The Echo register. (Echo, Umatilla County, Or.) 190?-1909, 1909-06-25
WHEN GAME
BY ADELAIDE RUTH HILL.

''The old fashioned fight OF the far
west" said the veteran from Idaho.
has died out with the stagecoach.
Now and then there's some monkey
business goin' on there. but It's not
what IL used TO be. I've seen and
heard of n number of 'em, but none IN
my remembrance for reel iightin, sich
as men fight who're goin' to fight at
all. equals that between Mcclure and
Riley away back In the fiftics.
''The fust of II all was dispute over
cards. II didn't amount TO much. eX.
two men. Afterward they met ON a
ranch. and Riley accused Mcclure of
purposely brandin' stock rs didn't be-
long TO him. MCGUIRE tried TO kill him
then and there. but was interfered
with by Riley's friends. Soon after
that some one. KNOWN that the two
men were bound to have II out. sug-
gested to Mcclure that they go of
alone for the fight. Mcclure agreed
and sent word TO Riley that he'd meet
him the next mornin' at sunup on the
trail between Beeswax and Bully
creek and they would then and there
settle whether or no he had branded
stock thas wasn't his'n. Riley agreed.
There wasn't no seconds. no surgeons
nor any Of the claptrap that men have
In toy duels. They was just goin' out
to fight.
"well, the next mornin'. when II was
still dark, Mcguire mounted his horse
and rode of toward the trail. There
had been nothin' said about weapons.
each man bein' left to take what he
thought he could do the most damage
with. Mcclure carried two six shoot
ers and knife. As he rode along the
stars was a-dyin' out and there was
consid' able light where the sun was
gittin' ready to come up. He looked
toward the few little shanties that
was Beeswax and saw somepin black
comm from that direction. II was
Riley. and he was armed Just about as
MCGUIRE was. They was mile apart.
mot wantin' to bring on the fight
too near Beeswax, Mcguire waited
awhile, then moved on slow. When
Riley got into range Mcclure suddenly
ducked under his horses neck and
fired. His bullet didn't do any dam
age at all. Riley he ducked Indian
fashion. too, and fired. Both on 'em
was ridin' around In circle lookiD'
for n chance to plu; the other. Finally
Riley's horse went down. hit by one
of McGuire's bullets. Riley, KNOWN
this would give his enemy an advan-
tage. shot McGuire's horse. and each
made breastwork of his animal.
Riley got the first plug, Mcguire
cuttln' n scratch around the side of
his head that filed his shootin' eye
with blood. He put his handkerchief
under his hat to ketch It and kept on
tightin'.
Before the dozen shots each Of 'em
started with was exhausted both OF
'em had three or four wounds. Nei.
ther Of 'em dared go out from behind
his horse till then, but when the last
shots had been fired they started for
each other with knives. Both on 'em
staggered rs they eyed each other.
watchin' for chance to git In blow.
But they was both about equally tuck
cred out. and neither on 'em had an
advantage. and neither on 'em could
git In stroke to kill
by this time the population Of the
three huts that made up the town o
Beeswax. bein' wakened by the shots.
come out to see the show. was one
on 'em. Mcclure and Riley was hack.
In AT each other. both staggerin' from
loss o. blood. havin' more Of 1t outside
than inside and just enough In their
bllnkers to keep 'em from seein' where
to strike. II was beautiful sight.
tell you. these two game men settlln'
their dispute In true manly fashion,
without seconds or surgeons.
"Bimeby they got 80 weak and so
blind that their blows was nothin' that
a four-year-old boy couldn't dodge
then they stopped altogether. We
picked 'em up and carried 'em to the
town. There wasn't but one room that
could be spared. and we put 'em on
hunks side by side. Each on 'em had
from ten to fifteen wounds. and they
was pretty well played out. but we
watched 'em for awhile. thinkin' Il
they got strong enough they'd 60 a,
each other ag'in. You see. we dldn',
want 'em to die on our hands. we "a
send for burial things and nothin' 10
pay for 'em.
I'VE did git q doctor for 'em. and
he looked out for 'em both. He said
he thought Riley would die. though he
couldn't be sure about either on 'em
II was some time before either knew
enough to understand what was goin
on and longer before they could say
anything. We was specuiatin' whetheI
when they got up they'd call the fight
OF. start In for q new one. or what
when one mornin' when the sun wa,
shinin' In on 'em peaceful Riley hs
reached out his hand. took hold O. Nc
CURES and says he. he says:
Reckon you didn't brand no stoci
that didn't belong to you
I'VE was surprised to zee McGuirs
take his hand. and be says. says be
You're game anyway
''It was two months before they go'
up and another before they could gi
away. When they did they rode of
fust rate friends.
mo. stree: there amt no such gam.
fights now a. they was then. Tn
sand has gone out off,