Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05

and fairly eager. Show the pigeons ~ ~.
Elliot. Aaron" said DIT. Gordon. James toeA
one OF the rude disks called pigeons from
t.>e hand OF Aaron with indifference th,Hi
he started and stared at DR.. Gordon, WHO
laughed like a boy fairly doubling himseH
with merrifnent. Aaron did not laugh ne
chewed on. but his eyes danced.
Why, they are" stamnered James
Just so. young man" replied Or. Cor
don They are wood. Aaron made them
on lathe. and not a soul can tel mem
from the clay pigeons unless tBeN Manure
them. Now you are going 70 see some run.
Jim Goodman. who is the meanest skunk IN
town. has cheated every mothers son OF
us, first and last, and this afternoon he Is
going TO shoot against Albert Dodd. ana
he's going 70 get hts finishi Dodd knows
about it He'll have clay pigeons, all right
Goodman has put up quite sum OF money,
and he stands fair TO lose for once IN ms
Come on. Aaron, put the bay mare In
the buggy. Wen drive down to the field
We haven't got much time 10 spare.
Aaron backed the mare out of her stau
and hitched her 10 the mud despatched
buggy, and the two men drove on with the
wooden pigeons under the seat They had
not far 10 go, to a large field intersected
with various footpaths and with a large.
bare space, which evidently served as a
foot bail gridiron. This field is used Ike
town property explained the doctor. but
the funny part OF Il is Il belongs to an oid
woman who is. perhaps. the richest person
In Alton, and asks such price for the land
that nobody can buy Il, and IL has never
occurred to her 10 keep off trespassers SO
everybody trcspassos, and she pays the
taxes. and we are all satisfied. especially as
there are plenty OF better building sites In
Alton TO be bought for less money That
old woman bites her nose of every day and
never knows II.
On this barren expanse. lntersected with
the narrow footpaths, covered between with
the no color Of last years dry weeds and
grass, were assembled some half dozen men
and boys. They rushed up the doctors
buggy came alongside Got emp they
cried eagerly. Or Gordon fumbled under
the seat and drew out the batch Of wooden
pigeons, which one young fellow. who
seemed to be master OF ceremonies. grasped
and rushed off with 20 the queer looking
machine erected in the center OF the foot
ball clearing, for the purpose of making
them take wing. The others went with
him. Or. Gordon got out Of his buggy &C
companied by James, and they, too Joined
the little group. Got the others?' asked
Gordon in a half whisper
Yes, you bet We've got the Others all
right said the young fellow, and every
body laughed.
Men and boys began to gather untiI the
field was halI-hlled with them. They all
wore grinning Countenances. For heav-
en- sake boys, don't act as IL IL We're so
awful funny. or you'll spoil the whole
thing, said the young fellow who had
come for the pigeons.
only one face was entirely sober even
severe, as with resolve. and mat was the
face Of a small, mean-lookiug man between
forty and fifty. lie carried gun and looked
at once important and greedy That's
jim Goodman, whispered AtT. ArpTGot ID
James. and he's a crack shot. too. Albert
isn't as sure. though he's pretty good, too
James began to catch the spirit Of II hlIG-
self He felt at once disguised and an
easy about the doctor, but as FOR himself
he was only young man, after all. and
sport was stl sweet to his soul He shout
ed with the rest when the first pigeon was
launched into the air, and Albert DOCd, a
tall, serious young man fired. He hit the
bird, which at once flew into fragments, as
a clay pigeon properly should
George X. came up and Joined them. He
was evidently not in the secret, for he
looked intensely puzzled when Jim Good
man. WIN had next shot, hit his bird fair
ly, but Ii only hoped about and descended
unbroken. What the deuce''' ne said.
Hush up, George X, said DIR. Cor
don. The other man turned and loked at
him keenly, but the doctors imperturbabe,
smiling face was on the sport George *. 3
great pink face grew grave. Every time
Albert Dodd fired The pigeons dropped IN
pieces; every time Jim Goodman fired they
hoped as II they were alive. Jim Good
man swore audibly. He looked to his car
tTdges. The whole field was in an uproar
Of mir5h. The gunshots We're hardly audi
bic for the yells and wild hal!oos OF mer-
riment The match at last was finished.
Jim Goodman's last pigeon hoped, and he
was upon 1t in rage He tookeit up and
examined it. It was riddled with shot. He
felt 1t, weighed II. Then his face grew
fairly black From being only mean, he
looked murderous. He was losing money,
soul. He looked around at the yelling
threng, one man at bay. and ne achieved
a certain dignity, even in tie midst of abb
surdlty
This darned pigeon is wood" said he.
They are all wood, all I have shot This
is put-up Job! 1t amt fair" He turned
to the young fellow who had taken the
pigeons, and who acted as referee.
See here, John" he said, you an't
going to see me done this way be you1
You know It amt a fair deal. Albert
Dodd's shot at clay pigeons and I've shot
wood. 1t amt fair"
mo, 1t amt fair" admitted the young
fellow reluctantly, with a side glance at
DR. Gordon. Gordon made a movement,
saw a roll OF bills pass from his hands TO
Jim Goodman's. Gordon came up to
Georgia K.
See herel" he said.
Well" replied George K. without turns
ing his head.
George k
81 can't stop. Excuse me- Doc" George
X. jumped into light wagon on that side
of the field, and was gone with a swift
bounce over the hollow which separated 1t
from the road. DR.. Gordon hurried back
to his own buggy, with James following
got in and took the road after George X.
He mustn't pay that money" said Cor
don. James said nothing.
II never thought of such thing as that"
said DR.. Gordon, driving furiously, but
they did not catch up with George X. until
out OF his wagon.
DR.. Gordon approached him, pocket
book in hand. See here, George X he
said, Il owe you a hundred"
owe me nothing" said George K re
had seemed impossible for his great pink
face to look angry and eontemptuous, but
1t did. ~ don't set up for much" said he,
'but must say like a square deal"
Good Lord! so do l." said Gordon.
Here, take this money. I had Aaron make
those darned wooden pigeons. Jim Good
man has skinned enough young chaps here
to deserve the taste of skin himself
He amt skinned you"
Hasn't he? He owes me for two wives
last sicknesses, to say nothing Of himself
and children, and he's living with his third,
and shall have to doctor her for nothing
o. let her die But that wasn't what did
It for"
George K turned upon him. What on
earth did you do 1t for, Doc?' said he.
Because 1 felt the way you have felt
yourself"
''When?"
when the woman that made those wax
flowers and loved that little stuffed bird in
there, died"
George ks face paled What's the
matter, Door"