Thomas County cat., 1889-09-05

ing, after . weeks absence, had told them
Of the presence of woman ON the claim ID
joining their double one, and added:
''And she's q widder-considerable o&
onep'
In spite Of the fact that theirs had been .
long, tiresome ride, when they passed the
claim cabin that had been so long deserted
and saw . calicoclad figure In the doorway,
their animals were spurred into spirited
gallop and the two men were as rtgidly
erect - if instant death awaited unbendinE.
In their bachelor cabin, after they had
''puttered" around in silence for awhile.
Ira suddenly remarked:
"She hain't NO slouch ~ with an express
sion Of unqualified admiration for the Widow
McCord.
'That's what ~ promptly agreed Toliiver.
In this connection, let me say that II she
did not salute it very soon. the widow and
her fortieth yea9 would never speak - they
passed by.
"An' widderl" said Ira, presently.
can widder p agreed Tolliver.
That night, some hours after they had re-
tired, Ira suddenly spoke out In the dark
ness:
"Feller comes for our answer bout sellin'
the claim we-"
"Nary SELL" Tolliver's voice answered,
promptly.
1t was not long before tho partners began
10 Be distYustful OF each other. About noon
the nezt day, Teniv0, sfter distressing
attempt, bach Of the little sod stable, 70 cut
his taagls Of hair without the aid Of mir
TOR, entered the cabin In . very shamefaced
| way, ana va In ths presence Of another
shamefaced man. Hs wrstehed comrade
was csaght n the aot Of trying 70 fasten on
| to his 1an1el sAirt . riding collar too small
| for his red ,sco
ThiA wltA tie Int thaA each hsd been
caught BY the ethe1 N N attempt to sneak
away in the direction Of Widow McCord's
cabin. oansea eaok Of the comrades to be
tbs objest ott0 Szavest suspicion upon the
| part Of the ethep. When each found he
was detected, they approached each other,
cenvevsatsns1fr. something like wrestlers,
prepared - Ahe each other "catoh as-catch-
caa."
Il IseeGher Arst, /" said Ira Goodnight de-
| family.
wal Pm 10 oldest" !" returned Tollivsr,
doggedly.
"Aa' tharfors the least likely to get her, y
retorted Ira, trlumphantly.
Tolliver, belag very little Of debater,
| passed, n1teerinR. out Of the cabin, and
slammed the door behind him.
| Half an hour Later, a. he WAS returning
| from . season OF mental wrestling with
| himself behind tho little sod stable, he mot
his comrade coming to meet him from tho
| cabin.
"You can have her, partnerr' said
Tolliver, abruptly.
ssWon't take her" returned he, prompt
iy; "she's yournr' Their hard hands met
In an earnest clasp.
"But you seed her first"
"No difference if / did. You're the
oldest!"
mo difference either. won't have herl''
"Nur me-"
And so they argued for awhile, each CIV
| ing up to the other, and each insisting that
he himself possessed not one simple quail
fication necessary to make him desirable
or even endurable husband, while his COM
rade seemed a very model for Benedict.
Finally, Tolliver said:
''You go an tackle her an Pl back you
up. Pm the oldest an I'll make the best
backin'. Ii you don't git her, I'll try, an"
"An' I'll back you upm
A settlement was arranged on that basis,
and the next two hours witnessed gen.
eral sprucing up. Each of the partners
took a turn at trimming the moppy head