Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1903-06-03
JACKMASON'S WAGER
hs WON IT IN GREAT STYLE WITH
OUT "TURniNG A HAIR.

unique Hunting Es~spade of m "a
NOUS Old rsuse Virginia Sportsman.
nird Shooting That Opened m Grim
Old Scotchmsn's Eyes.
From all accounts Jack Mason In his
youth was the widest rattIing Young
blade I'm the country One OF his sport
ing escapades is household tradition
down in old Quantico 10 this dav. SAYS
Alexander Hunter In Outing.
There was large plantation in the
section owned and worked by n Scotch
man, an elderly man. who employed no
overseer, but filled the place himself.
lie was the typical stern. blgoted
Scotch Covenanter as drawn 10y the
immortal pen of the Wizard OF the
North. He WAS n fanatic in all things
ana was utterly out OF place among
the pleasure loving Virginia gentry. IL
was the irrepressible antipathy of the
cavalier and Puritan-the rising Of the
Dristies OF the boar at the approach of
the staghounds. He hertled by himself
and they left him severely alone. The
canny SEQ; was himself no sportsman,
nor would he allow any of the neigh
oors to fire gun on his place.
Now IL happened there was n large
ball near by. with Jack Mason In at
tendance. OF course. and during the
'ight the young planters discussed the
chances OF autumn shooting and de-
plored the failure of all their efforts to
be allowed 20 hunt on the Scotchman's
preserves. Jack Mason offered 10 bet
hiS iavorite horse against an OF equal
value that lac would shoot over that
preserve on the morrow AMI with the
full and free consent OF the owner. He
was asked il he knew him personally
or had unknown means OF winning his
favor.
lie answered in the negative and
added he had never even met the Scot
In his life. The wager was closed there
ana then.
The next morning as the old Cove
nanter was walking up and down the
porch enjoying his after breakfast pipe
strange apparitiOn advanced up the
gravel walk ana took or his three cor
nered hat and made him a sweeping
bow. The Scot winkcd his eyes and
looked again. lie saw slender. effem-
mate looking fellow some twenty-five
years old who seemed literally 10 have
stepped from the ballroom. His rufilcd
shirt front was adorned with a dia-
mond. mother OF pearl buttons cleaned
on his sky biue coat. and his satin small
clothes glistened I'm the sunshine. 4
pair OF silk stockings were gartercd 10y
love knot bow OF blue ribbon. and his
dancing pumps were decorated by "A
jewcled buckle. He carried gun in
one hand. ana two pointer dogs troopcd
at his heels.
well. what DO you wanty' asked the
planter.
In mincing voice the intruder asked
his gracious permission to shoot few
birds. saying he had been dancing all
night at Warwick hall and needed a
little morning exercise.
The Scot gazed at him with the same
feeling perhaps that his .stalwart noun
tain bred ancestor had ut the perfumed
dainty fops OF Charles lis court. He
was about 20 utter a curt and positive
refusal when his grim Scotch humor
got the better OF him. He came near
hilarious laughter as he saw that deli
catcly clothed creature standing so
clean. jaunty and nice and then pic
tured him returning from the hunt his
costly attire in rags. his tender limbs
scratched. his morning glory all gone
SO he smiled in his beard and asked
him If he intended To hunt lust as he
was dressed. He was answered In the
affirmative. So he gave his assent that
his unknown guest for that one day
might shoot all he pleased and then he
started or for the low grounds to at
tend 10 the communicating.
y short time after his negro manager
came running up To him and said:
"Marster there won't be 4 bird left
on dis here place he mans a debbl.
and the dogs is the debbil. and the gun
is n debbil."
Dropping his work, the owner hur-
ried TO the scene. and he opened his
/ eyes very wide indeed ut what he saw.
In the front OF the house was stubble
field Of several hundred acres that had
been harvested in wheat the same
year. IL was as level rs a table and an
ideal feeding place for the quail. For
many years they had whistled. mated
and fed around the place all undis-
turbed until they became almost as
tame as barnyard fowls. The owner
saw the dogs stand motionleSs, saw the
dandy sportsman pick his way gently
where they We're. saw few birds rise
and two puffs of smoke. followed by
nearly simultaneous report Two
birds dropped, then the dogs retrieved.
and the game was handed to Il monde
script negro lad whom the sportsman
had picked mp somewhere, who had
tied the birds 10 Il string and wrapped
them around his body until he was
half hidden from view.
The gun was loaded and capped in
side of 4 minute. The performance was
repeated. The man never hurried. the
dogs. beautifully trained, never bun
gled the gun never missed. and the
dandy had. in Sporting parlance, never
turned 4 hair" The stockings were
a little colored by the chickwecd, but
he was ready To lead the minuet that
moment.
The Scotchman at first was furiously
angry, hut as he saw the matchless
work of the trinity of destructive
agents-man, gun. dOg-so perfectly
blended into one, and beheld in the af.
fectcd coXcomb the same metal which
under Rupert had again and again
broken the steel fronted squares OF
Cromwclls IronsideS, he advanced and
asked his name. and when II was given
he answered, 81 might have known It,"
And that's how Jack Mason won his
bet