The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-12-12
Missouri Ann and Flc ia Jane.

/ GlSS2lrl ALI anu ! lc I'd tdIs.
| " Run, gals, and shuck yourselves IN
hurry the stranger IS comm in. And MIS-
soafi Ann, you jest git into them SuHda,
duds o your'n qnicker'n shootin' er you'l
beer from me, yer mother"
That was what Mes Martingale, of Nod
oway county, Missouri, told her daugiater.
when she saw well-dressed man ride uT
to her hltching rail aud alight from hi,
| horse.
"Come right in, stranger. Take cheer
and sit down. Fine weather now for mos,
i! anything. Shed yer great coat, stranger.
and come clus to the fire AID git warm
The gals is gone to shuck therseIves, but
they won't be more'n mint about it,
He was Chicago drummer, and Ae had
lost his road. Prudent mothers in Nodo-
way don't encourage the attentions of Chi.
| cago drummers to their daughters, because
they say those gentlemen from Chicago are
"no account men,"
He was i. married man at home, but he
didn't go around introducing himself every
where as the happy father of the six
smartest boys in the State of Illinois nor
did be carry poeketful of his wife's photo
graphs to distribute in every town on his
road. He sold drugs and druggists sun
dries on commission; and was ready to bet
his bottom dollar that he sold more quinine
and ealomsl and Godfrey's cordial in
month than any man travelling out of Chi
cago.
He didn't feel bad about 1T when Mrs.
Martingale slung her kettle on the fire and
set her coffee mill TO grinding for him. On
the contrary, he encouraged her endeavors
by saying that he never knew a woman with
head shaped like hers who couldn't just
knock the spots off everything when she
trisd her hand at frying spare ribs or MAX
ing coffee. She tried to disparage her cook
ing by saying that shotes this year didn't
pan out according TO expectations; then the
weather had been so warm that it was
mighty hard work to keep spare ribs and
joies from spelling.
He dida't require any second invitation
to sit up and help himself to her hot cook
cry; and he wasn't bothered to look over
the bill of fare to see what he wanted. He
made square meal of it before she had
time TO ask him where he was from or
whether he was married or single. The
daughters appeared in their prettiest just
when he was moving his chair back from
the table.
stranger, this is my daughter Missouri
Ann; that one is Florida Jane; and t'other
one is Satdee Maria. They're jest about
as peert gals as thar is in Nodoway. All ov
'em are willin' to spark. Now, gals, sit
down and talk to the stranger"
And Mrs. Martlngale busted herself
clearing tho table, leaving her charming
daughters to entertain the Chicago man Of
drugs, when suddenly it occurred TO her
that she had not yet learned where he was
from, nor what his calling was-tWo impor-.
stantant things for prudent mother 70
know.
ECUhuA yOA AO AAOhA SaAsesu0 -. l1-S
Bluffs, mister ?''
g No, ] hail from farther east.
You're from over the river il Nesbras-
ky, anyhow 9''
No, live Chicago
.sSheecargol Gals, shuck back agin in
Ter yer old duds. He amt worth a lead
nickel. Amt you lookia' for pardner,
mister ?''
Z No, don't want to marry
& Then you jist git up and git mighty
sudden. We amt no green gooseberries
ms and my gals. We don't want 10 men
coming around here that ain't looking for
pardners. Now you GIT. Florida Jane, you
call them dogs.
rha Chicago man Of drugs mounted bis
horse and rode away In such haste that he
forgot To say good bye. But the next night
when be met thrse drummer friends iu
Om aha, and told them the Story, they ail
sighed and called for lot WHISTLES It ~
expense, for they we're sorry to see SUCH IN
e. W.