Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-11-05
A Carving
Knife Affair
BY WILLIAM CHANDLER

into sheep raising IN the southwest
rbat was a time when the country be-
tween the Mississippi valley and the
maintains was being settled by a new
neople and the population was COM
nosed of hardy pioneers, men broken
down financially who had gone there to
recoup, and desperadoes.
MacKnight concluded to go out and
,oo,, over the ground. The mode of
travel In the region referred to was on
horseback, and, as for stopping places,
any settler would take In a stranger.
One evening MacKnight rode up to a
small farm and asked admission Of a
woman who bore evidence of refine
mont. He was admitted and treated
with kindness and attention by the
family, among whom was a very pref
nv daughter just grown to womanhood.
The family name was Osborne. The
father had lost a fortune and gone
west partly because he had not the
means to enable his wife and children
tn move In the same circle to which
they had been accustomed and partly
IN the hope of accommodating new capt.
tai MacKnight became interested In
these people and remained with them
several days.
One evening a mana bloated, hairy
fellow with an ugly look on his face
rode up to the house and called for
Osborne. Mrs Osborne turned pale as
she told the man, whose name was
M~uldrough, that her husband was not
at home. Muldrough rode away say
ing that he would call again. AS soon
as he had gone the lady collapsed.
There had been trouble between Null
drough and Osborne, the former hav-
ing branded some of Osborne's stock
that had strayed on to his ranch.
MacKnight listened to the story told
sympathies were aroused.
The day after Muldrough's visit
Mcknight left the Osbornes. Instead
of pursuing his tour he rode to the
store a few miles distant from which
the neighborhood was supplied and
sent a messenger to Muldrough that he
would like to see him on a matter of
Importance. Muldrough came to the
store. in which at the time were sew
eral cattlemen making purchases.
81 understand. Mr.. Muldrough." said
Mcknight. that there Is trouble be-
tween you and a man of the name of
Osborne. at whose house l put up for
q few days. | have called for you to
see If | can't bring about a settle
ment.'
"Young man." said Muldrough. Il
want you to understand that If you
don't want to go the road | propose to
send Osborne you'd better keep out of
this business"
Mcknight tried TO reason with the
man. but. finding it impossible to pro-
duce any effect on him. took another
tack.
"Since you are determined to fight
Mr.. Osborne he said, II think you
should give him a chance for his life.
In other words. he should have the
choice of weapons"
By this time the cattlemen had gath
cred round and evinced an interest in
the discussion. 1t was plain that they
were advocates of fair play.
You kin tell Osborne replied Null
drough, that I'll be at his house to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Find
out what weapon he prefers. and I'll
have it with me-"
HE will fight you with bowie
knives" rejoined MacKnight.
"Muldrough laughed. "All right" he
cried. I'll be there with a bowie
knife
Gentlemen" said MacKnight, turn
ing to the cattlemen, there is a quar-
rel between this man and Mr.. Osborne,
at whose house | have recently been
entertained as q guest. Mr.. Osborne
has a family and can't afford to die at
present ! am a bachelor and am at
liberty to take any risk. I'll fight Mr..
M~uldrough with knives twelve inches
long on condition hat the fight be
transferred to me and Mr.. Osborne
have nothing further to do with it."
That's fair" was the unanimous ex-
clamation. and Muldrough unwillingiy
consented to the change.
A couple of carving knives were pro-
duced, each a foot long; a ring was
formed, two of the cattlemen were
made seconds and a third umpire.
M~uldrough, who was a large man,
lowered over his antagonist. who was
OF medium height. MacKnight ad-
vanced, retreated. advanced again,
danced about his opponent. his knife
jumping about as glibly as himself.
II flashed in the SUI and left a cut in
Muldrough's cheek, from which blood
gushed. The knife flashed again, and
the tip of the big mans nose came of.
Muldrough went for his opponent as
a Dull after a toreador. but MacKnight
was not there. Nevertheless he left
a cash in Muldrough's other cheek.
while Muldrough was wondering how
II came HIS knife flaw nm in thQ afr.