The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-10-05

don't Tow that none of us air any too keen to work"
 Tod Shel-"That's all right, Mark. You may pick out the subjects that you want to talk about, and Pll pick out mine. The subject of laziness Is now under discussion and it has been putty strongly hinted that don't wanter work and I would like to say right here that the man, woman or child that says am lazy is s liar"
 Andy Sumner (springing from the ground where he had been sitting with his back against a tree)- "Come boys none of yo' foolshness. We've got to work the road, but we ain't got to quarrel. Let's move on, an not wait for them other felers."
 Jim Nelson-"No we won't move along jest yet, nor we won't wait fur the other felers in purticu- lar"
 Mark Shelton-"Then whut air you goin' to stay here fur if it ain't to wait2"
 Jim -"Figurative speakin', as the preacher would say. we air goin' to smooth down the cats hair or ruile it up & blame sight worse than it is now. Tod Shell, do you mean to say that l am liar? But wait minute. Recolleck that can put rifle bullet in a squirrels eye when he's SO fur away that other folks ksnt hardly see his body. Now, do you mean to call me liar?"
 "Tod Shell-"Do you mean to say that l am lazy? But wait mint. Recoleck that ken stand of forty yards and drive nails with rife bullet jest the same as drivin them with ham, mer. Now, do you mean that am lazy2"
 Jim Nelson-"Wall, you don't love to work"
 Tod Shell-"That aint the pint. Am lazy7"
 Jim Nelson-"Sense you press the pint in ques- tion, am forced to say that you dfr lazy"
 Tod Shell-"Ah, hah, and sense you have yielded to the pressure of the pint in question: forced to say that you are a liar"
 Andy Sumner-"By grit, this thing has gone fur enough. Stand back thar, now, boys"
 Jim Nelson-"Oh, ain't goin' to hit him. That is some olks' way of settlin dikelty but it ain't mine When Pve got enough agin man to hit him Fve got enough agin him to hurt him bad"
 Tod Shell-"You air 'spressin' my sentiments now Tain't fur to nuther one of our houses. Pll be back here in half hour"
 Jim Nelson-"So will I. Mark, you and Andy, along with the other fellers, stay here. Me an Tod has been treadin' on flint rocks fur some time when we've been nigh each other, and it is better to settle the thing now, fur it has come to head"
 Nelson and She'll hasten away.
 Mark shelton-"They air goin' to fight, and thar ain't no gittin' out of it."
 Andy Sumner-"And both of them air goin' to git killed, fur they air both dead shots. Ken any thing be done, you reckon2"
 Mark Shelton-"Don't see how thar ken be-"
 They continue to talk. Jim Nelson returns
 Jim Nelson-"Hsin't that feler got back yit7"
 Andy Sumner-"Not yit. He lives little fur der than you do. Wander he comes. Say, Jim, kain't we fix this thing up no way?"
 Jim Nelson-"Oh, yes, by measurin' of about thirty yards and countin' one, two, three for us" [Tod Shell comes up. Mark Shelton draws him aside and expostulates with him..
 Tod Shell-"Now, look here, Andy, thar ain't no use in talkin' to me. That feller and me has got to clash sooner or later, and I'd ruther have it sooner and git it of my mind"
 Mark kShelton-"Gentlemen, if you air goin' to fight duel you've got to do it cordin' to the rule