Evening journal., 1909-06-01
WHEN MEN
WERE GAME
By ApELAIpE Rurn nILL.

mas died out with the gtagecohch
I w and then there's some monkey
business goin' on there, but it's not
what It used to be. I've seen and
heard OF number Of 'en, but none in
my remembrance for reel hghtin, sich
as men fight who're goin' to fight al
all, equals that between Mcclure and
Riley away back In the fifties.
The fust OF 1t all was a dispute over
cards. II didn't amount TO much, ex-
cept It made bad blood between the
two men. Afterward they met on
ranch, and Riley accused Mcclure OF
purposely brandin' stock as didn't be
long to him. Mcclure 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 on
alone for the Tight Mcclure agreed
and sent word 10 Riley that he'd meet
him the next moEnin' sc sunup CD the
trail between Beeswax and Bully
creek and they would then and there
settle whether or no be 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 It was
still dark, Mcclure mounted his horse
and rode Off 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 a knife. AS he rode along the
stars was a-dyin' out and there was
considerable 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
Mcclure was. They was a mile apart
I mot wantin' TO bring on the fight
too near Beeswax, Mcclure waited
awhile, then moved on slow. When
Riley got into range Mcclure suddenly
ducked under his horses neck and
fred. His bullet didn't do any dam
age at all. Riley he ducked Indian
fashion, too. and fred. Both on 'em
was ridin' around in a circle lookin'
for a chance TO plug 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 a breastwOrk OF his animal
"Riley got the first plug, MCGUIRE
cuttin' a scratch around the side OF
his head that filed his shootin' eye
with blood. He put his handkerchief
under his hat to ketch 1t and kept on
hghtin'.
Before the dozen shots each Of 'em
started with was exhausted both OF
'em had three OF four wounds. Nei-
ther OF 'em dared 60 out from behind
his horse TIL then, but when the last
shots had been fred they started for
each other with knives. Both on 'em
staggered as they eyed each other
watchin' for a chance to git In a blow
But they was both about equally tuck
cred out and neither on 'em had al
advantage. and neither on 'em coulC
git in a stroke TO kill.
"By this time the population Of tbs
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 II outside
than inside and Just enough In thei
blinkers to keep 'em from seem wher'
TO strike. 1t was a beautiful sight,
tell you. these two game men settliD
their dispute In true manly fashion
without seconds OF surgeons.
''Bimeby they got so weak and 8,
blind that their blows was nothin' tina
a four-year-old boy couldn't dodge
then they stopped altogether. w
picked 'em up and carried 'em to tn
town. There wasn't but one room tha
could be spared. and we put 'em o.
hunks side by side. Each on 'em ha'
from ten to fifteen wounds, and the
was pretty well played out, but W
watched 'em for awhile. thinkin'
they got strong enough they'd 90 a
each other ag'in. You see. we didn'
want 'em TO die on our hands, we {
send for burial things and nothin' {
pay for 'em.
I'VE did git a doctor for 'em. an
he looked out for 'em both. He sal
be thought Riley would die. though b
couldn't be sure about either on zen
1t was some time before either knee
enough to understand what was goil
on and longer before they could sa
anything. We was speeulatin' wheth'
when they got up they'd call the figf
of. start in for new one. OF wha
when one mornin' when the sun ws
shinin' in on 'em peaceful Riley }
reached out his hand, took hold O. NJ
Cures and says he. he says:
"'Reckvn you didn't brand no stoc
that didn't belong to you.
T. Eve was surprised 10 see McGuil
. take his hand. aud he says, says h
You're game anyway
! at was two months before they G.
: up and another before they could 3
away. When they did they rode O
fust rate friends.
'No, stree; there nin't no such gan
fights now as they was then. III
, sand has gone out off,
D Game fightsr' replied the listene
That's what they werc-game fight
ov halter named dordahta Such M