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


half bullet; and, strange to tell, by
another chance shot I'd like to have
drove the cross and won his bet"
Nov / know you're the very chap
for / heard daddy tell that very thing
about the half-bullet. Don't say any
thing about 1t, Lyman. and darn my
old shoes IL / don't tare the line on
the boys with you at the shooting
match! They'll never 'spect such
looking man as you are Of knowing
anything about rifle. I'll risk youl
chance shots"
soon discovered that the father had
eaten sour grapes, and the sons teeth
were on edge; for Billy was just as in
corrigibly obstinate in his belief OF
my dexterity with rifle as his father
had been before him.
We soon reached the place appointed
for the shooting match. It went by
the name of Sims Cross Roads be-
cause here two roads intersected each
other; and because, from the time that
the first had been laid out, Archibald
Sims had resided there. Archibald
had been a justice of the peace in his
day (and where is the man of his age
in Georgia who has not?); consequent
ly he was called Squire Sims. 1t is
the custom in this state, when a man
has once acquired title. civil or mil
itary, to force 1t upon him as long as
he lives; hence the countless number
Of titled personages who are intro
duced in these sketches.
We stopped at the squire's door. Bill
ly hastily dismounted. gave me the
shake Of the hand which he had been
reluctantly reserving for mile back
and, leading me UP to the squire, thus
introduced me: Uncle Archy, this is
Lyman Hall; and for all you see him
in these fine clothes, he's a swinge cat;
a darn sight cleverer fellow than he
looks to h. Wait till you see him lift
the old Soap-stick and draw a bead
upon the bulls eye. You gwine to see
fun here today Don't say nothing
about it."
well, Mr.. Swinge cat" said the
squire, here's to better acquaintance
with you" offering me his hand.
How goes 1t, Uncle Archy?" said
taking his hand warmly (for I am al
ways free and easy with those who are
so with me; and in this course rarely
fail to please. "How's the old wo-
man?"
"Egad," said the squire, chuckling,
there you're too hard for me; for she
died two-and-twenty years ago, and
haven't heard a word from her since" "
What! and you never married
again."
Never, as Gods my judge!" CA
solemn asseveration truly, upon SC
light a subject)
We'll, that's not my fault"
mo, nor it's not mine nither," said
the squire.
Here we were interrupted by the
cry OF another Ransy Sniffie: Hello
here! All you as wish to put in for
the shoot'n' match, come on here! for
the putin ms riddy to begin"
About sixty persons, Including mere
spectators, had collected, the most OF
whom were more or less obedient to
the call Of Mealy Whitecotton-for
that was the name of the self-consti-
tuted commander in chief. Some has
tened and some loitered, as they desir-
ed to be first or last on the list; fol
they shoot in the order in which their
names are entered.
The beef was not present, nor is II
ever upon such occasions; but several
of the company had seen 1t, who al
concurred in the opinion that 1t was q
good beef and we'll worth the price thai
was set upon it-eleven dollars. A
general inquiry ran round, in order tc
form some opinion as to the number
of shots that would be taken; for, Of
course, the price of shot is cheapeneo
in proportion to the increase Of thai
number. 1t was soon ascertained thai
not more than twenty persons would
take chances; but these twenty agreed
to take the number Of shots at twenty
five cents each.
The competitors now began to give
in their names; some for one, some fol
two, three, and a few for as many a:
four shots.
Billy Curlew hung back to the last
and when the list was offered him, five
shots remained undisposed Of.
How many shots left?" inquired
Billy.
Five" was the reply.
We'll, take 'em all. Put down fou
shots to me, and one to Lyman Hall
paid for by William Curlew."
/ was thunderstruck; not at hi!
proposition to pay for my shot, because
knew that Billy meant ii as tokeI
of friendship, and he would have beer
hurt if l had refused to let him do mt
this favor; but at the unexpected an
nouncement Of my name as compet1
tor for beef, at least one hundred miles
from the place of my residence. wa
prepared for challenge from Billy t.
some of his neighbors for a privat
match upon me: but not for this.
therefore protested against his put
ting in for me, and urged every reason
to dissuade him from it that ! could
without wounding his feelings.
Put it down." said Billy, with tn
Authority of an emperor, and with
look that spoke volumes intelligible t
every bystander. Reckon l don
know what I'm about?" Then wheel
ing off, and muttering in an under
self-confident tone, Dang old Roper,
continued he, ''if he don't knock tina
cross to the north corner of creation
and back again before a cat can lie
her foot"
Had l been king of the cat tribe the
could not have regarded me with NOR
curious attention than did the Who'll
company from this moment. Ever
inch of me was examined with the nlc
est scrutiny; and some plainly ex
pressed by their looks that they neve
would have taken me for such bite