Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-01-21
: . .
A Shooting
=. Match
At Which One of the Parties
) Was Sure to Win.
BY AlNsWoRTH RHODES.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
'''. Association.

3 Copyright, 1910. by American Press 8
3 '' Association. Z
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first time l saw Daisy she was
coming over her fathers broad acres
on horse whose lope was very like a
rocking chair. She was riding strad-
die with divided skirts. No other wo-
man on the ranches thereabout would
ride in any other costume. Barker was
riding beside her, and the two made q
very handsome pair. The brim OF his
sombrero was fattened against his
forehead by the wind, lariat hung at
his saddle bow, and his splendid figure
was revealed by his costume-viz.
flannel shirt and trousers. with boots
to his knee.
Daisy had gone out from the east
with her ;father,~ who. became sheep
raiser, and she had become fascinated
with ranch, life. Unfortunately she
had conceived a romantic idea OF the
genus cowboy, and, Barker being phys
ically a perfect type, she had persuad-
ed herself. or. rather, he had persuaded
her, that he was just the man for her.
I say UNFORTUNATELY" because he was
not an educated man and in every way
beneath her. There were other fea-
lures about him to render him unde-
,sirable which will appear presently.
The couple passed me, all Of US sa-
luting, though they were unknown to
me, and rode on to the ranch house.
where l had business with John Nolan
with reference to large purchase OF
wool: While dickering with him on
his veranda up the roadway came the
couple l had met and alighted at the
foot Of the steps,. Throwing their
bride reins over. post, they walked
up on to the veranda. Then l learned
that Daisy was Nolan's daughter.
As the pair passed into the house I
noticed cloud fit over the face of the
girls father. knew by Barker's
bearing toward her that he was in love
with her, and judged that his atten-
lions were not relished by Nolan. But
he said nothing to me then, and we
went on with our dickering. When
arose to 60 he said:
'oThere's no place about here in
which you will be comfortable except
my house. Send for you traps"
I accepted the invitation, especially
as L was pleased at being under the
same roof with Miss Daisy. l. knew
she had a lover, but my attraction fol-
her did not then go so far as to intend
to come between them. merely liked
the idea Of being near her during my
stay. =:
But stayed good while, and it was
not. very long before she and l each
made a discovery. l discovered that
wanted her, and she discovered thai
she didn't want Barker. Meanwhile
found out something else-that he had
become frightfully jealous of me, and
II I took her away from him he would
probably kill me. At first he and
spoke to each other when we met Ell
Their on the ranch or elsewhere. Then
he only noticed me at the Nolan house
| thought it. best after awhile to re-
move to the $50 called) hotel, a mile
from Nolan's: If anything happened
between Barker and myself l. preferred
that: it should not happen under No
lan's roof: So one day I removed my
luggage to my new quarters:
| One morning l was sitting, on the
porch .of : the hotel smoking a brier
wood pipe. !: Barker came out of the
barroom, where he had been drinking
land took a seat about thirty feet from
lime. l.. didn't know he: was there till
turning my head, saw him out of the
corner Of my eye sighting his revolver
! at me. IT, 9z..' -" ~ -
f.. Naturally / started. :
''Hold ON there" said Barker. "Youl
pipe makes a fine target: We don't al
How people to smoke such expensive
pipes out therer'%; -, = j. }-.-s:
i The words were scarcely.:out of rhis
emouth when:l felt a faint" tick on the
| bowl Of the, pipe, heard the crack of &
gun and knew that a bullet had passed
through the pipe. z.s liz liz -: 49,: !;
walt up!' ne groWled as was
about to rise. FOUR pipe won't draw
1 with hole In It. but it's still a mighty
good target. IS. u ysj=, J. -
]. snatched a look at him: He was
| evidently under the influence. Of liquor
III felt sure that II / didn't let him shoot
!, atsmy pipe he would shoot at me and
nerved myself to stand another shot
Indeed. this was all I could do, Tor
was unarmed. But q cold chill rar
downing back and a cold sweat stood
/ out all over me. Nevertheless l. pu,
up q pretty good front. sat witt
i comparative composure, occasional,
letting faint cloud of tobacco smoke
escape from between my lips, but moi
/ daring to move hairbreadth for feal
iof Interfering with the mans aim,
Several persons from inside the hotel
& having heard shot. came out to dis
cover who had been killed. They ar
Il rived just in time to see the second
shot and the top Of the bowl Of M. M,
4 pipe cut of. They at once took In The
1 situation, and, seeing me coollyg pufr
4 Ing, not knowing nv internal cnndi