Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-01-21

sVer, ne was SaClSueU Will INV nat ne IA;
had doubtless intend led Tor d warning
hat IL /: took Daisy NJ lan away from 10
him / would have to face sure death
rhe witnesses; urged me to go In and n
have something, but eclined |, saying
that | was anxious for q smoke and
would go upstairs for at1ot her pipe.
The truth is wanted q chance to 60.
where could, unobserVed, give way
to my feelings for a few moments.
they having been controlled only by
D most desperate effort. al
When l was alone staggered to- the Il
bed, fell on it, and for a few minutes 4
trembled like a leaf. But when Il be-
gan to recover I started to get mad at II
the same time. Men Will fight more Y
desperately for a woman than for any
other cause, and 1t occurred to me
that, Daisy being the bone Of conten-
ton, if she preferred me either Barker
or must die. l spent some time con-
what to do. then went to the
ranch, intending to offer myself to n
Daisy. If she refused me would N
leave the field at once to all suitors.
II she accepted me I would have it
out with Barker. s55. s Z: $ Y nh .sSs5
found Miss Daisy very much ex-
cited. She had heard Of Barker's
shooting escapade and had turned bit-
terly against him. told her that: Il.
wanted her and If she wanted me
i was willing to settle the matter be
tween Barker and myself. Her reply
was all. could have asked Tor, but
she. positively forbade my coming Into
collision With my rival" L told her
frankly that L;Sbeliaved hes would kin
me IL l 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
TO nothing definite r. s. 81 ~. :, ;.,:,&y
Daisy was very fond Of an old ranch
or 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. .EaE
Il hearn about the shootin' o. your
pipe onten yer mouth" he said. "Lit-
tie Daisy was telling me about IT.. > ....s#
"Oh, 1t was Miss Nolan who told
you, was it7' ..,&l;
eyes. And, what's more, she asked
me to suggest some way O. settlin' the
matter without blood spillin'." 49, %%,7@t
'"That's impossible" said I. -. E $.$S=
r IT. l>,,% 1<
thort Of a plan. Barker's mighty
proud o. his shootin', and he's pretty
much made up his mind that he's lost.
Daisy. l reckon he'd agree to settle
the matter by trial O. skill between
him and you. He'd consider it his
only chance" ..', $z&
! "I'm no shot. Such a contest would
give Miss Daisy TO- him, and she.
doesn't want him." ~ ,,.ls y,
"Not so fast. You don't need to be.
much O. shot. Could you hit a. hens
egg at twenty feet r. -
II might in two or three Shots a.
"Well, l give Daisy my plan, and
she's decided to try it. Here's a note
for you, and here's a note for Barker,
Whichever hits a hens egg with a
fOrty-two the most outen FIVE shots
she'll marry" il,
He handed me note to that effect
from Daisy and showed me another
he was commissioned to deliver to
Barker. Ia. 49,. -
! "Do you consesptg' he added, draw
ing rein. -. :.~. ~
"Yes," said; II consent to anything.
Daisy desires" ::.-.,I.. :.s 5.:
| Without waitingfor more he turned
about and rode. back in the direction
from whence he came. ~,':z%
The next day Uncle Jake informed
me that Barker had gladly agreed to
the terms. = - !, Il. <:3z ~: $ ~.
+; On the appointed day made my
appearance at the. barn, wondering
what was to, be the upshot Of this sin
gular contest. l found an egg sus-
pended over basket by a fine thread.
I won the toss and with It the right to
fire five consecutive. shots at the egg.
i 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 l had not lost. 1t would
be nothing fol. Barker TO- hit the, egg
every time. >. rs, y ''S is5tS 81
A new egg was attached to the
thread for him to shoot at, and, whip
ping out his revolver, he fred With an
parent carelessness. He was surprised
to see the egg oscillate violently. but
the shell was not broken. The next
time he fired he took carefuf aim, but.
with no better success. He was tltan-.i
derstruck. Since. had bit the egg
three times he could now only tie ne.
! You must hit it in the center, said
Uncle Jake. IF you don't yon'll
Barker aimed long and carefully at;
the center and sent the egg bobbing.
but still the shell was unbroken.s
Finginge his revolver s.on q the barn
floor. he strobe away. ;,.5;33
t knew that Barker, had been trickei.
Ibut could not conceive how. 1T ap-
peared to me that nothing could be