coed with the necessary preliminaries.
Taking the two rifles from our hands
he pressed, one by one, into the maya
zines of each of them seven cartridges.
Now said he, when this was done,
won, Crockford, are well posted as to
how these affairs are managed here,
but for fear that you turning to me-
may not be SO well acquainted with
them 1 will tell yer the conditions
These two rifles will be laid down on
the middle of the road, where it goes
over the plain in 4 straight line; they
viii be placed about two hundred yards
apart and you viii stand each beside
his gun. We, that is Dalziel and my
self, will stand between you and
to one side. When l throw my hat
up you are each at liberty to
get your gun and make the best use of
it again, one another. You may stand
and fire, kneel and fire, or lay down
one another, or. if either of you chooses,
he kin run back; theirs plenty of road,
too; each of you has about fifty
miles of straight travelin' behind him
eff he don't like the looks Of things in
front, but neither of you must leave the
road and the seven shots in each of
your guns must decide the affair, hit
or miss. Mind, if these conditions are
broken by either man, me and Dalziel
are here TO see fair play, and We have
guns, and will use them, too Without
another word we ell left the store. and
the two second placing the rifles on
the road besides Crockford and myself,
retired to the little hillock 10 give the
signal.
Il. perhaps, ought TO give you de-
scription OF my feelings at that mo-
ment. but really can hardly do so, nor
do l remember any very predominant
emotion. save that felt sort OF stony
calm, mixed with n strong desire TO
draw a bead on that figure standing
quietly beside his weapon some two
hundred yards away.
las l before told you l had laid
down my method Of proceeding, and
the basis of it was to remain on the de-
fensive. for felt sure that Crockford,
despising my abilities with the Win
chester. would advance upon me, nor
was I at all mistaken; directly the sig
nal was given he seized his rife ard
almost instantly discharging q shot,
which passed within foot of me. he
started on a Igzag run towards me.
Meanwhile had gone down fiat on the
road, bringing my rife 10 bear upon
him. and getting sight after he had
run in perhaps fifty yards, fred my
first shot.
Il shot primarily TO stop him, Of
course, il l could but also with the
intention of throwing thin cloud OF
smoke immediately in front Of me. be-
meath which could again take sight
The Day was still. bright and warm.
and--far away .slor- ,the road behind