The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-08-13
A Carving
Knife Affair
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

into sheep rniSing 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 despcradocs.
Mac Knight concluded 10 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 Il stranger
one evening MaCknight rode up to q
small farm and asked admission of a
woman who bore evidence of refine
ment He was admitted and treated
with kindness and attention by the
family, among whom was n very prct-
~ 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 10 enable his wife and children
10 move in the same circle to which
they had been accustomed and partly
In the hope of accumulating new CAPT
tai. MaCKniSht became interested in
these people and remained with them
several days
One evening II mun-a bloated. hairy
fellow with an ugly look on lis face
rode up to the house and called for
Osborne Mrs. Osborne turned pale as
she told the man, whose name was
Mufdrough, that her husband was not
at home. Muldrough rode away say
ing that he would call again AS soon
:s 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
tearfully by Rosa Osborne, and his
sympathies were aroused.
The dny after Muldrongfl's visit
Mackmght left the Osbornes. Instead
Of pursuing his tour he rode to the
store few miles distant from which
the neighborhood was supplied and
sent messenger to Muldrough that he
would like to see him Oh a matter of
Importance. Muldrough came to the
store, in which at the time were sev-
eral cattlemen making purchases
II understand. Mr.. Muldrough," said
MacKnight, that there IS trouble be-
tween you and man Of the name of
Osborne, Mt whose house l put up for
a few days. l have called for you to
see II I can't bring about settle
ment."
7 Young man." said Muldrough, 81
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 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 4 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 A1ul-
drOugh, that I'll be at his house to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Find
out what weapon lie prefers, and I'll
have 1t with me-
"lie will fight you with bowie
knives" rcjoincd MacKnight
'Muldrough laughed. "All right" he
cried. I'm be there with a bowie
knife"
Gentlemen" said MacKnight, turn
Ing to the Cattlcmcn. there Is n quar-
rel between this man and Mr.. Osborne.
at whose house | have recently been
entertained as 4 guest. Mr. Osborne
has family and cant afford to die at
present. ! am bachelor ana am at
liberty to take any risk. I'll fight Mr.
Muldrough with knives twelve inches
long on condition that the fight be
transferred 10 me ana Mr.. Osborne
have nothing further 10 do with it."
That's fair" was the unanimous ex-
clamatiOn. ana MuldrOugh unwillingly
consented to the change.
a couple Of carving knives were pro
duced, each a foot long; a ring was
formed, two of the cattlcmen were
made seconds and third umpire
MUIdrough. who was n large man,
lowered over his antagonist. who was
Of medium height MacKnight ad-
vanced, rctrcatcd, advanced again,
danced about his opponent. his knife
jumping about as glibly as himself
1t flashed In the sun 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 Off
A hfes