Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-02-03
A Shooting
Match
At Which One of the Parties
Was Sure to Win.
ey AiNSWORTH RHODES.
Copyright. 1870 by American Press
Association.
ey AINSWORTH RHODES

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 a
very handsome pair. The brim of his
sombrero was tlattened 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 q romantic idea Of the
genus cowboy, and, Barker being phys
acally perfect type, she had persuad-
ed herself, or, rather, he had persuaded
her, that he was just the man for her.
1 say unfortunately" because lie was
not an educated man and in every way
beneath her There were other fea
lures about him TO render him unle-
SirabIe which will appear presently.
The couple passed me, all Of us sa-
luting, though they were unknown to
me, and l rode on to the ranch house,
where / had business with John Nolan
with reference to a 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 reius 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
noticed Il cloud fit over the face of the
girls father. | knew by Barker's
bearing toward her that he was in love
with her, and L judged that his atten-
tions were not relished by Nolan. But
he said nothing to me then, and we
went on with our dickerlng. When !
arose to go he said:
There's no place about here in
which you will be comfortable except
my house. Send for you traps"
l accepted the invitation. especially
as l was pleased at being under the
same roof with Miss Daisy. | knew
she had lover, but my attraction for
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 a good while, and it was
not very long before she and | each
made u discovery. | discovered that
1 wanted her and she discovered that
she didn't want Barker. Meanwhile |
found out something else-that he had
become frightfully jealous of me, and
il took her away from him he would
probably kill me. At first he and
spoke to each other when we met ell
ther 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, II mile
from Nolan's. If anything happened
between Barker and myself preferred
that 1t should not happen under No
lans roof. SO one Gay removed my
luggage 10 my new quarters.
One morning | was sitting on the
porch of the hotel smoking Il brier-
wood pipe. Barker came out Of the
Darroom, where he had been drinking,
and took seat about thirty feet from
me. | didn't know he was there till,
turning my head. | saw him out of the
corner of my eye sighting his revolver
at me-
Naturally | started.
Hold on there" said Barker Your
pipe makes Il fine target. We don't al
low people to smoke such expensive
pipes out here!'
The words were scarcely out of his
mouth when felt n faint tick on the
bowl Of the pipe, heard the crack of
gun and knew that bullet had passed
through the pipe.
"Wait up" he growled as | was
about to rise. Your pipe won't draw
with a hole In 1t, but it's still a mighty
good target"
snatched a look at him. He was
evidently under the influence of liquor.
felt sure that II didn't let him shoot
at my pipe he would shoot at me and
nerved myself to stand another shot.
Indeed, this was all could do, for |
was unarmed. But cold chill ran
down my back and cold sweat stood
out all over me. Nevertheless | put
up a pretty good front. | sat with
comparative composure, occasionally
letting a faint cloud of tobacco smoke
escape from between my lips. but not
daring to move hairbreadth for fear
of interfering with the mans aim.
Several persons from inside the hotel,
having heard a shot, came out to dis
cover who Lad been killed. They mr.
rived just i'll time to see the second
shot and the top of the bowl of my
pipe cut off. They at once took In the
situation, and, seeing me coolly puff
ing, not knowing my internal condi-
tion, they cried out, Good pluck, stran-
ger" STEADY nerve!" He amt no
tenderfoot" and such like compli-
ments.
Presently a third shot shattered what
was left of the bowl of my pipe. and
only the stem remained in my mouth.
Whether my nerve made Barker half
ashamed of himself or that he was
headed OF by the admiration of the
others l don't know. but he desisted
from further shooting. I fancy. how
ever, he was satisfied with what he
had doubtless intended for a warning
that II took Daisy Nolan away from
him l would have to face sure death.
The witnesses urged me to go In and
have something. but declined, saying
that | was anxious for q smoke and