Gilpin observer., 1918-07-18
THE SURE SHOT
BY WARREN VAIL.

swath with the exclusive social set of
Wooe vile. Esther Warne belonged to
that group. The plausible, aristOcrat-
ic looking stranger had made some
thing of an impression upon her. At
least so Philip Dewey fancied.
War conditions had animated the
town. Dewey was one Of loyal
group who had announced their readl-
ness to enter government service. He
and his comrades embraced prepared
ness by forming shooting club.
Steady of nerve and clear of vision,
Dewey had become the champion in
the lists. The newcomer gave his
name rs Paul Duroc, alluded to an
uncle who was count and courted
the company of the military boys
"having seen service myself" as he ex-
pressed it.
1--WE grown sort Of rusty in target
practice" he said, "but 1 would like
to try a round with Dewey, your ex,
pert marksman here"
with pleasure" assented Dewey.
feeling none too friendly towards this
dashing stranger.
1t was three days Inter and half the
town was attending II war picnic at q
grove near the river.
Esther had fallen In Dewey's way
incidentally upon her arrival. and had
paired off with him in the pleasantest
manner possible. Duroc was busily
engaged in arranging for the target
contest. He had employed two men to
carry out Its details. He had selected
n spot away from the crowds, clearing
the outskirts for n range about five
hundred feet in extent. At one end
was one of the men he had employed.
provided with repeating rifle. Near
the target, Just at the edge of the river.
was his other assistant. who was to
place the white paper targets on the
stanchion In turn.
'"ren shots EACH" announced Duroc.
as all was ready.
"You first" directed Dewey cour-
teously to Duroc, who was handed the
rifle, while the signal placer at the
target and small boy in his company
got behind clump of trees.
The ten shots echoed out snappily.
as amid fourishing and much posing
the elegant young gentleman from
abroad delivered his quota. 1mmedi-
ately the signal placer emerged from
cover, removed the paper target and
a moment later started the messenger
boy for base. The bulls eye hud been
clipped four times and no shot
had missed the tnrget.
"a fine record" pronounced the man
selected as judge, and Dewey began to
feel some respect for his competitor,
with Justice acquiescing in the general
verdict.
The great distance did not enable
him to observe where his shots land
ed, but he maintained steady nerve
and fancied that he was doing quite
well. AS the paper record came to
base, he could scarcely credit Its chrOn-
icle. Every darkened perforation was
more than four inches from the bulls
eye and three Of the ten had gone en-
tirely wild. He managed to control
and conceal his modification and dis
appointment, did not rejoin Esther,
and went home gloomy and wretched
In the extreme.
81 have no chance at all with Duroc."
he decided, "that fiashy fellow beats
me as to money, smartness, and even
in the field where fancied was a
crack shot"
He kept away from Esther, and even
from his chosen comrades. He nursed
his misery by lonely walks along the
seQuestered byways. One afternoon ha
was tramplng along the river shore
when scream rang out In familiar
accents. He thrilled and started a
keen run as he realized that Esther
had uttered II. Turning past clump
of trees he saw her wringing her hands
in distress. Fording the shallow, but
broad water course, aiming to reach
the opposite shore, was rough look
Ing man, ploughing through the water
ankle to waist deep.
"He is a tramp. n footpad!" cried
Esther frantIcally, "he has robbed me
of my necklace"
Everybody In Woodville knew of the
diamond necklace Esther's grnndfnth-
er had given her on her nineteenth
birthday, fabuously valued.
"Halt! Come back, or I'll fire ~
shouted Dewey to the fugitive" but
the man splashed on his way.
Dewey drew his revolver. He aimed
at the knee Of the escaping thief. The
latter uttered yell of pain, half fell
and halted and turned. The leveled
weapon constant menace, he limped
back to where Dewey stood, flung the
stolen necklace at his feet and sank
to the ground. Dewey was fairly sur
prlsed to recognize him as one of the
men Duroc had employed in the tar
get contest.
"Sure shot, sure enough 7" the fellow
growled out. ~ say, let me go, bullet
and all, and I'll tell you something in