The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-14

rather have helped to bury me with his
own hands than that his son should
turn tail in such case. Neither was l
disturbed in my mind about what re-
spectacle old ladies (of both sexes)
would call the awful responsibility
which must rest on me II l killed this
man. No. sir! just meant to drill as
many and as deadly holes In his ras-
cally carcass as good fortune and my
skill could together effect. Brutal. no
doubt you will say. Perhaps 1t was.
but I was going to shoot to kill for all
that, for II ever a man meant blood
shed in this world. Bill Crockford
meant II when he went out Of that
store
"what I did think Of. however. was
how to incrsase my chances OF success.
as / certainly did not want to be killed.
| or even wounded, so l mentally laid
down plan of campaign. or method of
operation as 1t were.
There was still about half an hour
before my adversary could get back.
so Dalziel proposed my having a few
shots to get used to the Winchester,
which l was to use. About 200 yards
away stood an old shanty. empty and
tumble down. On this DalZiel stuck
the white lid OF box, offering a plain
mark of perhaps twelve inches square.
| tpoh tie Ilte anu uitcT tTltlS TWO
shots for direction and elevation
walked over to see how had got on,
then came back and resumed firing.
When l gut through three and twenty
cartridges, We all, that Is, the rest Of
the men In the store-with Dalzlel and
myself walked over to the target.
Great Scott! exclaimed old Mot
tram. why there amt a single bullet
within five feet Of the boxlid. You
amt got no show. at all agin Crocky.
Mr.. Compton. an II was You I'd own
up and apologize
~ thank you for your advice re-
piled. L believe l have more chance
than you fancy. but il had none. this
AFFAIR would have to go on. unless in
deed. your man should beg my pardon
for throwing his glass in my face
There amt much chance of that. I
fear. He's dead set on shooting yer.
sir. but | wish there was some way of
stoppin' this affair. 1t seems onreason-
able that you should meet man sich
a tremendous lot better ner yourself
when your life will 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
result of my target practice. Dalziel
made last attempt to prevent a meet
ing and addressed Crockford upon the
evil Of carrying this affair to termina-
ton, which must almost inevitably end
in my death as a result from my target
practice.
There amt no particular reason for
fighting, if he will appollergiZe for
strikin' that blow, but he's got ter do 1t.
| and got ter do II humble too, or else
let him git hold of his rifle; I won't
! say no more
! Il impatiently waved to Dalziel to de-
sist. and signed to Mottram to proceed
with the necessary preliminaries. TAX
| ing the two rifles from our hands he
| pressed, one by one. into the magazines
of each of them, seven cartridges.
Now said he. when this was done,
! You, Crockford. are we'll posted as to
how these affairs are managed here,
but for fear that you (turning to mel
may not be SO we'll acquainted with
them I will tell yer the conditions.
Those two rifles will be laid down on
the middle of the roaod. where It goes
over the plain in a straight line. They
will be placed about 200 yards apart.
and you will stand each beside his gun.
| We. that is Dalziel and myself, will
| stand between you and to one side.
| When throw my hat up you are each
| at liberty TO get your gun and make
the hest use of " again one another.
| You may stand and fire, kneel and fire,
| or lay down and fire, as you please:
| you kin run In on one another, or. II
either Of YOU chooses, he kin run back:
there's plenty of road. too. each Of you
| has fifty miles of straight travelin' be-
| hind 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
-, -
affair, hit or miss. Mind, II these con-
ditions are broken by either man. me
and Daniel are here to see fair play,
and We have guns, and Will use fnem;
| too Without another Word we al
| left the store. ana tne GWo secohus,
placing the rifles on the road Desiue
| Crockford ana myaea' retlreu " 'he
little hillock to give the signal
81, perhaps. ought to give you de-
scription of my feelings at that mo-
ment, but really I can hardly do so. nor
do l remember any very predominant
emotion, save that felt sort of stony
calm, mixed with strong desire TO
draw a bead on that figure standing
quietly beside his weapon some 200
yards away.
"As before told you had laid down
my method of proceeding. and the basis
of 1t was to remain on the defensive.
for felt sure that Crockford. despistng
my abilities with the Winchester,
would advance upon me. nor was l at
all mistaken; directly the signal was
given he seized his rifle and almost in
stantly discharging shot, which
passed within a foot of me, he started
on a zig-z1g run toward me. Mean
while had gone down fiat on the road,
bringing my rifle to bear upon him, and
getting sight after ne had run in per-
haps fifty yards, I fired my first shot.
II shot primarily to stop him, Of
course, II / could, but also with the in
tention of throwing q thin cloud Of
smoke Immediately in front of me, be-
meath which could again take sight.