Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-03-30
Bill BHshnelI'S Lass
Rr A. S. BURROUGHS.

both dead in love with Bill Bushnell'
pretty lass, Mol.
II there was anything peculiar abou
this circumstance. it was not in tn,
fact Of their infatuation. however, bu
in the fact that Josh and Tom were
partners-ioint owners of a mining
claim-and to see 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,
II it had been any thing ut 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
an 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
his confidence.
The time chosen was just before they
were going to quit work for the day,
and while the scattered tools were be-
ing gathered up and put away,
''Tom," said he, '.you an me heY 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, am l hope there never win
be- Fur them reasons. I'm goin' to
speak right out in meetia', 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 gall
old Bill Bushnell's lass-an', as it's
ag'in nature fur us both to marry her,
we've got to figger out some way out o
the muddle. How can we do it, Tom,
SOS so keep squar' friends an do jestice
! 20 each feller's love an to Mol?"
Toms 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 max
ing any immediate reply.
''It's hard nut to crack, Josh, said
he, at length; 'what would you sug-
gest?n
swell, 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?"
Again Tom meditated, and pulled
vigorously at his pipe.
''It'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 nix the cuts; short
one and long one, an I'll try my luck
on 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, ''here goesi
don't wish you emmy harm, pard, but
hope I'll get the long one. /"
''You don't, thought cried Tom, tri-
umphantly, casting the remaining stick
10 the ground you've got the short
one, an lose!"
Hold on! What are you throwin'
that cut away for, afore see it? Bet
yer life, Pm goin' to compare them
sticks afore give inr' exclaimed Josh.
"Oh, WELL" said Tom, impatiently,
here's the stick l throwed down, an
you see it's half an inch the longest"
mo, you don't, Tom WiIlisF' cried
Josh. THAT amt the one you flung
away. Here it is, an it's shorter'n
mine by big oddsF'
Bah! you can't come it over me like
That, Josh Fieldsm returned the other,
holly. I'D be a man If l war you, an
not try to sneak out o. the thing in that
wayr'
'See 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 was fngerin' the
two cuts afore 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"
-You lie, cuss your retorted Tom,
boiling over with anger. ''You hain't
the sand to acknowledge you're beat,
an ye're tryin' sneakin' game on mer'
''You talk like tarnal fcoll'' blurted |
Josh, also losing his temper. 4tYou
tried robbih' game y'self, an now,
when you're caught at it, you squealr'
''Liari'' Kissed Tom, Selling a hand
Z drill lying at his feet, and raising it,
! menacingly, over his partners head.
Say that again an, pard or no pard,
. III brain YEP
well, you did, an you know IT. You