The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1910-03-03
|.
Shooting
Match
At Which One of the Parties
Was Sure to Win.
BY AlNsWoRTH RHODES.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

The first time saw Daisy she was
coming over her fathers broad acres
on q. horse wiiose lope was very like n
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 brlm of his
sombrero was fiattened against his
forehead by the wind, lariat hung at
his saddle bow, and his splendid figure
was revealed by his costume
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 Il romantic idea of the
genus cowboy, and, Barker being phys
ically perfect type. she had persuad.
ed herself, or. rather, he had persuaded
her, that he was just the man for her
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 had business with John Nolan
with reference TO a large purchase of
wool. While dickering with him on
bis vcranda up the roadway came the
couple had met and alighted at the
foot Of the steps. Throwing their
bride reins over post, they walked
up on TO the veranda Then ! learned
that Daisy was Nolan's daughter.
As the pair passed into the house !
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 bis atten-
tions were not rellshed by Nolan. But
he said nothing to me then. and we
went on with our dickerng. When J
arose TO 20 he said:
There's no place about here IN
which you will be comfortable except
my house Send for you traps"
accepted the Invitation. especially
as was pleased at being under the
same roof with Miss Daisy. | knew
she bad lover but my attraction for
her did not then 80 SO far as TO intend
10 come between them. | merely liked
the idea OF being near her during my
stay
But stayed good while. and II was
not very long before she and | each
made a discovery. discovered that
| wanted her and she discovered that
she didn't want Barker Meanwhile !
found out something eise-that be had
become frightfuly Jealous OF me, and
II | took her away from him he would
probably kill me. AT first hc aud !
spoke TO each other when we net el
ther on the ranch or elsewhere. Then |
be only noticed me at the Nolan house
! thought II best after awhile 10 re
move TO the $50 called hotel mile |
from Nolans. II anything happened |
between Barker aud myself preferred |
hat II should not happen under No
ans roof So one dag removed my 4
luggage 10 my new quarters
one morning | was sitting on the
porch Of the hotel smoking a brier'
wood pipe Barker came out Of the
1arroom, where be had been drinking
md took seat about thirty feet from
ne. | didn't know be was there till.
urnlng my head. | saw him oul Of the
.orner OF my eye sighting bis revolver
Il me.
Naturally | started
Hold on there" said Barker. "Your
llpe makes q fine target. We don't ~
ow people 70 smoke such expensive
,ipes out herei@
The words were scarcely cut of biz
nouth when felt faint tick 90 the
owl u the pipe, beard the crack Of .
,un aud knew that bullet had passed