The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-20
BILL BUSHNELL'S LASS.
DY A. g. BURROUGHS.

DY A. g. BURROUGHS.
Josh Fields and Tom Willis were botl
dead in love with Bill Bushnell's pretty
lass, Mol.
If there was anything peculiar abou
this circumstance, it was not in the fact
of their infatuation, however, but in tht
fact that Josh and Tom were partners
joint owners of mining claim-and Il
see couple of boon companions develop
into rival lovers struck some of US ole
miners about the camp as mighty queer
business.
They were such brotherly chaps that
if it had been anything but love affair,
I reckon either the one or the othel
would have given up to his chum; but
they didn't in this case. Neither seemed
inc .ined to bulge an inch, and, in this
manner, several months went by, with
each one doing his best to make an ever
lasting impression upon his inamorata.
At last, however, Josh made up his
Iaind that the matter had dragged long
enough, and, not wishing to hurt his
pard's feeling by rushing ahead i'm.
poLoouSty, bC oCSloCo w Ioho hAii 3uLo
his confidence.
The time chosen was just before they
were going to quit work for the day,
and while the scattered tools were being
gathered up and put away.
"Tom," said he, ''you an me hev bin
pards since We was boys, an, not only
pards, but the closest sort O. friends.
There's never bin hitch b'tween us On
emmy point, an hope there never will
be. Fur them reasons, Pm goin' to
speak right out in meetiu', SOS To make
myself understood. The fac is, Tom,
you an me hev bin so unfortunate as to
fsl! in love with the same gal-old Bill
Bushnells lass-an', as It's gin nature
fur US both to marry her, we've got to
6gger out some way out O. the muddle.
How can we do it, Tom, SOS to keep
squar friends an do jestice to each
felle1's love an 10 Moli"
Toms face kind o'clouded, as though
he wasn't overglad tina. the sub, ,ect had
been brought up, and fell to thinking
and pulling at his pipe, without making
any immed ate reply.
'.lt'sa hard nut to crack, JOSH" said
he, at length; "what would you suy-
gest"
"Well,' answered Josh, "since some.
things got to be done, an done on the
sauar', suppose we draw lots. The
feller as gets the long cut has the first
chance to ask fur the gal; if he fails,
then the loser can try his luck. What
dye say"
Again Tom meditated, and pulled
vigorously at his pipe.
''1t's about the only thing to be done,
! reckon" he said. after long silence.
"You're satisfied with the plan, amt
you?"
"Oh, yes"
"Well, then, you iix the cuts; short
one an long one, an I'll try my luck
on the draw"
Tom set tc work, slowly and thought
fully, and, after considerable delay, held
up the two twigs for Josh to choose be-
tween.
WELL" said Josh, as he put forth a
rather nervous hand, "here goes don't
wish you emmy harm, pard. but 1 hope
I'll get the long one"
.'You don't though" cried Tom, tri-
umphantly, casting the remaining stick
to the ground. You've got the short
one, an lose"
bold on What are you throwin'
that cut away for, aforc l see it. Bet
yer life, I'm goin' to compare them sticks
afore give in" exclaimed josh.
"Oh, well," said Tom, impatiently,
s'here's the stick l throwed down, an
you see it's half an iuch the longest"
"No you don't, Tom Willis" cried
Josh That amt the one you Lung
away. Here it is, an it's shortcr'n mine
by big odds"
"Bah! you can't como it over me Ike
that, Josh Fields" returned the other,
hotly. "ld be man if l war you, an
not try to sneak out o the thing in that
wayl"
See here, Tom," said Josh, "maybe
you didn't mean to trick me; but your
wrong, jest the same. I'll tell you how
know it: When was tingerin' the two
cuts afore l 6rawed one out, creased
the other one with my thumb nail, sos
I'd know it again. Well, here's the
mark on the short stick, which prove:
my side Of the asc."
'iou lie, cuss you!' retorted Tom,
boiling over with anger. "lou hahn
the sand to acknowledge you're beat
an ye're tryin' q sneakin' game on me!n
"lou talk like 'tarnal fool!" blurtet
Josh, also losing his temper. "lou triee
a robbin' game y'self, an now, whel
you're caught at it, you squeal!'
"Liar" hissed Tom, seizing hant
drill lying at his feet and raising it
menacingly, over his partners head
"Say that again an, pard or NO pard, ri
brain ye!"
well, you did, an you know it! Yol
hadn't the nerve TO-"
The sentence was never finished; for
a4 that in stant the drill descended wit