The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-07-06

u wv y getting the hang of things
o Q He was a good shot to be-
i gin with. and Kept us fairly
tc~ well supplied with game
and Kangaroo tail soup.
Jackson. our boss, had fixed the name
of Cropper on the newcomer. probably
because somehow II foil 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
unders and 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: "the horses
know you're new. and they're just hav.
Ing fun with you"
Barnes. on the other hand warned
him that all the horses were only half
broken in. that they rpeded constant
watching, and couldn't be trusted fo-
q minute; but he doubted that To
convince him Barnes rode alongside of
CrOpper and swung his stock whip la ash
suddenly under the tail of the new
chum's mount.
The horse clamped his tail down upon
u like wise. dropped his nose 70 the
ground, doubled M like n cat in n back
fence concert, and buciod for all It was
worth. Ten stone ten OF New Chum
went bouncing away from him like q
rubber ball. and struck the ground
none too gently. Cropper picked him
self up painfully and remarked to
Barnes
"a little Of this will go a long way
with me-
1t did. II went n long way toward
making it impossible for a horse ever
again to catch him unawares.
There WAS one man in tile party to
whom Cropper didn't cotton. That
was Johnson. the one-eyed cook. 1t
was case OF mutual dislike. Johnson
had begun by trying TO rough CropDar.
and was promptly called down hard at
The muzzle Of a gru. He weakened at
p7ce. but he got some satisfaction ont
Of telling the others what terrible
things he would do one Of these fine
days. The New Chum knew he wasn't
Scared by the gun, he said. and he re-
ferred 10 the act as cowardly bluff.
That gave Barnes an idea.
'IOOk here, Johnson. why didn't vou
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 ard fight with them. II
he weakous. you've got him. If he
agrees, wen doctor the cartridges so
as you won't hurt one another"
The cooks one eye sparkled at the
thorcht.
"I'll call HIN out. MI right" he said.
when he hnd digosted the idea. "i'll
call him ont. all right, and YOU uocln't
doctor the cartridges. either You'll
see. n he doesn't get frightened. why,
I'll make sieve Of him at a hundred
yards"
Hundred grandmothers" Barnes
said in disgust. "DO you think were
going 10 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 heslinted ~ don't want 10
mangle him" ae said. finally. "If we
meet at ten yards mnybe-maybe you'd
better fake tie bullets"
That's settled. then" Barnes de-
clared.
"Tll second Croppcr. II he wont
come to tiise I Will. I'll be behind
him."
"Hold on there" the cook exclaimed
excltedly. I'VE haven't had any
trouble-you and me. We've got no
call TO fight"
This end Of the we does and will"
Barnes said grimly. 'unless this bust
ness Is settled at once. Is II TO be
faxed or notf"
"Why-er-faked." of course" said
the cook. Il don't know as I really
want TO hurt him. A fright will dc
him a bit Of good, though"
Then Mr. johnson had another
thought.
"Of course. he won't know It's TO be
q fake. There's no need to tell him
that
"No. Of course not" Barnes replied
sarcastlcnlly. "He isn't sure thing
man. you know. Couldn't be. He's
only white"
The cook began to fdget and fingered
. cartridge neryously. How do
know you won't forget to fake them;'
he asked.
"oh. that's all right. Johnson" th'
boss put In cheerfully. "rll attend 4
that for you"
Cropper came along and dropped I
couple OF Wild turkeys on the ground
'rhere's something better than salt
horse. cook" he declared "Cook then
~ supper, Will your.
~