Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-11

soft hat - slouchy. yet be lacked some OIL
the accomplishments Of his comrades.
He could not swear 80 glibly, he was con- |
stantly lapsing into good English. and he
could not drink the ordinary whiskey OF
the town without . grimace. He had con- |
tributed to the gift mirror, and a full
account Of its reception was given to him5
AN what does Billy Wiki think o
that s'' the narrator concluded.
why that Ag's woman. after all, j"
said Billy, land therefore sensitive after
her appearance What we want to do is
to convince her that no joke was intended
Now isn't tina. 50 boyss''
Everybody said something that meant
yes.
II move,r said one. " that Billy Wilk
be app'inted convincin' committee. He's
the only chan in camp, that dare go into
the Spread Eagle jes' now. 'thout casin'
hisself in biler iron. Oh, Ag won't hurt
him-we all know she's soft on Billy"
Nonsense, Billy interposed.
''Tain't no nonsense. nutber- When
Az keeps a sep'rate bottle for Billy WIKI,
jes' cause he got a faint-hearted stummic,
it's case o. clean gone on Billy Wiki
So BiIly's the man to send in 10 squar US
with Ag. Eh' Say, 'ay' if I'm talking
WISE
a roar Of "ayes was decisive. Billy
entered the Spread Eagle on his mission
Of reconciliation. Az had not changed
her attitude in the slightest Her back
was still against the bar, and her shapely
bent elbows rested on it for support. Her
face was hard yet with anger, but tears
were trickling down it. and she could not
dash them away so quickly but that Billy
saw them.
wall. Billy Wilk,'' she said harshly,
twas you with the gang in maxim fun o
me?-
II was with the BOYS in getting that
glass up from Frisco. certainly" he said;
..but it wasn't done for sport at all. 1t
was meant for sober, serious testimonial.
They hadn't the slightest notion of
joke"
She took down lamp from the wall,
thrust it close TO his face and gazed eager
ly into his eyes.
.See hyar. Billy WIKI" she said. 'ef
you look me squar in the face and tell me
so. I'll believe We. Thar amt nothin' l
wouldn't take on your word o honor, less
you said wasn't the homeliest woman
you ever seed an likely We mought even
make me think ye'd somewhat come across
an onsightlier critter than be. il We tried.
Ye never lied to me, Billy Yenever told
me ye cared snap o. yer fingers for me,
cause We don't. That's squar as die,
considering We know love every hair in
year head, Billy Wiki"
Bill had known it as she said. but moth
ing of the kind had ever been spoken be-
tween them, and he did not find her blnnt
avowal comfortable TO receive.
.snk 10 al u. ~ bo
lamp back in its place II don't, cause
amt ashamed o. lovin' We. Eff We told
me We cared a durn for me-then We might
blush, either for yer fust lie to me. or fer
shame tibet ye'd fell in love with Ag o. No
Go. Shake, Billy"
His hand, though hardened by toll. was
smaller than the one that gripped it,
We're good friends at all events" he
said.
You can bet. pards, eff We like, an
there's no man in camp ye'd rather jine
hans with She took the only bottle of
good whiskey in the house from drawer
under the bar. half filled two glasses.
clinked her own against his. and emptied
it in halt the time he was occupied in q
SIMILAR operation. .'iIow is gettin' on
with Kunnel Dingley's daughter Nell?''
Billy choked on the last swallow of his
whiskey and Ag's hand came down with
mighty thnmp on his back.
'I-Colonel Dingley-daughter Nell, :"
he sputtered.
"Them's the biggest o. the words. Take
glass o. water. Ye didn't think know'd
it. Swaller some more water. Thar amt
thing We do. Blly--thar amt an ounce o.
dust We lay by. or headache We have, err
button off yer clothes-thet don't know
it. Did We s'pose that gals photograph
could be in yer room an | not light unto
it? Be ye chokin' yet? Mebbe it's
emoshing makes We so red. Wall, l aXed
We bout the gal.
Continued Tomorrow