The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-01-06
A CLEVER RUSE.

zona, and we all listened attentively.
He had told about the cause OF the
combat Bill Crockford, the bully of
the camp, had thrown glass of whisky
in his face because he did not like a
remark that bad been made by the
tenderfoot, aud Compton had retail
ated by striking him hard blow on
the cheek. Crockford was for using
his six-shooter right away, but the
crowd made him desist and insisted
upon fair play.
81 knew the man was likely to kill
me before I left the grosgery," said
Compton, $50 I said:
"I will fight you, and fight you
now, but mark you, we will fight on
something like equal terms. With re-
volvers I should be nothing but vic
tim TO your skill, SO as am entitled
TO the choice Of weapons, We will use
Winchesters, for, although never
fred one in my life, can use the rife
better than the revolver
"a dead quiet fell on the group as
Crockford nodded his head in token
of assent. 1 had, as / knew, chosen
the deadliest style of duelling in force
out there.
sold Mottram broke the silence by
saying: 1T seems, boys, that this affair
must go on. Crockford, hev ye yer
weapon here9'
"'No, but will soon bring it, was
the response rs he turned aud walked
out.
81 now had about an hour at my
disposal, and taking Dalziel aside l
asked him to be my second, which he
acceded to. gave him all the money
I had on me, some 5000, and told
him that il should be killed he Was
to bury me decently and that he
might keep any balance left over.
Then on sheet Of note paper l
wrote a brief will, disposing of my
interests in certain concerns.
~ did not waste any time in think
ing OF my poor mother, my sisters, or
any dearer one at all. The fact was
that hadn't any sweetheart or rela-
tions of any kind save and except my
dear old dad, and we'll I knew that he,
n major under the flag of old England,
would rather have helped to bury me
with his own hands than that his son
should turn tail in such case.
Neither was I disturbed in my mind
about what some would call the awful
responsibility which must rest upon
me if killed this man. No, sirl
Just meant to drill as many and as
deadly holes in his rascally carcass ms
good fortune and my skill could to-
gether effect. Brutal, no doubt you
will say. Perhaps it was, but 1 was
going to shoot to kill for oil that, for
ii ever man meant bloodshed in this
world, Bill Crockford meant it when
he went out OF that saloon.
"What did think OF, however, was
how to increase my chances Of success,
as ] certainly did not want to be killed,
or even wounded, 80 i mentally laid
down plan Of campaign, or method
OF operation as it were.
"There was still about half an hour
before my adversary could get back,
so Dalziel proposed my having few
shots to get used to the Winchester
which was to use. About 200 yards
away stood an old shanty, empty and
tumbled down; on this Dalziel stucl.
the white lid of box, Offering u plaiu
mark of perhaps twelve inches square.
took the rife and after firing two
shots for direction and elevation I
walked over to see how had got on,
then came back and resumed firing.
When / got through three aud twenty
cartridges, We all, that is. the rest OF
the men in the store-with Dalziel
and myself. walked over to tho target.
"'Great Scott l'.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 Crocky,
an il I was you I'd own up and apollo
| gixe.'
"I thank you for your advice
replied. i believe I have more chancs
than you fancy. bat II I had none, this
affair would have to go on. dnIess,
Indeed. your man should beg my par