BEATING THE PISTOL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1194, 1 August 1911, Page 7

BEATING THE PISTOL.

DUFFY AND THE STARTERS. The following from an English writer will bring a smile to many a New Zoalander, for we have vivid remembrances of Arthur Duffy's quickness off the mark in this part of the world. Duffy was a remarkable littlo man. More than any other, ho was the bete noir of the pistolfirer. Duffy was the man above all others to get a run on the gun. His methods were remarkable. He would ingratiate himself into the best thoughts of the starter; then he would tell the latter a pretty story. "Mr. ," he would say, "we've a funny lot in the final to-da}-. I've just heard they intend doing tbis poor American. You'll keep your eyes on them. I fancy the man on the limit is the goods." Heartily the starter wonld assure tho xnnkce that he would have fair play. The men would get ready—would be told to 'set"; the pistol would go "bang!"; when it did the margin between scratch man and limit holder ha<! pretty well been, obliterated. Buffv had mere'lv got his usual flier.