Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-24


The third and fourth rounds were
shot, Billy discharged his last shot,
which left the rights to parties thus:
Billy Cuiiew first and fourth choice,
Spivey second, Firmly third, and
WhItecotton fifth. Some Of my readers
may perhaps be curious to learn how a
distinction comes to be made between
several, all Of whom drive the cross.
The distinction is perfectly natural and
equitable. Threads are stretched from
the uneffaced parts of the once inter-
secting lines, by means Of which the
original position of the cross Is pre-
cisely ascertained. Each bullet-hole
beirg nicely pegged up as 1t is made, 1t
Is easy to ascertain its circumference.
To this believe they usually, II not
invariably, measure, where none Of the
balls touch the cross; but IL the cross
be driven, they measure from 1t to the
centre of the bullet-hole. To make a
draw-shot, therefore. between two who
drive the cross, II Is necessary that the
centre Of both balls should pass direct.
ly through the crosse thing that very
rarely happens
The Bite alon, remained to shoot.
Billy wiped olal his rifle carefully,
loaded her to the sop of his skill, hand
ed her to me. NOW" said he, Lyman,
draw fine bead, but not too fine; for
Soap-stick bears up her ball well. Take
care, and don't touch the trigger until
you've got your bead. for she's spring
trigger'd, and goes mighty easy; but
you hold her to the place you want her,
and II she don't go there dang, old
Roper"
Ittook hold Of Soap-stick, and lapsed
Immediately into the most hopeless
despair I am sure never handled as
heavy gun in all my life. why BIZ
ly.' said 1, you little mortal, you!
what do you use such gun as this
forg
Look at the bull's-eye yonder!" said
he.
True" said I, "but can't shoot her;
1t Is impossible"
60 long, you old coon!" said Billy;
81 see what you're at" intimating that
all this was merely to make the coming
shot the more remarkable. "Daddy's
little boy don't shoot anything but the
old Soap stick here today. know"
The judges. knew, were becoming
impatient, and. withal, my situation
waa growing more embarrassing every
second; so cen resolved to try the
Soap stick without further parley.
stepped out, arid the most intense
interest was excited all around me. and
1t dashed like electricity around the
target as ! judged from the anxious
gaze of all In that direction.
Policy dictated that should fire with
a falling rifle, and adopted this mode,
determining to fire as soon as the
sights came on a line with the dia-
mofid. bead or no beaGl. Accordingly,
/ commenced lowering old Soap-stick;
but, In spite of all my muscular pow
ers. she was strictly obedient to the
laws of yravitation, and came down
with uniformly accelerated velocity.
Before could arrest her downward
flight she had not only passed the tar.
get but was making rapid encroach-
merits on my owRstoes.
why, he's the weakest man In the
arm ever seed," said one, in half
whisper.
1T may be fun" said the other, "but
1t looks nightly like yearnest to man
up a tree"
/ now, of course, determined to re-
verse the mode of firing, and put forth
all my physical energies to raise Soap
stick to the mark. The effort silenced
Billy, and gave tongue to all his COM
panions. I had just strength enough
to master Soap sticks obstinate PRO-
clivity, and, consequently. my nerves
began to exhibit palpable signs of dis
tress with her first imperceptible
movement upward. A trembling COM
merced in my arms, increased, and ex-
tended rapidly to my body and lower
extremities; so that, by the time that
1 had brought Soap-stick up to the
mark was shaking from head to foot
exactly like man under the continued
action Of strong galvanic battery. In
the meantime my friends gave vent to
their feelings freely.
Il swear poin'blank,' said one,
that man can't shoot"
He used to shoot we'll" said anoth-
er; but can't now nor never could"
You better git away from bout that
mark!" bawled third "for I'll be dod
darned If Broadcloth don't give some OF
you the dry gripes if you stand too
close thare."
THE strangers got the peedoddles,
said a fourth with humorous gravity.
IF he had bullets enough in his gun
he'd shoot ring round the bulPs-eye
big as a spinning Wheel" said fifth.
AS soon as I found that Soap-stick
was high enough (for I made no fur
ther use Of the sights than to ascer-
tain this fact), l pulled trigger, and
off she went. 1 have always found that
the most creditable way Of relieving
myself Of derision was to heighten 1t
myself as much as possible. 1t Is
good plan in all circes, but by far the
best which can be adopted among the
plain, rough farmers Of the country.
Accordingly, l brought old Soap-stick
to an order with an air Of triumph. tip
ped Billy a wink, and observed, Now,
Billy, s your time to make your for
tune. Bet 'em two to one thatve
knocked out the cross"
mo. I'll be dod blamed If 1 do" said
Billy; but I'll bet you two to one you
ha'n't hit the plank"
"Ah, Billy" said /, II was joking
about betting, for 1 never bet; nor
would l have you to bet; indeed, 1 do
not faal axa,tl,y ,iobt In shO0ting for