The daily Alaskan., 1915-12-18
Carving
 Knife Affair
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

EQWtIu MUCNulAAl' u gOuA5 NSNA gian. after having been educated abroad. thought he would like to go into sheep raising in the southwest, That was time when the country be- tween the Mississippi valley and the mountains was being settled by a new people and the population was com posed of hardy pioneers, men broken down financially who had gone there to recoup, and despcrudoCs.
 MacKnight concluded to go out and look 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 MocKnight rode up to small farm and asked admission of woman who bore evidence of refine ment. He was admitted and treated | with kindness and attention by the family, among whom was a very pret- ty daughter just grown to wOmanhood
 The family name was Osborne. The father had lost fortune and gone west partly because he had not the means to enable his wife and children to move in the same circle to which | thev had been accustomed and partly in the hope of accommodating new capi- tal MacEnight became interested in these people and remained with them several days.
 One evening q mana bloated, hairy fellow with an ugly look on his face rode up to tue house and called for ! Osborne. Mrs Osborne turned pale as she told the man, whose name was Marlborough, that her husband was not at home. NIuldrough rode away say ing that he would call again. As soon as he had gone the lady collapsed.
 There had been trouble between Mul- trough and Osborne, the former hay ing branded some of OsbOrne's stock i that had strayed on to his ranch.
 MacEnight listened to the story told tearfully by Rosa Osborne, and his sympathics were aroused.
 The day after Mudrough's visit MacKnight left the OSbornes. Instead of pursuing his tour he rode to the store few miles distant from which the ncighborhoOd was supplied and sent q messenger 10 Muldrough that he would like to see him on a matter Of importance. Marlborough came to the store, in which at the time were seY- eraI cattlemcn making purchases.
 q understand. Mir. Marlborough" said 1 MacEnl-ht. that there Is trouble be- i tween you and man of the name of | Osborne. at whose house I put up for a few days. ! have called for you to see If l can't bring about a settle ment"
 "Young man." said Marlborough, 'I 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.
 MacKnight tried to reason with the man. but. finding 1t impossible to pro duce any effect on him. took another tack.
 Since you are determined to fight Mir. Osborne" he said, "I think you should give him a chance for his life. | In other words, he should have the choice of weapons"
 By this time the catuemen had gath cred round and cvjncCd an interest in the discussion. It was plain that they were advocates Of fair play.
 You kin tell Osborne" replied Mul- l trough, that m be ut his house to- morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Find out what weapon he prefers, and I'll have 1t with me"
 He will Gght you with bowie knives" rejolued MacKuight.
 "Muldrough laughed. All right" he cried. "TH be there with bowie knife"
 "Gentcmen," said MacEnight turn Ing to the cattlemeu, there is a quar- rel betw cen this man and Mir. Osborne, at whose house have recently been entertained us q guest MT. Osborne has a family and cant afford to die at l DreseDt 1 nm q bachelor and am at