The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-13
THE LONG NEW CHUM
BY HOWARD MARCH.
MNMMNNNNMAANN

+ gin with, and kept us fairly
9Ro& we'll supplied with game
and kangaroo tail soup.
Jackson. our boss, had fixed the NAM
of Chopper on the newcomer, probably
because somehow it fell to his lot to
get all the 'buck-jumpers" to ride.
He had been thrown so often that he
was getting saddle-shy. He couldn't
understand why it was that the other
fellows horses gave them no trouble.
while his own were shooting him into
space at most unexpected times.
"You see, it's like this, Cropper," the
boss would explain to him; 1.-The horses
know you're new, and they're just hay-
ing fun with you"
Barnes. on the other hand, warned
him that all the horses were only half
broken in, that they needed constant
watching, and couldn't be trusted for
q minute; but he doubted that. To
convince him Barnes rode alongside OF
Chopper and swung his stock whip lash
suddenly under the tail of the new
chum's mount.
The horse clamped his tail down upon
it like a wise, dropped his nose to the
ground, doubledup like a cat in a back
fence concert, and buclled for all il was
worth. Ten stone ten of New CEum
went bouncing away from him like a
rubber ball, and struck the ground
none too gently. Chopper picked him.
self up painfully and remarked to
Barnes:
"a little Of this will go a long way
with me-
1t did. 1t went a long way toward
making it impossible for a horse ever
again to catch him unawares.
There vas one man in the party to
whom Chopper didn't cotton. That
was Johnson. the one-eyed cook. 1t
was q case of mutual dislike. Johnson
had begun by trying to rough Chopper,
and was promptly called down hard at
the muzzle of q gun. He weakened at
once, but he got some satisfaction out
Of telling the others what terrible
things he would do Il of these fine
days. The New Chum knew he wasn't
scared by the gun, he said, and he re-
ferred to the act as a cowardly bluff.
That gave Barnes an idea.
Look here. Johnson. why didn't you
call him out? he asked. Call him
out. Tell him you want to settle the
thing. There are the two Martini
rifles in your wagon. say you're willing
to meet him and fight with them. If
he weakens, you've got him. If be
agrees, We'll doctor the cartridges so
as you won't hurt one another"
The cooks Il eye sparkled at the
thought.
"I'll call him out. all right" he said.
when he had digcsted the idea. I'll
q call him out, all right, and you needn't
doctor the cartridges. either. You'll
see. If he doesn't get frightened, why.
I'll make a sieve of him at q hundred
yards"
Hundred grandmothers" Barnes
said in disgust. do you think we're
going to waste all the ammunition in
the wagon? You'll meet at ten yards,
and You can have the ammunition
faxed or not, just as you please"
The cook hesitated. II don't want to
mangle him." he said. finally. "1f we
meet at ten yards maybe-maybe you'd
better fake the bullets"
"That's settled, then" Barnes de-
clared.
"Ill second Cropper. If he won't
come to time I will. I'll be behind
him.
Hold on there" the cook exclaimed,
eXcitedly. we haven't had any
trouble-you and me. We've got 10
81 call to fight"
"This end CT the we does and Will"
Barnes said. grimly, "unless this bust
ness is settled at once. Is it to be
faxed or not?"
"Why-er-faHcG." OF course" said
the cook. Il don't know as l really
want to liurt him. A fright will do
him q bit of good. though
Then Mr.. Johnson had another
thought.
"Of course. lie won't know it's to be
q fake. There's no need to tell him
that"
mo. of course not Barnes replied,
sarcastically. File isn't 4 sure thing
man. you know. Couldn't be. Hes
only white
The cook began to fidget and fingered
cartridge %ncrvously. How do l
know you won't forget to fake them