The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-02

down one end OF rope. Montana
Ben, you have the floor, to cuss or
confess, whichever feels the most COM
tortable.'
"Ben was game He didn't weaken
Tor a cent, though his pard was
mighty shakey about helegs and look
ed as though he didn't care to prolon.
the services. And Mantana Ben was
not to be outdone by Laramie Joe in
politness-Ben wasn't. So Ben says:
"'Gentlemen, you've got the drop on
me and my pard here, but we don't
cry baby, all the same. I've done my
share OF cussin' ard have got away
with my share ofcussedness-
"and hosses, SAID one OF the COW
punchers.
"tYes, and hosses,' continued Ben.
and that was what was coming to.
Joe, it amt squealing to allow that |
got away with that bunch of colts
"'Now, amt that curious" said
Joe, with q drawl that drew q sick
smile to the chief 'corpse's' face. I'd
somehow suspicioned you did,!
"'And they amt the only ones I've
took in my life. You'll find yours at
Greeley's ranch. He don't know
there's anything crooked about them
so don't pay him out as you have
ME and my pard here. Then there was
six horses up in Idaho last year.
"'Never mind last years horses
said Joe. T. reckon a guide book to
your appropriatin' OF other mems
horses would carry you beyond the
five minute limit-which is now got
down to one and three quarters
"Well. said Ben, with sigh, as
though regretting that he could not
be allowed to recount his misdeeds in
detail you don't want no more
hoss business, cracked bank back
in Missouri. Somehow it happened
only two days before lit out for the
plains. Then helped get away with
the express messenger, on the N. p,
near Ogallala--
"Joe made a motion to shut his
watch, as much as to say times up
"'Give me minute more!" said
Ben, with an eagerness and excitement
he hadn't shown before.
"Cut it short, them said Joe, MS he
motioned the men to make ready to
hoist away.
"'And, Joe,' said Ben, with his
nerves beginning to grow shakey as he
1elt the rope tighten, 4 hain't told you
the worst yet-as | am standing on
nothing-almost-I own up that / am
the man that run away with your
wife, back to Missouri
"'You the fellar that run away with
my Nance, back TO old Pike county,
says Joe, now all of tremble himself,
while we expected to see him carve up
Ben into shoestrings.
"'Yes, Joe, as Pm d dying man, 1
run away with your Nance, back to
old Pike!'
"'Put it there, pard!' shouted Joe,
sticking out his hand at Ben, who
thought Joe had gone crazy. Put it
there! You run off with Nance? You?
Boys, take off that rope-you run off
with Nance? Why, boys, this gentle
man is the best friend I've got! He
may have stole my hosses, busted
banks, stood up express trains, or any
blamed thing the ten commandments
and the laws OF the United
States is down on. But he run
off with Nance-and that wipes
out the whole score and leaves clean
slate with a heap left to his credit.
My Lord! Ben! What a power of
trouble you saved me from when you
run off with Nance-and how have
you lived through it? Ben, put it
there! But what close call you had!
Why didn't you say so first off? Yes,
OF course you'll take the rope off that
other gentleman's neck. He's a friend
OF my best friend, and that settles it.
Joking? No hanging? Anyone that
says hang to a friend of mine has got
to be spryer with his gun than l am!
Joke? Well, gentlemen, if any OF you
had ever lived with Nance, it wouldn't
take pile driver to get it into your
head why the man who run off with
her is a gentleman and q scholar-and
an internally bad judge of women!
Wen now adjourn to the ranch and
hunt for the bottom OF the Jug in
honor OF my best friend.