Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-22

had doubtless intended for warning
that II took Daisy Nolan away from
him ! would have to face sure death
The witnesses urged me TO go In and
have something. but | declined. saying
that | was anxious for n smoke and
would go upstairs for another pipe.
The truth is | wanted chance to go
where | could. unobserved. give way
to my feelings for few moments,
thsy having been controlled only by
a most desperate effort.
When was alone | staggered to the
bed. fell Oh IL and for few minutes
trembled like leaf. But when ! be-
gan to recover started to get mad ut
the same time. Men will fight more
desperately for woman than for any
other cause. and II occurred to me
that, Daisy being the bone OF conten-
ton. II she preferred me either Barker
or ! must die. spent some time con-
sidering what TO do. then went TO the
ranch. Intending to offer myself TO
Daisy. II she refused me | would
leave the field at once to all suitors.
II she accepted me | would have It
out with Barker.
found Miss Daisy very much ex-
cited. She had heard OF Bankers
shooting escapade and had turned bit
terly against him. told her that
wanted her and II she wanted me
! was willing to settle the patter be-
tween Barker and myseM Tier reply
was all | could have ASKED for. but
she positively forbade my coming into
collision with my rival. told her
frankly that believed he would kill
me II married her and that the mat
ter had better be settled before the
wedding. Being woman. she wished
to get round the matter by subterfuge
and for the time being would consent
10 nothing definite.
Daisy was very fond OF an old ranch
er called Jake Huchins To her he
was Uncle Jake" A day or two after
Barker's shooting as was riding over
the country on horseback Huchins
came up behind me and ambled along
side of me-
II hearn about the shootin' o. your
pipe onten yer. mouth" he said. lit
tie Daisy was telling me about It."
"oh. II was Miss Nolan who told
you. was it?'
"Yes. And. what's more. she asked
me TO suggest some way o. settlin' the
matter without blood spillin."
"That's impossible" said |.
$50 | thort at fust. but IA .er awhile
thort OF plan. Bankers mighty
proud o. his shootin'. and he's pretty
much made up his mind that he's lost
Daisy. reckon he'd agree to settle
the matter by n trial o skill between
him and you. He'd consider II his
only chance"
I'm no shot Such contest would
give Miss Daisy TO him. and she
doesn't want him."
Not so fast. You don't need to be
much o shot. Could you hit hens
egg at twenty feetT
81 might in two or three Shots"
"Well, give Daisy my plan. and
she's decided to try II. Here's note
for you. and here's a note for Barker
Whichever hits a hens egg with a
forty-two the most outen i've shots
she'll marry"
He handed me note to that effect
from Daisy and showed me another
he was commissioned to deliver to
Barker.
DO you consents" he added. draw
ing rein.
Yes" said; 81 consent TO anything
Daisy desires"
Without waiting for more he turned
about and rode back In the direction
from whence he came.
The next day Uncle Jake Informed
me that Barker had gladly agreed to
the terms
On the appointed day made my
appearance at the barn. wondering
what was to be the upshot OF this sin
gular contest. found an egg sus-
pended over basket by fine thread.
won the toss and with It the right TO
fire I consecutive shots at the egg.
| missed the first and the fourth. but
put a hole In the egg on the second.
third and the fifth. For my life could
not see why had not lost. II would
be nothing for Barker TO hit the egg
every time.
a new egg was attached 10 the
thread for him TO shoot at. and. whip
ping out his revolver. he fired with APP
parent carelessness. He was surprised
TO see the egg oscillate violently. but
the shell was not broken. The next
time he fired he took careful aim. but
with no better success. lie was thun-
derstruck. Since | had hill the egg
three times he could now only tie me.
You must hit 1t IN the center" said
Uncle Jake. III you don't you'll
glance"
Barker aimed long and carefully ut
the center and sent the egg bobbmg.
but still the shell was unbroken.
FlInging his revolver on the barn
floor. he strobe away.
knew that Barker had been trlcked.
but could not conceive how. Ii ap-
peared TO me that nothing could be
more fair than the trial asked
Uncle Jake how he had managed to