Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-05-02
THE WAY
OF
A MAN
By EMERSON HOUGH
Copyright. 1907, by the Outing Publishing
Company
CHAPTER vi.
The Supreme Court.

Fl
ferson barracks on the morning
- following the officers ball neither
was in evidence The next little event
of interest was the pigeon match be-
tween Orme and myself which swift
rumor seemed TO have magnified into
an Importance not wholly welcome to
myself We had a late breakfast at
No l6. and Stevenson. who was TO
handle me in the match. saw to it that
l had a hard tubing before breakfast
and good run afterward and later
hearty luncheon with no heavy wines.
was surprised at these businesslike
proceedings. which were all new to me-.
and I reflected with no satisfaction
that my hotheadedness in accepting
Orme's challenge might result in no
glory to myself and. worse than that.
let in my friends for loss for Steven
son informed me that in spite of the
fact that had never shot in race
number of wagers were backing me
against the Englishman. reasoned.
however, that these responsibilities
should not be considered by one who
needed perfect command of himself.
Moreover. although l had never shot
at trapped birds. reasoned that a
bird in the air was a flying bird after
all, whether from trap or tree. Then,
again. was offended at Orme's air of
superiority. Lastly, though it might
be the fault of the Cowles' blood to
accept any sort of challenge. it was
not our way to regret that so soon as
the day following
The grounds for the match had been
arranged at the usual place. near to
the edge of the military reservation.
and here half hour before the time
set there began to gather practically
all of the young officers about the post,
all the enlisted men who could get
leave. with cooks, strikers. laundresses
and other scattered personnel of the
barracks. There came as well many
civilians from the city, and was sur
prised to see line of carriages with
many ladies' drawn up back of the
score. Evidently our little matter was
to be made semifashionable affair.
Orme shook hands with me and de-
clared he was feeling well, although
Major Williams laughingly announced
that he had not been able to make his
man go to bed for more than an hour
that morning or to keep him from eat
ing and drinking everything he could
lay his hands upon. Yet now his eye
was bright. his skin firm. his step
light and easy.
What boundary do we use, gentle
men," Orme asked as he looked out
over the field This question showed
his acquaintance, but none the less his
confidence and his courage as well.
for in closely made matches all details
arezcarefully weighed before the issue
is Joined.
"Our races here have usually been
shot at fifty yards bounds" said Ste
venson.
.'As you like." said Orme. ''if that
pleases Mr.. Cowles."
Perfectly" said l.
Orme stepped over to the coops
where the birds were kept, splendid.
iridescent creatures. with long tails
clean. gamy heads and all the colors
OF the rainbow on their breasts. by
Jove," he said. they're rippers for
looks. and they should fly a bit. I'm
thinking. have never seen them be-
fore. much less shot a race at them"
..Still your advantage" said l. laugh
ing. 'sfor 1 never shot a race at any
sort in my hfe."
.And yet you match against me?
Ny dear fellow. hardly like
1.-THE match is made, Captain Orme.
and | am sure Mr.. Cowles would not
ask for any readjHstment." comment
ed Stevenson stif1y.
Don't understand me to wish to
urge anything" said Orme. 'I only
wish it so we shall all have chance
at revenge. Is there any one who
wishes to back me perhaps or to back
Mr. Cowles? Sometimes In England
we shoot at guinea a bird or five or
ten.'' Stevenson shook his head.
.sToo gated for me at this time of the
MONTH he said, but I'll lay you $1oo
on the ISSUE
Five. If you like. on the Virginian
sir said young Belknap of the Ninth
to Orme.
'Done and done, gentlemen. Let II
be dollars and not guineas. If you
like"
A few more wagers were laid, and
the civilian element began to plunge
a bit on Orme, word having passed
that be was an old hand at the game
whereas was but a novice. Orme
took some Of these wagers carelessly.
.sNoW as to our referee. captain
said Stevenson. You are, as you say
something OF stranger among US. and
we wish your acquaintance were great
er. SO that you might name some one
who would suit you"
.a,m Indifferent said Orme politely
.Any one Mr.. Cowles may name viii
please me-"
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