The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-12-18

you and Dan do the fireworks. Mary
Ann and l."
But the Doctor was so insistent
that Terrell had in the end to sub
NIT, or by an outright refusal seem
ungracious. "You act as If this
were life or death, Ned" he pro-
tested, amused and yet annoyed,
| too.
Doctor Breeding nodded. "It's my
hobby" he assented, laughingly. 81
suppose 1 do ride it hard"
There was in fact a strange ur-
gency in the man. He shepherded
them up the path to the court like
dog nipping at their heels, and
Dan and Nancy met them there,
and Nancy proudly showed her
father a target with bullet-holes
close grouped in the center.
"Here's Dams very first, Father, ="
she boosted. "You never did as
well in your lifel"
Doctor Breeding chuckled. "All
that l need is some competition, I"
he declared. you'll be surprised"
Dan had the pistol in his hand, and
Doctor Breeding took it from him
and turned to Terrell.
"But first, Ira, you give us a
horrible example," he suggested
laughingly. "Show us how not to
do i'll" He looked up the court, and
saw that there was fresh target
on the frame; he examined the
pistol. "Here," he said. cts ready.
All you have to do is point it at
the target and pull the trigger.
There was an unreality about
what so swiftly followed. Terrell
was driven like sheep. Reluctant
ly he took the weapon in his hands,
thoroughly ill at ease, handling it
gingerly.
II don't know anything about
these things" he protested.
"You don't need to. Just point
and pull" Doctor Breeding insisted.
$50 ahead! Aim at the black spot
on the target. Hold the pistol so
the fore sight is just in the middle
of the notch in the rear sight. Then
press the trigger slowly, till it
fires!"
And Terrell, after a moment, In
differently obeyed. A splinter flew
from the edge of the batter-board.
Breeding laughed. "Six feet wide,
Iral Don't you see the target,
MANI"
Terrell, hoping to finish this or
deal, hurriedly tried again, and then
again. But his shots were Wild. Be-
tween shots, Doctor Breeding
coached him, showing him how to
stand, how to hold the pistol, how
to press the trigger; but Terrell
at length lowered the weapon,
turned aside, shook his head, laugh
ing uncomfortably.
"That's enough" he insisted. cts
not my game"
He had swung halfway around,
facing them; and Doctor Breeding
cried quickly: 'Look out, m a n |
Point that thing somewhere else!"
Terrell stared stupidity at the pis-
toll in his hand. It was in fact
leveled at Doctor Greeding'a body.
He dropped the muzzle. "Sorry,"
he said. II thought I had it pointed
at the ground. You can see I'm
not to be trustedl Here, take it."
Doctor Breeding chuckled, and
received the weapon from Jerrelps
hand. "Wait minute. Don't give
up yet" he persisted. "Let me
show you how it's done!"
He fred rapidly, two or three
times. "There," he said. "Like
that! Now Dan, 60 put up fresh
target, will you? Ira's got to score
one hit, at least, before let him
off," He took the empty magazine
out of the pistol and turned to
Terrell. "Try it without actually
shooting" he suggested, and
pressed the weapon into Jerrelps
hands. "Maybe you're fiinching.
afraid Of it. Just aim, and snap
the triggerl"
Dan had gone obediently toward
the other end of the court to fix
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