The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-09

HCut UuG. il. 11d4ld lIAlG kuEL1lC1 j uGL tWO
school girls, a big girl and q bigger one, and
they looked as if they were very cold. Isaid
very politely, "Young ladies, / will lend you
this shawl, and you can return it to Mr..
Steell's store whenever convenient"
"Humph!" replied the biggest girl, 81
wouldn't be found dead in the woods with
that shawl on"
II wouldn't, neither" said ], and ! went
on. Soon [ was at Mr. HIS house, which is
near the road, and as I had an invitation
from the hotel keeper to attend a ball on the
22d, | thought I would call and ask Miss Ann
to 60 to the ball with me. / met the old gen
tleman at the corner of the house.
"Good evening, Mr.. H." said [.
"Good evening, Mr. Winkle," he said.
SIS Miss Ann at home 2"
''Yes, [ believe she is, sir"
"Is she engaged?"
rs it engaged ye say, sir. Faith, az, !
can't tell ye, sir, but she kissed MIR. Mcguire
last evening as if she had not seen the lolkes
ov him, an its engaged | behave they are,
SIR
There was q man going by on the road and
| said that I wanted to speak to him, and l
run through the gate, but | did not want TO
| speak to no one at that moment.
came on, and at the bridge I noticed 9
| sign, sWhoop Up I could not imagine
what it meant. Thinking it was q menag-
erie. I entered in. A man with q bloody
nose met me at the door, and another stood
in the opposite corner with a black eye, and
both were painting as if exhausted:
"Who owns this place q I asked the man
with the bloody nose.
"a man in Fort Benton W il, but If you
want to know who runs it, just wait q few
minutes until we have one more roundt to de-
eide the question"
But l left in about as much Of q hurry as
ever. crossed the bridge, tied my horse to
the hitching post back of the store, and went
up the street. It was growing dark, and l
was getting pretty good spirited. Passing q
saloon, I heard some loud talking. One man
was saying that modern spiritualism was q
humbug, while another argued that it was the
greatest wonder of the age. At one end OF
the counter there was some cheese, crackers,
herring, etc. Seeing Ell the fellows helping
themselves, | came to the conclusion that it
was a free lunch. Icommenced eating, and
kept on eating until I almost made out my
supper, when the barkeeper walked up to me
saying
sSee here, stranger; those eating here are
expected to take q drink"
Il eat for my health; I always take q drink
after I eat" I said.
Awhile afterwards, as the barkeeper leaned
on the counter, I said
CHOW l will take a drink
''What will you have, sir?' said he.
"Water," " said ].
] saw him reach for something, and as
ran through the door, bang came a chair al
nv heels. / ran for my horse, but alas! he
was not to be found. Where I had hitchec
nv horse there was a bobtailed horse, sur
rounded by a roundup Of cattle. ! ran tt
the other side Of the store looking for my
nag, expecting every minute to see the bar
keeper after me with q shotgun. | ran owe
two or three poor ows. The second time
came in front of the bobtailed horse, and t.
my surprise it was my W horse. Tn
starving cattle had eaten his tail off, and as
cot to my venerable steed they were eatin!
the saddle, of which nothing was left but tn
tree and 8 few buckles. I mounted the re
mains and left the town.