The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-05-15
JACK MASON'S WAGER
HE WON IT IN GREAT STYLE WITH
OUT "TURNINo A HARP
Unique Hunting Escspade Of . Fs-
nous Old Time Virginia Sportsman.
BIRD shooting That Opened a Grim
Old scotch man Eyes.

Unique HunttnE fscapnoe OI Tn-
nous Old Time Virginia Sportsman.
BIRD shooting That Opened n Grim
Old scotcbman's Eyes.
From all accounts Jack Mason In his
youth was the widest rattling young
blade In the country. One OF his sport
Ing escapades Is a household tradition
down in old Quantico 10 this day, says
Alexander Hunter In Outing.
There was large plantation In the
section owned and worked by Scotch
man. an elderly man, who employed no
overscer, but filed the place himself.
lie was the typical stern, Dlgoted
Scotch Covcnanter as drawn by the
immortal pen Of the Wizard OF the
North. He was a fanatic In all things
and was utterly out Of place among
the pleasure loving Virginia gentry. 1t
was the irrcprcssible antlpathy Of the
Cavalier and Puritan-thc rising OF the
bristlcs Of the boar at the approach OF
the staghounds. He hcrded by himself,
and they left him severely alone. The
canny Scot was himself no sportsman,
nor would he allow any OF the neigh
bors 10 fire n gun on his place.
Now IL happened there was large
ball near by, with Jack Mason In at
tendance, Of course and during the
night the young planters discussed the
chances Of autumn shooting and de
plorcd the failure Of all their efforts TO
be allowed 10 hunt on the Scotchmans
preserves. Jack Mason offered To bet
his favortc horse against any OF equal
value that he would shoot over that
preserve on the morrow and with the
full and free consent OF the owner. He
was asked II he knew him personally
or had unknown means Of winning his
favor.
He answered In the negative ana
nddcd hc had never even met the Scot
I'm his life. The wager was closed there
ana then.
The next morning as the old Cove
nantcr was walking up ana down the
porch enjoying his after breakfast pipe
n strange apparltion advanced mp the
gravel walk and took off his three cor
ncrcd hat and made him sweeping
bow. The Scot winkcd his eyes ana
looked again. lie saw slender, cffcm-
inatc looking fellow some twenty-five
years old who seemed literally To have
stcppcd from the ballroom. His ruilicd
shirt front was adorned with dia-
mond. mother of pearl buttons cleaned
on his sky blue coat. and his satin small
clothes glistcncd In the sunshine. n
pair of silk stockings were gartcrcd by
n love knot bow Of blue ribbon. and his
dancing pumps were decorated by
lcwclcd buckle. lie carried gun in
one hand. and two pointer dogs trooped
at his heels.
"Wcll, what do you wantf' asked the
planter.
In mincing voice the intruder asked
his gracious permission 10 shoot few
birds, saying he had been dancing all
night ut Warwick hall and needed n
little morning exercise.
The Scot gaZcd at him with the same
feeling perhaps that his stalwart noun
tain bred ancestor had nt the pcrfumcd
wns about To utter n curt and positive
refusal when his grim Scotch humor
got the better OF him. lie came near
hilarious laughter as he saw that dell
Catcly clothed creature standing so
Glenn, jaunty and nice and then pie
turcd him returning from the hunt, his
costly attire In rags, his tender limbs
scratched. his morning glory all gone.
So he smiled I'm his beard and asked
him IL he intended TO hunt just as he
was dressed. lie 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 off for the low grounds To at
tend 10 the cornshucl,ing.
A short time after his negro manager
came running UP to him and said:
"MarstCr. there won't be n bird left
on dis here place. De mans dcbbil,
and the dogs is the dcbbil. and the gun
Is Il dcbbil."
Dropping his work, the owner hur.
rlcd 10 the scene and he opened his
eyes very wide indeed at what he saw,
In the front of the house was stuhblc
field of several hundred acres that had
been harvested I'm wheat the same
year. II was rs level as table and an
ideal feeding place for the quail. For
many years they had whistlcd, mated
and fed around the place all undis-
mrbcd until they became almost AS
tame rs barnyard fowls The owner
saw the dogs stand motionlCss. saw the
dandy sportsman pick his way gently
where they wcra saw few birds rise
and two pums Of smoke, followed 10y
nearly simultaneous report Two
birds dropped, thcu the dogs retrieved
and the game was handed to monde
script negro lad whom the sportsman
had picked up somewhere, who had
tied the birds to string and wrapped
them around his body until he was
half hidden from view.
The gun was loaded and capped in
side Of u minute. The performance was
repeated The man never hurried. the
dogs beautifully trained, never bun
glCd. the gun never missed, and the
dandy had. ia sporting parlancc. never
turned hair" The stockings were
n little colorcd 10y the chckwccd, but
he was ready to lead the minuct that
moment
The Scotchman at first was furiously
angry, but as he saw the matchlcss