The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-11-25


that patience had nearly ceased to be
his ruling virtue. Still, / could net an
ticipate the scenes which were to fol
low.
The last bullet had struck just out
side the bulls eye, and after carefully
measuring the three, Tom Tarbox, he
who had offered the prize, and kept the
measurements. stepped up, among the
crowd now gathered and said,-
"Mr. Ranney has made the best rec
ord. his three shots measuring but two
inches. SO / give to him the flask &C
cording to agreement"
He reached forth the prize as he
spoke, but before the young man could
take it, Jack snatched it from the sur
veyor's hand, and put it in his pocket
No one anticipated such a movement,
and it was some time before Tarbox
recovered his selfpossession so as to
speak.
1.-THE flask belongs to Mr.. Ranney,"
he said. please let him have it,"
"The flask belongs to me-" retorted
Jack. Ellis shootin' war all accidental.
He only happened to hit whar he did.
But then, he can have the flask If he
can git it, or you either
Tarbox bit his lip, and looked to the
other members of the party, undecided
how to act. Seeing his irresolution,
Ranney stepped forward and said,-
Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Tarbox.
The flask is mine, and | will see to
getting it,"
"You will, eh?" snarled the bully.
"Git away from me-out of arms
reach-or I'll smash you like roast
tater!"
Thus speaking, the giant swung his
fists about, but the young man did
not move. Instead he received blow
upon the head which knocked away his
hat, and seemed to change his whole
nature to that of young lion. With
a strength and agility wholly unlocked
for, he dealt the giant fearful blow
full upon the nose, which threw him to
the ground, and deluged the income
ly face and beard with torrents of
blood. There was a momentary strug-
gle upon the ground after the bully fell,
and then Stephen stepped back a pace
or two.
In a moment the rufian was upon his
feet again, and with a fearful curse he
placed his hand where he expected to
find a revolver, But it was gone.
Then he sought for his knife, but that,
too, was missing. The young man had
taken the precaution of removing
them, so that now they stood upon
equal ground. But what a contrast
Nine inches in height the bully lowered
above his antagonist, while in actual
weight he was nearly twice his equal.
There was no parley nor hesitation.
himself weaponless, Jack
rushed for the young man, and would
have crushed him in deadly grasp;
but the you,.g man did not wait for the
process. quick, fierce blow, falling
Just where the other had fallen, stag
gered the rascal, and before he could
see what had become of the man he
already in his grasp, a tre-
mendous crack in the ear brought him
again to the ground. Again he scram-
bled to his feet, and again he was
knocked down, by a single reverberat-
ing blow. The fourth time he arose
but before he could wipe the blood
from his eyes sufficiently to distinguish
ais antagonist, the hard earth again
became his bed
This time he did not rise Immediate
y. 1t was patent to every one before
his stage of the encounter that he was
for once, and at last |
hat fact seemed to become clear to |
lis own mind. Drawing the flask from |
lis pocket, he cast it upon the ground,
,savagely,-
There's yer old flask! Take it, if |
yei want it SO bad"
Stephen stepped to the spot where
he coveted prize lay and picked it up,
placing it beside his rifle. Then turn
Who had now risen to his feet, he thus
addressed him.
Jack Dunlaw, / am not done with
rou yet. A few days ago you brutally
nsulted Cora Russell. / could have
hot you dead, and l should have done
if had not pitied you. Now you can
axe your choice-go, and on your
,nees ask pardon, and then quit this
lace forever, or die where you stand
his quarrel is not of my seeking, and
low you have begun it, take your
hoice. / give you three minutes to de-
ide."
A half dozen watches were produced,
nd the attention of our party was di-
ided between their slowly moving
ands and the exdted group before US.
It first it seemed as though Jack de-