The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1903-03-18
A DEAD SHOT.

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one lDOl bAJeT tiP OllleT SlONl ~
along the ground as if to show great
humility, the favorite huntsman of
Prince Horosticnko entered the ar-
Dor where his illustrious master was
wont to repose after eating.
"Approach, son of a dog, and
LISTEN"
Yam Barsouck came nearer and
bent forward until his face touched
his masters boot.
care you always sure of your
hand and your sight;'
"God help me, yes, eXcellcncy."
"Wcll, you are to wander away
from the castle, as is your habit.
You must pretend to have lost your
way. At nightfall enter the garden
secretly and, jumping the hedge,
conceal yourself in yonder clump of
bushes, which is directly in front of
the window of the blue saloon"
eyes, eXcellency."
"Thc saloon is sure to be lighted.
There you will see the princess and
Count Alexis karagine. Watch
well. When you see me enter the
room, raise your gun and aim at the
count"
Drawn up in his rustic chair, his
face more wrinkled and distorted
than ever before, the old prince
spoke authoritatively. His gaze was
intently fixed upon his huntsman,
in whose features no other senti-
ment was discernible save that of
servile obedience. lie continued:
"Aim at the count, but do not
shoot at once. Before you blow out
his brains | wish to make him un-
derstand that he is to die"
eyes, eXcellency."
"Therefore, you will stand, your
finger on the trigger, until | let fall
a handkerchief which | shall carry
in my hand. Then, Yam, shoot
and hit your mark. You under
stand ?"
eyes. eXcellency."
$50"
Yam was more than a mamie
was a brute. Whence he came no
one knew. From Lithuania per-
haps, judging from his name-the
only words he could speak when
they found him, tiny babe, under
a bush on the highroad that crossed
Prince Horostienko's estates. They
left him to grow up in the court
yard among the servants and
grooms. For his daily nourishment
he depended upon the charity Of the
peasants and the solutions.
AT sixteen he had made bow,
with which he could bring down all
the apples and pears he wanted.
Never once did he miss his aim.
One day the prince saw Yann's
arrow pierce the blossom of berga-
mot tree, and he commanded him to
be brought before him. The scrv-
ant who led Yam to his eXcellcncy
trembIed. But his cXcelIency was in
good humor. He contented him
self with giving the culprit fifteen
lashcs, after which he was sent to
the head huntsman, with orders
that he was to have uniform and
a gun.
Yam retained an agreeable re-
membrancc OF his masters clemen-
cy. lie wished to show that he was
grateful. Besides shooting was his
ruling passion.
His skill surpassed that of all the
most renowned marksmen of his
time. At forty PAGES he could send
a bullet directly through the eye Of
all otter without the slightest in
jury to the fur. Then he would 81
lently deposit the dead beast at his
masters feet. Being repaid with a
simple swell DONE" Yam would
return to his matched hut, surly
and tNciturn, without even IA glance
at the group of maidens, who, with
petticoats daintily tucked up,
washed their linen in the river.
He never spoke to any one. The
peasants held him in awe. Evil sto-
ries were current about him. They
may have been true. For Yam
there was but one law--the words
of his master; but one love-that
for his gun.
When the evening tea had been
drunk, the prince, making preteXt
of having some orders to give, took
leave of the count, his only guest
that day, and having kissed his
wife's hand withdrew to his own
apartment.
A half hour later he went down
into the garden.
There everything spoke of love.
Oppressed by the heat of the day,
the plants and flowers had bios
somed once more into life, filling
the air with their heavy fragrance.