Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-08-13

'OAEMAN, MONTANA TERRITORY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 49,

SHE WAS THE BEST MAN
;. An Authent1c Incident Of Ira
- vel i'm the Southwest.
Il A gentleman residing In this city, say
IL the Vicksburgh Herald, hal occasion,
. few days since. to take a journey dow
elthe river. and several miles back from Il
U using saldle horse. Darkness overtool
II him in sparsely-set,led district, and a
d the roads were in q bad condition aud tn
sIeveniug looked threatening, he halted be
u|fore . forlorn-looking hut, and asked i
he could find lodging.
). Il reckon you mought, replied the Ion!
: haired, sorrowfuleyed squatter, after hesi
-|tating moment.
q The Vicksburger found little to eat
: and his horse found still less. TIE squat
s|ter and his wife were all alone. and they
had but few words for the stranger, anG
scarcely spoke to each other. When the
Ieyenlng grew old the traveller camped
down on the floor on a blanket, and be-
ing very tired he fell asleep, while host
and hostess were smoking their clay pipes
ut the other end of the room. lie had
slept about two hours, when the squatter
shook hin, by the shoulder. and said:
stranger, I'm powerful sorry to dis
Fturb ye, but want to Ak favor"
"Yes-yes-what is it ?" inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes, and
sat up.
'Ye like to see far play, .lon't ye stran.
Iger:'
Yes, of coufse.'
Wall, men the old woman can't agree :;
somehow she's cross and tetchy, and !
guess I'm trifle ugly. Leastwlse we don't
hug up worth old boots. We'vefi and fit :;
IN old, and she's chuck full o grit, and
it's about an even thing!'
We'll, I'm sorry put in the Vicks-
burger, as the squatter hesltated.
We've been balkin' since ye cum.
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye toI
hold the candle and let US go in for All
old rouser of fight-a rcg'lar old sock
dolager, which shall settle our fuss! If l |
lick. she'll 60; if she liclss, I'll travelr
I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and /
hope you won't fight.
We've got to do it, stranger replied
the woman. i won't live witt. a man
who kin lick me, and he's just as high
born. Sans as good as the run O. men,
but he's lazy and sassy, and he wants to
wear his hat on his ear!
She's right, stranger said the squatter,
and this cabin can't hold both of as any
longer. It's to be squar' fght-no kick
ing or clubbing, and we won't go back on
yer decision.'
The Vicksburger protested. but the wo-
man placed lighted candle in his hand.
and posted him in the door, and man and
wife stepped out on the ground.
'Sukc, I'm goin' to wallop ye right
smart in just four boots and holler!' said
The squatter, as he pushed III, ..'S sleeves.
Sam. We don't -cigh 'nutf into three
tons . sre replsed in grim voice, and the
battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twenty
70 one on the man at the start, but in two
he had reduced the odds to ten,
md in two minutes more he was betting
wen. The wife was like wild cat,
;prnging, dodging, striking, and claw i
ng, and pretty soon her husband had to-
stand on the defenSive Il
Look out for the Bengal tiger, Suke!l
le warned as he clawed the air.
4 can whip the boots off n ye, Sam!' she :
eplied, and the battle grew fiercer.
One of the woman's sharp nails struck
he husbands eye and blinded him for
n instant. As he threw up his arms she !.
eized both her hands into his hair, yank-
d him down, and in another moment had
he "gouge" on him.
Sam, do ye cave.' sho asked as they
ay quiet. i
That's the dead word, Suke, and I'm a,
licked mani he mournfully answered.
She let him up, and he turned to thel
and inquired:
Stranger. was it far f0ught?'
4 guess it was!'
Then l travel!' II
He entered the Aut, put on his coat and
lat, took up his rifle, and as he came out
le reached his hand to his wife and said ::
Goodbye. Suke! We agreed far and
quar-, and here go!' Then, turning to
I, :, A.~uo1ov h axlAAI. II
Much obleeged, stranger-ye held the
andle plumb far. and ye didn't holler1
or neither one of us!'
And he walked down to the fence,
capped over, and was soon lost to s,ght.
Coed 'nuff on the shoot mused his
vifs as she gazcd after him; tut his
lighting Weights Is clar run Gown to nuthin!'i
Editors rs Pack Horses. Ii
There is standing joke in the 'far
vest," which is commonly played upon F.,
,reenhorns who go opt there to make their
ortunes in . few months hunting gold
md silver, who are told that though gold
nd SILVER are . little scarce just then.
here are plenty Of brass mines. These {
'rass mines are to be found pretty much {