The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-31
WAS ONTO THE GAME

WOIkS SmoOJ0er tnan that OF the tar
get gallery man who offers prizes for
high scores made with his rifles. His
method of peculation is as simple as
It is effective. While the marksman
Is scoring his seven straight bulls
eyes out of the first rife handed him,
the proprietor is loading another rife
with the three cartridges intended to
finish the feat
A couple of 1at-headed bullets
showed into the magazine are usually
enough to do the trick But often
extra precautions are taken besides.
For instance, a single blank cartridge
is apt to interrupt the winning streak
Among the easiest lambs that fall
to the willy rifieman are the man-of-
war's-men. 1t was a very deceptive
msn-o'-war' s-man who hesitated the
other week in front of a gallery not
far from the famous Coney Island
Bowery.
See those little clay pipes way up
on the top? Well, them's them. You
Just picks OF ten of EN- in succession
an the IS Is yours an the shootin'
don't cost you nawthin Just as easy
as rollin' OFF a log. l had one o. the
boys from your place down here last
week an he cleaned me out OF. 500 an
b I couldn't afford to let him shoot no
more cause I was broke. Here you
are, nowhere shots for five cents"
II didn't like the looks O. your
rifies-the bores is too small an the
sights is too coarse, but I'll have a go
at EN-, anyway" the sailor said,
leaned on the platform with his ell
bows and took long and deliberate
aim. Then the rifle cracked and a
clay pipe sputtered into white dust,
hit squarely in the middle Of the
bowl
Shoots pretty true. all right, don't
she?" said the marksman. Then he
pumped the handle of the magazine,
which threw another cartridge into
place. and this time disdained the use
Of an arm rest. But he aimed as long
and carefully as before, and this time
when the crack came a pipe went
down, shipped of the stem a half
inch from the bowl
Say. Teller could split a hair with
that thing" Jack said gleefully and
admiringly surveyed the rife before
All this time the gallery man was be-
coming more and more anxious and
yet his money seemed in no wise in
danger, all considered. He spoke
soothing, encouraging words to his
patron, and meanwhile had loaded
a second rife witch he held ready
to substitute for the one in use as
soon as 1t was empty.
Meanwhile the sailor was firing
away, taking less and less time to
aim according as he became used to
the weapon and disdaining the larger
mark Of the bowl of the pipes, seemedi
to take delight in shipping their
stems of at about equal length. When
he had emptied the rife the proprie-
tor wanted 20 hand him the second
one, but there is where the trouble
began. Without the least hesitation
the marksman had reached forth and
helped himself to three cartridges ly-
ing loose among a half hundred ready
for use.
''Ye can take this gun. it's all
loaded" said the proprietor
Il think l like the one 1 got" said
the sailor as he quickly glanced at
each cartridge before showing it nome.
You see, it's this way, matey, a man
gets used to one gun an when he
picks up another he's got to get used
to that one all over again, an he's
likely to miss. You know that, don't
you"
The gallery man saw that his man
knew a thing or two, and nothing but
blun remained. Who's running this
place, me or your" he cried, advanc-
ing closer to the sailor. 81 say YOU
shoots with this here gun or with
none at all. see?"
But the sailor did not see. He saw
Just the opposite way. Either he had
been there" before himself or he had
heard all about it down in the navy
yard; at any rate, he was not slow
In calling a halt
Now, lock a-here, captain" he
said. Between me and you. YOU
know we'll enough I couldn't hit the
end Of the range three times with the
things you got in there. An If you
don't know it. think so, anyway. an
that makes it all the same. So JUS
, stand aside and give me a show. for
I'm goin' to shoot with any gun I
like, an II yOu don't look out I'll call
a copper an have you pulled for run
ain a skin game"
The proprietor was not to be
bluned, however. He turned to one
Of his assistants and said:
You run an get a policeman, an
I'll see whose runnin' this place an
If a man can come in here an create
\ disturbance"
The assistant never budged. know
Ing what was expected. But one of
the spectators, fearing trouble. found
a policeman not far OF and brought
him around on q run.
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