The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-07-27
THE LONG NEW CHUM
s<3EsEsEsEA<sEakA<S&a<1<A
BY HOWARD MARCH.

&ACE> HE big chum wasn't long in
u y getting the hang OF things
@ @ He was n good shot to be-
a j gin with, and kept us fairly
S&0R we'll supplied with game
and Kangaroo tail soup
Jackson, our boss. had fixed the name
of Croppcr 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. lie couldn't
understand why it was that the other
fellows horses gave them no trouble,
while bis own were shooting him into
space at most unexpected times
You Sec it's like this, Croppcr," the
boss would explain TO him: "thc 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 needed constant
watching, and couldn't be trusted for
minute; but he doubted that. TO
convince him Barnes rode alongside of
Cropper and swung his stock whip lash
suddenly under the tail of the now
chums mount.
The horse clampcd his tail down upon
1t like wise, dropped his nose TO the
ground. doubled up like cat in back
fence concert, ana buckcd for all it was
worth Ten stone ten Of New Chum
went bouncing away from him like a
rubber ball, and struck the ground
none too gently Croppcr picked him
self up painfully and remarked to
Barnes:
"a little of this Will go long way
with me-"
1t did. 1t went a long way toward
making it impossible for horse eyer
again to catch him unawarcs.
There was ono man in the party to
whom Croppcr didn't cotton. That
was Johnson. the onc-cycd cook. 1t
was case of mutual dislike Johnson
had begun by trying to rough Cropper
and was promptly called down hard at
the muzzlc Of gun. He weakened at
once, but he got some satisfaction out
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-
fcrrcd to the act as a cowardly bluff.
That gave Barnes an idea.
Look here. johnson. why didn't you
call him outf" lie 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 he
agrees, We'll doctor the cartridges so
as you won't hurt ono, another"
The cooks ono eye sparlilcd at the
thought.
"Ill call him out. all right" he said.
when he had digcstcd the idea "Tll
call him ont all right. and YOU needn't
doctor the cartridges either. YouIl
see. If he doesn't get frightened. why.
I'll make n sieve Of him Mt a hundred
yards"
Hundred grandmothcrsw 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 ns you please"
The cook hcsitatcd "I don't want TO
mangIc him" h" said. finally. "If we
meot at ten yards maybe maybe you'd
better fake the bullets"
THAT'S settled then" Barnes dc.
clarcd
"I'll second Croppcr If he won't
come to time | will I'll bc behind
him
"IIold on there" tho cool, exclaimed
cxcitedly. eve haven't had any
trouble you ana me. we've got no
call TO fight"