A SECOND TELL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2172, 13 July 1889, Page 3

A SECOND TELL

The forethought aoowu by the hero of the William Tell legend, la preparing a ■eoond arrow to shoot the tyrant ehoold the first have killed bla boy, 1b not oonfined to herolo times. An American gold•eeker In California onoe adopted slnrla ptaotlcal cneanw, thoagh with a less dignified motive. When be arrived at the diggings — so relates one of the surly miners there — one of the first persons to attract his notlca there was a nun who, at an Impromptu table, made by plaoing board* npon tbu tops of barrels, vu prepared to serve ooffoe and fcod to the other miners. The new arrival was as poor as he was haogry, «nd therefore endeavored to conciliate the restanrant i keeper by every means In bis power, bop ing that be might so far Ingratiate himself with that dignitary as to obtain credit for ft meal, The hoar for dinner arrived, and the proprlator of the hotel wen* into bis shanty and appeared with a donble»barrelled gun, which he proceeded to fire onoe In front of the house. " What are yon firing for 3" asked the new-oomer Innocently. "Oh," answered, tho man, " i keep a sort of restaurant, and that's my dinner-bell. The miners here are scattered round for tiro or three miles." " But," said the stranger, " they may not bear the first barrel. Why don't yon make a snre thing of It, and shoot off the seoond V A wioked smile passed ovet the grim ooantenanoe of the old settler, and he looked at the querist with meaning as he said ; " That there one I keep to oolleot the price of the dinner with."