The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-01
The Unnamed
Ranchnan
By JOHN TURNLEE

When mcdonnell left his home Il
Edinburgh for the wild west in Amer
lea to engage in ranching he wa
as mild hammered fellow as evel
lived. Nothing troubled him so muci
as to have difficulty with any one
On the day Of his departure one of his
friends said to him:
1T seems to me, Mac, that you will
be out of your element in country
where there is no law except gun law.
"Oh. won't be troubled" was the
reply. "I'll not offend any one, and II
any one offends me and have to fight
I'll try to arrange for substitute OF
fists instead of guns"
you'll not be likely to effect such an
arrangement; you're too strong. Those
fellows won't care to tackle you in a
trial Of muscle"
When mcdonnell reached his new
home he astonished the Inhabitants of
the country by going about without the
customary enormous revolver slung to
his side. He was warned by friends
that such course was unsafe. True,
the people OF the region were gener-
Gus, whole souled lot. who respected
any man for doing as he pleased so
long as he did not injure his neighbor.
But there were men who had come
would not hesitate to shoot any one
they took fancy to shoot, even IL I'M
armed. But Mcdonnell refused to be
converted and continued to ride over
his ranch with no other weapon than
q lasso.
The only trouble he had was with a
neighboring ranchman named Haw-
kins, who insisted on claiming Mac
Donnell's sheep. For time. when
ever there was question of owner
ship between them. Mac would give in.
This encouraged Hawkins to increase
his demands, and it finally became ap-
parent that IL Mac did not call halt
all his sheep would In time be trans
ferred to Hawkins ranch.
One morning Hawkins rode up to
out and began to abuse him scurrilous-
~. accusing him Of branding one of
his (Hawkinso sheep. Mcdonnell
was Obliged to stand and take what
was said to him. for should he retail
ate in any way Hawkins was liable to
Mac waited till he had finished and
was about to ride away. Then he said
to him:
'Mr. Hawkins. you have grievously
insulted an unarmed man. | am OPP
posed to the use Of firearms. but IL you
will give me such satisfaction as may
be afforded in the ring with fists shall
be obliged to you"
THAT kind o. fghtin' may do for a |
milksop like you, but 1t isn't the kind
we're used to In this country. When
we fight out out here we fight to kill"
With that he rode away.
mcdonnell did not take this attack
kindly. Several Of his employees. in
Guiding one of his herders. witnessed
the torrent of abuse heaped upon him.
obloquy of having taken it without
fight. Besides, he knew that such
public insult would be spread abroad.
and he feared that the community
would consider him coward. Finally
he made up his mind that he must fol-
low the custom Of the country, and the
day after the insult the AZ caliber re-
volver OF the country appeared at his
hip.
Fortunately he did not happen TO
meet Hawkins for some time. When
he did It was up In the mountains
back OF the grazing lands. Mac was
passing over a path about yard wide
leading around an almost perpendicu-
ar cliff. Behind him were two OF his ,
herders. Suddenly turning a bend. {
Hawkins and mcdonnell met face
% face and not ten feet apart, Haw- 5
xlns being first OF four men.
MacDonnell was a very different
nan from the man who had left Scot
and a year before He had been .
over the insult he had re
'eiyed till he was ready to fight to the
ieath the man who had given IT, He I
vas very quick In his movements. and
,efore Hawkins had quite taken In the '
Mac had drawn his revolver
md had the drop on his enemy.
''Mr Hawkins" he said. EN- trouble :
'ou 10 ask the man behind you to re-
'eve you OF your revolver and drop It {
Irer the cliff" 2
Hawkins made no reply for a few &
noments. glsring At his antagonist. n
suppose I decline" he said pres
nifty. Z
In that case IN drop your dead body :
Yer with a bali In a."
Hawkins stood NAcDonnelrs glance I.
nd the muzzie Of his revolver a little I,
niger. then told the man behind him
, obey the order His revolver was o.
ropped over the clin. n
Il was followed by Macs weapon. !
ID both men stood unarmed
= now propose q wrestling match. y
r. Hawkins. right here. n you can :.
rev me over after my revolver you
re- welcpne 70 d. 90" y
I decline certain death for both IA
- Havkius
Then turn around win your party ~
"a 50 tssck- -
Hnwklus msds no reriy for some
me n wss cutie = distance 70
ere where the parties you'd have