New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-02-27
Bill BushneIl's Lass.
BY A. S. BURROUGHS.

spfeLJy lass, MOL.
8 ii there ID was anything peculiar about
5t this circumstance, it was not in the
lac TACT Of their infatuation, however, but
/. IN the fact that Josh and Tom were
partners joint owners of mining
claim and to see a couple of boon COM
panions develop into rival lovers, struck
some of us old miners, about the camp,
as mighty queer business.
They were such brotherly chaps that,
If it had been any thing b ut a love af-
fair, [ reckon either the one or the
other would have given up to his chum;
but they. didn't in this case. Neither
seemed inclined to bulge an inch, and,
in this manner. several months went by,
with each one doing his best to make
I'D everlasting impression upon his ina
morata.
At last, however, John made up his
mind that the matter had dragged long
enough, and, not wishing to hurt his
pard's feelings by rushing ahead, i'm
petuously, he decided to take him into
mis- confidence.
The time chosen was justbefore they
were going to quit work for the day,
and while the scattered tools were be-
ing gathered up and put away,
s'Iom," 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 pint, an l hope there never will
be. Fur them reasons, I'm goin' to
speak right out in meetin', SOS to make
myself understood. The fac is, Tom,
you and me hev bin so unfortunate as
to fall dead in love with the same gal
old Bill Bushnell's lass-an', as it's
ag in nature fur us both to marry her,
we've got to fgger out some way out O
the middle. How can we do it, Tom,
SOS SO keep squar' friends an do jestice
TO each feller's love an to Mol?''
@s Ions's face kind O. clouded, as though
he wasn't overglad that the subject had
been brought up, and fell to thinking
and pulling at his pipe, without maxi
ing any immediate reply.
SITS a hard nut to crack, JOSH said
he, at length; 'what would you sug-
gest?'
Well answered JOSH since some
things got to be done, an done on the
squar', suppose we draw lots. The
fellar 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?n
Again Tom meditated, and pulled
vigorously at his pipe.
t'It's about the only thing to be done,
4 reckon he said, after long silence.
cure satisfied with the plan, amt
your
'sOh, yes
We'll, then, you nix the cuts; a short
one and a long one, an I'll try my luck
ton the draw
Tom set to work, slowly and thought
fully, and, after considerable delay
held up the two twigs for Josh to
choose between.
Well" said Josh, as he put forth a
rather nervous hand, sshere goes!
don't wish you emmy harm, pard, but I
hope Pllget the long one
''You don't, thought cried Tom, tri-
stl1nphantly, casting the remaining stick
ito the ground. "You've got the short
one, an lose!n
'.Hold on! What are you throwin'
that cut away for, afore see it? Bet
yer life, I'm goin' to compare them
sticks afore | give in!'' exclaimed Josh.
:'Oh, WELL" said Tom, impatiently,
ssshere's the stick | throwed down. an
you see it's half an inch the longest y
s'No, you don't, Tom Willis!'' cried
Josh. .sThat amt the one you flung
away. Here it is, an it's shorter'n
mine by big odds!''
bah! you can't come it over me like
that, Josh Fields!n' returned the other,
hotly., I'D be a man il I war you, an
not try to sneak out O. the thing in that
way!''s
'sSee here Tom, said Josh, maybe
you didn't mean to trick me; but you're
wrong, jest the same. I'll tell you how
[ know it: !; When I was fngerin, the
two cuts afore I drawed out, [ creased
the other one with my thumb nail, SOS
I'd know it agin. Well, here's the
mark on the short stick which proves
my side of the CASE
e'You lie, cuss your retorted Tom,
boiling over with anger, s'You hahn t
the sand to acknowledge you're beat,
an ye're tryinla sneakin' game on mem
s.You talk like a tarnal fool!' bFurted
Josh, also losing his temper. ssYou
tried a robbin' game y'self, an now,
when you're caught at it, you squealn'
<sLiarw Kissed Tom, selling hand
drill lying at his feet, and raising it,
,nenacingly, over his partners head.