The Republican journal., 1881-09-01

I'lliN odiu uOU IL NbIu, Dul dllcI Sl8li
from Jack smiled and nodded his head
gayly.
GLOW do you fight ?"
Billy. after looking at Jack for few
moments, made several mock strokes
with his fists, imaginary grapplings will
his arms, kickings with his legs, and thel
seized his own throat with one hand, anC
placed the thumb Of the other into the
corner OF one of his eyes.
Oglcthorpe Josh looked at these action,
piercingly. Turning angrily upon Jack
he said 'Who's this you fotch here
What is he p
Its Billy Moon," answered a by
stander one of those chosen as Il stake
holder. Giles as respectable a man. sir
rs any in this county or anywhere else
eXceptin that he's deef and dumb"
"Deef and dumb :" said Oglethorpe
"Ain't he an cgiot ?"
''Egot No, sir; no egiOt got as much
sense as you, or any other man on this
ground, and as much of a gentleman"
''Jes' So, said Jack Hall.
Oglethorpe scanned Billy over and
over carefully. Scratching his head he
scanned him again. He looked down
ana reflected. After reflection he raised
his head, but did not seem as if, even
when be began to talk. he had reached a
definite conclusion.
'.Gentlemen--I shall that is, shall
not--yes- -no-in case, yes-that is
glntlemen-I-I shall -ah i shall NOT
fight it"
oh, now ah, now yes, now. That
did look like fellow comm all the way
down from Oglethorpe and openin' a
school for teachin' people how to fight
nglethorpe reflected again. looked at
Billy's smiling face and reflected yet
again. Then he resolved for good and all.
He said firmly: "No, sirs. | shall not
fight it, gentlemen; and gentlemen, I'll
give You my reasons. You see, if me and
it fights, one or t'other Of us is got to git
whipped in the course O time, more or
less. Now ef | whip it, it can't holler,
and shan't know it air whipped. That'll
be ontalr on it. Then, agin, gentlemen.
and which | should by no means look for
but, nobody, eXceptin' the good Lord,
knows the futur' specially in things like
it-then agin, say, eff it should whip me,
and holler, it-it-it couldn't hear me
and that, You see, gentlemen, would be
ontair for me. Gentlemen, no. gentle
men, shall not fight IT."
After the explosion ensuing upon this
! determined refusal and some discussion
as to its import and most proper conse-
quences, it was decided at last, with en-
tire concurrence on the part of Oglethorpe
Josh, that it would be fair to regard the
money advanced, not exactly as won by
| Billy. nor as constituting a drawn bet,
| but that Billy-tOr jack said it should be
| Billy's interest, and not his 0Wn-ShOuld
| have half the deposit of oglethorpe Josh.
When Jack had communicated this de
ciSion to Bill, the brightness in an instant
! fled from his face, and he glanced around
rescntfullN upon all. Then he looked
upon the ground for moment thought
/ fully. putting his hand to his ear. Then
he raised his head, his face putting Oh a
/ conditional smile, looked at OglethOrpG,
I Rugged himself, twisted his legs about,
I made a long mark upon the ground,
struck his LETT toretinger with his right,
and uttcling several cultural sounds from
his throat. looked at Jack as if he was
not yet entirely through With giving eX-
preston to his IDEAS.
Oglethorpc watched Billy's actions with
earnest and compassionate interest. Said
he: "What do it want ? Amt ii salts
fed IF it amt let it take all the money.
Sooner than worry the poor thing Id let
it have all I've got Ill ~
..Jes' so, les so, | know" said Jack
''But that amt what Bill Us after"
'Well, what is it arfter? can't see
from them doins what it is artter."
'Jes' so; but me and hims neighbors,
and always has been, and We understands
one another same as et Billy could talk.
Billy's after a wrastle with you stranger.
"A wrastle with me-
''Jes' so and he says ef you'll give him
a wrastle, ies' a friendly Wrastle, you
mind. YOU may have a dollar more o.
your money, no matter which gets flung :;
and ef You don't he'll have some more
words to say to YOU.
"Words." calculated Oglethorpe you
call them things words, Words, more
words Them things was its langwidges
was they! :" Then Mr.. Oglethorpe Josh
Green grinned somewhat, and the iron in
his frame seemed TO begin to soften.
"Jes' so. answered Jack, land Billy's
got more langWidges than you ever heerd
Of"
More words, and in various lang
wdges, said O. j. G.. thoughttully. and
they means it want a wrastle. and eff it
can't get it it'll have more words in more
various langwidges.'
Then Mr. q. j. G. regarded Billy with
the most intent scrutiny. 1t was evident
that he was again doubtful, but seeming
~ to avoid the necessity of further re-
marks in other unknown tongues, he con
cluded to acquiesce in Billy's wishes
Every well, then" he said ''But,
gentlemen, Pm agin this thing, and I
wants it understood that if it cit hurt, |
amt responchibe."
Every body said that was right.
Then they stripped themselves.
CHAPTER III.
"What hold DO it want 2 asked Mr..
Oglethorpe Josh Green.
Billy, when the question was made
known to him by Jack, raised and let fall
first his right arm, then his left, shook
his head contemptuousy then unwrap-
ped from his finger an invisible rag, and
threw it upon the ground.
"What kind O words was them ;" ask
ed O. j. G.
"Them words, answered Jack. "them's
that Billy says he don't keer, not even to
the wrappin' of his fingers which hold
you give him, right or left"
"Ies, see it were somethn' about -
about fingers
Mr.. Q. slowly scraped his upper lip
with his lower teeth.
"And il don't wrastlc with it, You
say-it'll-have yet more various lang
widges? ?"
''Jes' soH
"Well, gentlemen he said, resigned
ly; "member, gentlemen, I'm agin it, and
both tnartorc and wharfore amt to be
responchible,'
Certainly not, unanimously.
They were hitched. Jack Hall was to
give the word, with a simultaneous nod
to Billy. Billys eye was on Jack bright
us a rattlesnake's when on the point Of