Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-24
An Affair OF
Interest
By OSCAR cox

SShA~eN ~ SlNAA lhC NIA-
rent OF competition in the practice of
my profession in the east, concluded to
so TO the far west. My plan was to
begin at the very outskirts Of ciyiliZa-
ton and gradually work inward as /
gained In experience.
had travelled by rail as far as they
would take me, then by coach. aud was
doing the rest Of my journey on horse
back to the settlement where i pro-
posed to locate, when l met man also
mounted. who asked: .-...
BE you dector?' .&...sg
Il am; but why did you suspect me
to be such?" .......-.-
''r didn't. A lot of US is out huntin'
fer a sawbones. and we allowed we'd
ask every man we met: leastways.
every man as looked as if he mought
be in Professional business"
swell, what can do for you"
"Jim Tuwner and Cy Hardwick is
goin' to have a shootin' match. They're
goin' to do 1t up in grand style. That
is, they hain't goin' to shoot on sight,
but by regular agreement. In all these
high-mucky-muck affairs it seems they
must have a doctor along to fix 'em up
II they don't get killed. don't see any
use In such feller, cause in this here
territory when there's any shootin'
goin' 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 road
crossing the one we were on, and he
led the way into 1t. 1t was a singular
case in which to begin professional
career, but beginners can't be choosers.
Besides. had come west partly to see
little of western life, so made no
objection to going where my guide took
me. As we rode along I was curious
enough about the cause Of the affair in
which was to off1ciate professionally
to ask my conductor for the facts.
"Oh, It's about gal. Turner he
seen her at dance in barn and Tux
it into his head that he wanted her
powerful bad. Hardwick he seen her
ridin' behind a 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, bit before they came to a
draw a gambler from Georgia he said
it warn't respectable to fight about a
lady in a saloon ,nohow. He advised
'em If the lady was to be mixed up in
the matter to make an appointments.
to do the shootin' in a decent way. So
they axed him how 1t had ought to
be done. and he offered to manage II
fer 'em. He allowed each man must ]
have a second, as he called 1t, and
there must be a surgeon on hand. So
a lot of us fellers who was curious to
see how one of 'em fine feathered
shootin' matches was done said we
didn't mind helpin'.s So the Georgia
man sent us Off to hunt.up surgeon"
/ asked him If the lady had shown
any preference to either of the dispu-
tants. to which he replied:
.She couldn't very well 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-"
"Ahd they are going to fight for a
woman who doesn't even know them?"
'Sartin! How would they decide the
matter without fghtT
'What mattery"
.Waal, dunno bout that. In this
we're territory we hain't so particular
what we fight about; it's the ,fghtin'
that counts"
In due time. we reached hamlet
composed of four or five cabins, where
we halted, and a man came out.
Have yo' got a su'geon" he
drawled.
''This yefe gentleman is one O. that
description"
oval, don't know as he'll be any
use since that both Jim and Cy insist
on the kind of a 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"
dismounted, and when / was told
that the principals were only waiting
for a 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 l
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 they
were to march forward till he SING
out "Timew when they were to turn
and open fire. They were about to !
start on their march Of death when !
the clatter of horses hoofs was heard
coming at gailop. Eyes We're turned
in the direction of the sound, and
when the conner was seen to be wo- |
man all hands waited She refined I'D