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

Twenty-Five or thirty years ago. CiidhC'
led me to one about a year ago.
was travelling in one Of the northeast
ern counties, when overlook
swarthy, bright-eyed, smerlxy little
fellow, riding a small pony and bearing
on his shoulder long, heavy rifle
which, judging from its looks, ! shoult
say had done service in Morgan's
corps.
"Good morning, siri" said refining
up my horse as came beside him.
.How goes it, stranger" said he
with tone OF Independence and self
confidence that awakened my curiosity
to know little of his character.
Going driving?" inquired l.
Not exactly" replied he, surveying
my horse with quizzical smile. .
haven't been a-driving by myself for
year or two: and my nose has got SC
bad lately can't carry a cold trail
without hounds to help me-"
Alone, and without hounds as ne
was, the question was rather a silly
one; but it answered the purpose fol
which 1t was put, which was only tc
draw him into conversation, and pro-
ceeded to make as decent retreat as
i could.
Il didn't know" said I, but thai
you were going to meet the huntsmen
or going to your stand"
rAh, sure enough" rejoined he. that
mout be a bee, as the old woman said
when she killed a wasp. 1t seems to
me ought to know you."
''WeI, II you ought. why don't your
what mout your name be?"
TT might be anything" said I. with
borrowed wit, for knew my man. and
knew what kind Of conversation would
please him most.
well, what is it, then?"
TT is Hail." said 1; "but you know
1t might as well have been anything
else"
Pretty digging!" said he. Il find
you're not the fool took you to be;
so here's to better acquaintance with
you!"
with all my heart" returned 1;
but you must be as clever as I've
been, and give me your name"
ITO be sure will, my old coon; take
it-take It, and welcome. Anything
else about me you'd like to have?
mo-" said 1. there's nothing else
about you worth having"
''Oh. yes. there is, stranger! Do you
see this?" holding up his ponderous
rife with an ease that astonished me
IF you will go with me to the shooting
match, and see me knock out the bulPs
eye with her few times, you'll agree
the old Soap-stick's worth something
when Billy Curlew puts his shoulder to
her"
This short sentence was replete with
information to me. 1t taught me that
my companion was Billy Curlew; thai
he was going to shooting match;
that he called his rife the Soap-stick
and that he was very confident Of win
ming beef with her; or, which is nearly
but not quite the same thing, driving
the cross with her.
We'll" said l. IF the shooting-matct
it not too far out of my way, I'll go tc
it with pleasure"
Unless your way hes through the
woods from here" said Billy, ut II not
be much out of your way; for it's only
a mile ahead of us, and there is nc
other road for you to take till you gel
there; and as that thing you're riding
in amt well suited to fast travelling
among brushy knobs, I reckon yor
won't lose much by going by. / reck-
on you hardly ever was at shooting
match, stranger, from the cut Of youl
coat?"
"Oh yes" returned /, many a time
I won beef at one when / was hardly
old enough to hold a shotgun off,
hand"
Children don't go to shooting
matches about here" said he, with 6
smile of incredulity. Il never heard
of but one that did, and he was little
swinge cat He was born a-shoot'
ing, and killed squirrels before he wa:
weaned."
Nor did l ever hear Of but one" re-
piled 1, "and that one was myself"
And where did you win beef 81
young, stranger"
AT Berry Adams's."
why, stop, stranger, let me look a
you good! Is your name Lyman
Hall?"
We'll, dang my buttons, If you an
the very boy my daddy used to tell m
about l was too young to recollec
you myself; but I've heard daddy tall
about you many time. believ
mammy's got neck-handkerchief nov
that daddy won on your shooting a
Collen Reid's store when you wer
hardly knee-high. Come along, Lyman
and I'll go my death upon you at tn
shooting match, with the old Soap
stick at your shoulder"
"Ah, Billy" said l, "the old Soap
stick will do much better at your owl
shoulder. 1t was my mothers notioI
that sent me to the shooting match
Berry Adams's; and, to tell the homes
truth, IT was altogether chance sho
that made me win beef; but that was
mt generally known, and most every
body believed that l was carried ther
on account of my skill in shooting; an
my fame was spread far and WIDE
we'll remember remember too per
fectly we'll, your fathers bet on me a
the store. He was at the shootin
match, and nothing could make hir
believe but that l was great sho
with rifle as well as shot gun. BE
he would on me. in spite of all 1 coul
say, though l assured him that l ha
never shot rifle in my life. 1t so hap
pened, too, that there were but tW
bullets, or, rather, bullet and half
and so confident was your father 1