The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-16
A Carving
KnifeAfaiir
Bv WILLIAM CHANDLER

into sheep raising In the southwest
That was a time when the country be-
tween the Mississippi valley and the
mountains was being settled by new
people and the population was COM
posed Of hardy pioneers, men broken
down financially who had gone there to
recoup, and desperadOes.
MacKnight concluded to 80 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 q stranger.
One evening MacKnight rode up to q
small farm and asked admission Of q
woman who bore evidence Of refine
ment. He was admitted and treated
with kindness and attention by the
family, among whom was q very pref
ty daughter just grown to womanhood.
The family name was Osborne. The
father had lost q 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
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
Muldrough. 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 Mul-
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 day after Muldrough's visit
MacKnight left the Osbornes. Instead
Of pursuing his tour he rode to the
store Il few miles distant from which
the neighborhood was supplied and
sent messenger to Muldrough that he
would like to see him on a matter Of
importance. Mudrough came to the
Stcir. in which at the time were sew
eral cattlcmen making purchases.
Il understand. Mr.. Muldrough," said
Mack might. that there Is trouble be-
tween YOU and Il man of the name of
| Oshnrre mt whose house I put up for
il Few days. have called for you to
see if can't bring about a settle
mcnt.''
"Iuuu. man." said MuldrOugh. 81
w,ut YOU to understand that II you
d'it want to go the road propose to
semi Oshorne 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 fgh
Mr.. Osborne" he said. 81 think 70,
should give him chance for his life
In other words, he should have til,
choice of weapons"
BY this time the cattlemen had gath
cred round and evinced an interest il
) the discussion. 1t was plain that the!
. were advocates Of fair play.
You kin tell Osborne" replied Mul
, drough, that I'll be at his house to
; morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Fin,
r out what weapon he prefers, and III
have 1t with me-"
, "He will fight you with bowl
t knives" rejoined MacKnight.
}, "Muldrough laughed "All right" b
z cried. "I'll be there with q bowl
l knife"
Gentlemen" said MacKnight, turn
ing to the cattlemen, there is quar-
rel between this man and Mr.. Osborne
at whose house have recently bee
entertained as a guest. Mr.. Osborn
has a family and can't afford to die a
!. present l am bachelor and am a
= liberty to take any risk. I'll fight MI
Muldrough with knives twelve inche
long on condition that the fight
!. transferred to me and Mr.. Osborn
have nothing further to do with it."
'. That's fair" was the unanimous e,
y clamation, and Muldrough unwillingl
= consented to the change.
A couple Of carving knives were PR
duced, each a foot long; ring wa
. formed. two of the cattlemen wei
:, made seconds and a third umpir
Muldrough. who was a large maj
= lowered over his antagonist. who wa
a of medium height. MacKnight a,
% vanced. retreated. advanced agail
danced about his opponent. his knit
,s jumping about as glibly as himsel
1t flashed in the sun and left cut
n Muldrough's cheek. from which bloc
is gushed The knife flashed again, an
m the tip of the big mans nose came OF
" Muldrough went for his opponent ;
rs a bull after toreador. but MacKnig
,r was not there Nevertheless he lie
d a cash in Muldrough's other chez
to While Muldrougb was wondering no
Ie 1t came his knife few up in the a
In described a semicircle and fell at
he feet He was about to pick 1t ,
when his adversary put his foot on
W and held the point of his own knife
er the disarmed mans left breast, II
m fray was ended.
or Muldrough let Osborne alone aft
vs. that, for MacKnight bought ranch
ut the neighborhood. married Rosa @
AT borne and was n perpetual defense
7" his father-in-law His skill with {
eV short sword had been acquired at
y German university when he was chal
pion of his corps
Told Her About IL.