Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-04-25

Reeves" Each then blew out the can
die and so retired. / cannos vouch as
to the truth OF this story or of the
further report that they carried out
their ceremony when seating them
selves at table each meal of the day,
but | will say that the appearance OF
this gentleman would have given such
stories likelihood.
We uncovered as the Judge approach
ed us, and he shook hands with us In
the most solemn way, his own wide
black hat in his hand "A ,a-hem, gen.
tlemen," he said, "a somewhat unusual
situation for one on the bench most
unusual, ! may say. But the court
can see no harm in it since no law OF
the land il violated. Neither does the
court hold 1t beneath the dignity OF
its office to witness this little trial OF
skill between gentlemen. Further
speaking, the court does not here pass
upon questions OF law, but sits rather
MS jury in matters of ocular evidence.
with the simple duty OF determining
whether certain flying objects fall upon
this or the other side OF that certain
line marked out as the boundaries
Gentlemen, | m-ahem-yourS with
great pleasure" If there was twin
kle in his eye it was very solemn
one.
My weapon was supplied me by Cap
tain Stevenson. a good Manton, some
what battered up from much use, but
,,F -.
Pope made gun OF London with the
customary straight hand and slight
drop of the English makes
shall the firing be with the single
barrel or with both barrelsY" inquired
our referee. In those days many Amert-
can matches were shot from plunge
traps and with the single barrel
I'm more used to the use OF both
barrels, suggested Orme. "but ! do
not insist"
1T is the same To me-" | said So
finally we decided that the rise should
be at twenty-eight yards, the use o;
both barrels allowed and the boundary
at fifty yards-such rules as came to
be later more generally accepted in
this country.
Now. then, gentlemen" said Judge
Reeves. the court is informed that
this match Is to be for the sum of 81
500, wagered by Captain Orme against
n certain black stallion horse, the same
not introduced In evidence. but stated
by MIR. Cowles to be OF the value OF
$1,000 In the open market.
"Ahem. gentlemen he resumed,
the court being, as 1t were. broke,
will some one be SO good ms to lend the
court silver coin? Thank you" Ito
Williams). And now. gentlemen, will
you toss for the order of precedence?"
We threw the coin. and | lost the
toss. Orme sent me to the score first
with the purpose. as knew, of study.
ing his man.
was perhaps a bit too tense and
eager Our birds were to be flown by
hand from behind screen. and my
first bird started of trifie low, but
fast. and knew | was not on with
the first barrel, the hang of Steven,
sons gun being not quite the same as
NY OWn. IL VIII tDe betOuu,
but it struggled over the tape.
Lost birdT called out Judge Reeves
sharply.
Under the etiquette of the game no
comment was made on my mishap. and
my second. Stevenson. did not make
the mistake of commiserating me. No
one spoke word as Orme stepped to
the score. He killed his bird as clean
as though he had done nothing else all
his life. was tri6e angry with my
self by this time, but 1t only left me
well keyed. My bird fell dead inside
of Orme's.
We shot along for ten birds. and
Orme was straight to my nine killed.
Whatever the cause. was by this
time perfectly calm. knew ! could
shoot to the top OF my skill. and III |
were beaten 1t would be through no
fault of my own nerves and muscles.
Orme went on as though he could
kill hundred straight. He shot care
lessly, but with absolute confidence
and more than half the time he did
not use his second barrel He made
It twenty straight before he came back
Then he caught strong right quar-
terer, which escaped altogether. ap
parently very lightly hit No one
spoke word of sympathy or exulta.
ton. Orme seemed not In the least
disturbed
We were now tied. but luck ran
against us both for a time. since out
Of the next FIVE ! missed three and
Orme two. and the odds again were
against me. It stood the same at thir
ty and at thirty At forty the for
tune OF war once more favored me- for
although Orme shot like a machine
with a grace and beauty of delivery !
have never seen surpassed. he lost one
bird stone dead over the line carried
out by slant Of the rising wind
which blew from left to right across
the field. Five birds farther on. yet
another struggled over for him. and AT
sixty-6ve | had him back OF me two