Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-05
BILL BUSHNELL'S LASS,
BY y. s. BURROUGHS.

IN y. :. BURROUGHS.
Josh Fields and Tom Willis were both
dead in love with Bill Bushncll's nre,tv
lass, Mol.
II there was anything peculiar about
this circumstance, it was not in the fact
'ot their in atuation, however, but in The
fact that Josh and Tom were partners
JOINT owners of Il mining cluim-aud 10
see couple of boon companions devclop
INTO riva! lovers struck some of us old
miners about the camp as mighty queer
business.
They were such brotherly chaps TINT.
II 1t had Gecn anything but love affair.
reckon either the one or the other
would have given up to his chum; but
.hey didn't IN this case. Neither seemed
inclined to bulge an iuch, and, in this
manner, several months went by, with
each one doing his best to make an ever
iGstinS Impression upon his lnamorata.
AT last, however, Josh made up his
m'nd that the matter had dragged long
enough, and, not wishing to hurt his
pnrds feeling by rushing ahead i'm
Pctuonsiy, lie decided to take him into
his confidence.
The time cho.en was just before they
were gong to quit work for the day.
gathered up and put away.
Tom, said he ''y0u am me hcy bin
pards since we was boys, an, not only
pnrds, but the closest sort o. friends
There's never bin hitch b'twccn us ON
emmy point, an hope there never Will
be. f'ur them reasons, Pm goin' to
speak right out in mcctin', SOS 10 make
myself understood. The fac is. Tom.
you an me hev bin so unfortunate rs to
ili. IN love with the same gal-old Bill
bnshmeirs lass-an, as IT'S ag in nature
tur us both to marry her, We We got TO
nSSer out some way out O. the middle.
HOW can we do it, Tom, SOS to keep
ssquar friends an do jestice TO cuch
fellcrs love an 10 Mol!n
Toms face kind o'clouded, rs thourh
he wasn't ovcrglad that the sub ect had
been brought up, and fell to thinking
ana pulling NJ his pipe, without max M
any immed ate reply.
ITS hard nut 10 crack, Josh. " soid
be, at length; ''what would you su..
gestln
We'll" answered Josh, "since some.
things got to be done, an done on the
suuar, suppose we draw lots. The
Teller as gets the long cut has the first
chance 10 asl, fur the gall if he fails
tnen the loser can try his luck. What
dye say"
Again Tom mcditatcd, and pulled
vigorously ut his pipe.
ITS about the only thing to be done
L reckon" he said, after IL long silence
You're satisfied with the plan, amt
"oh, yes"
; well, then, you fix the cuts; a short
one an loug one, an I'll try my luck
on the draw" ''o"
Tom set to work, slowly and thought.
fully, and. after considerable DELAY. held
up the Two twigs for Josh to choose he
tween.
.'Well," said Josh, as he put forth n
rather nervous hand, ''hcrc goes don't
wish you emmy harm, pard. but 1 homo
I'll get the long one"
You don't thought" cried Tom. tri-
umphantly, casting the remaining stick
to the ground. You've got the short
one, an lose"
"Hold onl What are you th,owin'
that cut away for, afore l see it. Bet
yer life, I'm goin' to compare them sticks
alore give in" exclaimed Josh.
ION, well, said Tom. impatiently.
"heres the stick | throwed down, an
you see It's half an iuch the longest"
mo You don't, Tom Whilst" cried
Josh. THAT amt the one YOU tunv
away. Here it is, an it's shortcrn mine
by big odds!''
"Bah you can't como it over me like
that, Josh Flelds!" returned the other
holly. 'I'd be IL man if l war YOU. an,
wayl" 40 'n"'
Sec here, Tom," said Josh, .smaybc
you didn't mean to trick me; but your
wrong, jest The same. I'll tell you how
know it.: When was lingerin' the two
cuts afore l drawed one out. I creased
the other one with my thumb nail. SOS
I'd know it again. Well, here's the
mark on the short stick, which provcs
my side of the case"
"lou lie, cuss yon!' rctorted Tom
boiling over with anger. "You hain't
the sand to acknowledge you're beat
on ye're tryin' sneakin' game on me p'
"iou talk like 'tarnal fooll" blurted
Josh, also losing his temper. "You tried
q robbin' game y'sclf, an now, when
you're caught at it, you squeali"
"Liar" Kissed Tom, Selling a hand
drill lying at his feet, and raising it,
mt1eenacingly, over his partners keod.
Say that again an, pard or no pard, pil
brain ye"
",Well, you did, an you know it You
hadn't the nerve To
The sentence was never finished: for.
ut that instant, the drill descended with