Year: 1878

ut NOullS OOOh piuOCt ohU
raised his rifle, which was considerably
shorter than any of the others.


Look here, yOungster, growled Jack,
with wink to his admirers, you'd bet
ter have pop-gun that wouldn't hurt
anybody and you'd be jist as likely tew
hit the mark as yer will with that boys



Stephen made no reply, but placing |
his weapon in rest, bowed his cheek to
the breech, and the next moment the
sharp report rang out.


In the edge of the bulls eye, half an
inch from the centre! shouted the
marker. The best shot yet.


It's an accident! He can't hit the
board next time cried Jack.


| saw from his manner that he was
getting excited and angry but Stephen
reloaded his weapon in the most un
concerned manner imaginable. AS he
was about to fire, Jack walked toward
the target to mark the effect of the
shot.


1t was given as promptly as the first,
and to the surprise of every one, it
struck almost exactly in the centre of
the BULLS eye. But without waiting to
hear the result, Stephen turned to re-
load his piece.


With a stride like that of an epraged
elephant, Jack Dunlaw moved up to
the side of his successful competitor.


Don't ye dar' do that ag'in be hissed,
between his shut jaws. If yer do, twill
be hard day for ye. Now mark what
l tell yer! amt going to fool around
no upstart like you. Ye've made a
lucky hit twice; now let that end it


The young man made no answer; but
l saw his cheek become shade paler,
and his hand trifie less steady, as he
rammed home the bullet. Then, with
lips tightly compressed, and eyes fixed
upon the target, he dropped upon one
knee, and leveled his rifle.


Now don't you make another mis-
take was Jacks last admOnition, ac-
companied by a shake of the fist so
close to the young mans face that | be-
gan to feel like grasping the bully from
behind and dragging him from the
scene.


The third shot sped as the others had
done, and then the young man sprang
to his feet, dropping his rifle to the
ground in manner which showed that
patience had nearly ceased to be his
ruling virtue. Still l could not antici-
pate the scenes which were to follow.


The last bullet had struck just out
side the bulls eye, and after carefully
measuring the three, Tom Tarbox, he
who had offered the prize, and kept the
measurements, stepped up among the
crowd now gathered, and said:


Gentlemen, Mr.. Ranney has made the
best record, his three shots measuring
but two inches so to him l give the
flask, according to agreement.


He reached forth the prize as he
spoke, but before the young man could
take it, Jack snatched it from the sur
veyOr's hand and thrust it into his
pocket. No one anticipated such a
movement, and it was some moments
before TarbOX recovered his self-pOs-
session so as to speak.


The flask belongs to Mr.. Ranney, he
said. Please let him have it.


The flask belongs to me, retorted
Jack. His shootin' war all accidental.
He only happened to hit whar he did.
But then, he ken have the flask if he
can git it, or you either.


Tarbox bit his lip, and looked to the
other members of the party, undecided
how to act. Seeing his irresolution,
Ranney stepped forward, and said:


Don't trouble yourself, Mr.. Tarbox.
The flask is mine, and l will see to get
ting it.


You will, ell snarled the bully. Git
away from me-out of arms reach-or
I'll smash We like roast tater!


Thus speaking, the giant swung his
fists about, but the young man did not
move. Instead he received blow up
on the head which knocked away his
hat, and seemed to changed his whole
nature to that of a young lion. With
a strength and agility wholly unlocked
for, he dealt the giant fearful blow
full upon the nose, Which knocked him
to the ground, and deluged the income
ly face and beard with torrents of blood.
There was momentary struggle upon
the ground after the bully fell, and
then Stephen stepped back pace oil
two.


In moment the ruffian was upon his
feet again, and with fearful curse he
placed his hand where he expected to
find a revolver. But it was gone
Then he sought for his knife, but that
too was missing. The young man had
taken the precautiOn of removing them
so that now they stood upon equal
ground. But what a contrast! Nine
inches in height the bully lowered
above his antagonist, while in actual
weight he was more than twice his
equal.


There was no parley or hesitation
Finding himself weaponless, Jack rush
ed for the young man, and would have
crushed him in deadly grasp, but the
young man did not wait for the process
A quick, fierce blow, falling just where
the other had fallen, staggered the ras-
cal, and before he could see what had
become of the man he supposed already
in his grasp, a tremendous crack in the
ear brought him again to the ground
Again he scrambled to his feet, and
again he was knocked down by single
reverberating blow. The third time he
arose, but before he could wipe the
blood from his eyes sufficiently to dis
tinguish his antagonist, the hard earth
again became his bed.


This time he did not rise Immediate
ly. 1t was patent to every one before
this stage of the encounter that he was
overmatched for once, and at last that
fact seemed to have become clear to his
own mind. Drawing the flask from his
pocket he cast it upon the ground, NUT
tering savagely:


There's yer old flask! Take it if vel
want it so bad


Stephen stepped to the spot where
the coveted prize lay and picked it up,
placing it beside his rifle. Then turn
ing again to the discounted bully, who
had now risen to his feet, he continued


Jack Dunlaw, am not done with
you yet. A few days ago you brutally
insulted Cora Russell. l could have
shot you dead, and l should have done