The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-06-20
An Affair OF
interest
By OSCAR cox

inv profession in the east, conciuOeo 10
so to the far west My plan was to
begin at the very outskirts OF civlllza-
ton and gradually work inward as l
gained in experience
had travelled by rail as far as they
would take me, then by coach. and was
doing the rest Of my journey on horse
back to the settlement where l pro-
posed to locate, when met man also
mounted who asked:
BE you a dOctOr!'
II am: but why did you suspect me
to be such?"
II didn't. lot Of US is out huntin'
fer q sa wbones. and we allowed we'd
ask every man we met: leastways.
every man as looked as II he mougnt
be in a Professional business"
well, what can do for your
"Jim Tuwner and Cy Hardwick Is
4Oin' to have a shOOtin' match. They're
goin' to do 1t up in grand style. That
is, they hain't goin' to shoot on slgnt'
but by regular agreement In all these
high-mucky muck affairs 1t seems they
must have a doctor along to fix EN- up
II they don't get killed don't see any
use in such Teller. cause In this here
territory when there's any shoot1n
soin' on the man as don't draw first
usually gets killed This way, please"
The man had turned and was riding
beside me. when we reached a ROAD
crossing the one we were on. ana ne
led the way into it. 1t was singular
case in which to begin professional
career. but beginners can't be choosers
Resides, | had come west partly to see
D little Of western life. 80 | made no
objection to going where my guide TOOK
me. AS we rode along | was curious
enough about the cause Of the affair In
which | was to officiate professionally
to ask my conductor for the facts.
"Oh. it's about a gal Turner ne
Seen her at q dance in barn ana TUX
II into his head that he wanted her
powerful bad. Hardwick he seen her
ridin' behind q mule team, and he
wanted her too. They was both drink
In together at the Alhambra and told
each other how much they wanted this
same gal. and they got into dispute
about her. but before they came to a
draw a gambler from Georgia he said
It warn't respecta BILE to fight about
lady In saloon nOhow. He advised
'em IL the lady was to be mixed up In
the matter to make an appointment
to do the shootin' in decent way. So
they axed him how it had ought to
be done, and he offered to manage IL
fer EN- He allowed each man must
have a second. as he called it, and
there must be surgeon on hand. So
lot Of us fellers who was cur ous to
see how one of EN- fine feathered
shootin matches was done said we
didn't mind helpin' So the Georgia
man sent us off to hunt up a surgeon
asked him if the lady had shown
any preference to either of the dispu
tants to which he replied:
'She couldn't very we'll show any
preference when she'd never seen
either of 'em. leastaways to know 'em
ag'in. Sartin she hadn't never said a
word to either of EN-"
''And they are going to fight for a
woman who doesn't even know them"
''Sartin! How would they decide the
matter without fightw
What matterY'
"Waal, | dunno bout that In this
yere territory we hain't so particular
what we fight about; it's the fightin'
that counts"
In due time we reached q hamlet
composed Of four or five cabins. where
we halted. and man came out.
Have yO' got sugeonY he
drawled
This we're gentleman is one O. that
description"
wal. ] don't know as he'll be any
use since that both Jim and Cy insist
on the kind Of deal they're used to-
that is. startin' in and emptyin' all
their gun barrels into each other. But,
since it's to be done accordin' to rule.
we must have a surgeon Come in.
doctor. and take somep'n to git the
dust outen your throat"
that the principals were only waiting
for surgeon to begin the fight, de-,
clined to 'get the dust out of my
throat" since | might be needed, and
liquor would not improve any skill |
might possess All were very much
astonished to find man who ever re-
fused to drink. but as my arrival had
been announced the parties concerned
were slipping out for the fracas. The
Georgia man placed them back to
back. told them that on signal thew
were to march forward till be sung
out Time" when they were to turn
and open fire. They were about to
start on their march of death when
the clatter Of horses boots was heard
coming at a gallop. Eyes were turned
In the direction of the sound. and
when the conner was seen to be a wo-
man all hands waited She refined IN
before the party,
81 hearn." she said. THAT you fellers
was a-goin' to fight about me- don't
Sor M uco 6Ohtiu' ohOr,t