Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-04-18

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,,,,, ws'l, good lnercyl now ain't that bean.
si NJ cried Miss I.etsy indignantly.
YER me- said Steve per.
.s,.p.., amer moments reflection
-, s.S q .hare a.rendy saddled an bridled
use Ter stay mt home when YER hin ,, saer
right on her an go straight ter tber . Jan'
winch hits pity ter miss fer n feIIor, ~.
nkes Ticker bettel'n promise" -
. MISS Betsy locked anxiously up tbar
then " lstfuly down it. 'oao'
Hit must be ticker WAITS keepi,, "a
c,sen LED ha' been yere fore thisp ~
said in hesitation. 'nis' she
"a ioiks Is a-goin' they'd ouehter he ~
t .n.r way Thar" said Pap" Scrugrs he Sa
tween the puffs of bis cobpipe. and &C.,
A .say, ouuressing his remarks to spaoe
iney say ez hits powerful b;g sho, y
:.;rhs. oeeve with aluring impressiyeness
mars ever single varmint on tina v,t'.s,.
nce tner yearth yer kin see. an, ridin, ~,
sumDhn' an dedicated dogs. till verdi IL.
A m, at EN- cuttin' up Their shines
Inc picture was a most allurin0 ono
rap I'm a-goin' weth Mr.. Trowar
mats Jes wat ] am" said Betsy. eatber'
ing up her riding skirt. e'
ruhy an hour later Grove Hacket r,a.
Up 10 the Scruggs homestead He was
s.iu under the influence Of liuuor ma
debauch. Vi a nights
when he learned that Miss BETSY had
sone away some time before in the com.
pany VI steve Trower, he turned abont
wlenout word. and giving his horse 4 sav
Hs. ~. WIN switch, galIoped back in the
'Ilar's UOin, IN H.
Steve an Grove jes' bout this ys-y ,h, WIZ
muttered Pap" Scruggs AZ he sIo,ni,,s
traced his steps to the horse d,,I'a,,a,..
shaking his head as he went,
some two weeks after this ;,c;do,,.
Racket was out one day with his riae fnr
the purpose of bagging some game ana
hiso 20 Ireshen up a bit after his long
spree. he had learned from Bill Warner
IN moment OF maudlin confidence. of tho
part DIS rival had played in the matter ~
MS recent spree, and desire for revenge
burned hercc within him. He had also
possessed himself Of the idea that Misc
BETSY Scruggs was willing abettor in the
shaboy trick that had been PLAYED him
and his feelings were undergoing that
strange process by which hatred can be
finally evolved from love.
he had seen neither Of the parties since
and it was with surprise that he came sud
denly upon Steve Trower taking a bath in
one OF the shady pools of creek whose
source was in the higher hills beyond
Groves presence was no less unexpected
to the bather They looked at each other
In silence for a moment, Steve standing in
water up to his waist and Grove on the
bank above him.
The bank was a little overhanoinp at
this point, and Steve, with apparent indif
ference, moved slowly toward it, each step
bringing the water farther up on his body
ana placing him more in the shelter of the
bank.
Grove was not oblivious to this, and
slowly raising his rife to his shoulder said.
stop right thar"
While the words were ominous the action
was more SO, and Steve's head involunta-
rily disappeared under the water like a
loon which had espied foe.
Presently he came up within little dis
lance of where he had disappeared, while
Grove, with a grotesque leer, deliberately
brought his gun to bear upon him again,
and Steve AS promptly ducked his head
under the water
This odd performance was repeated sew
eral times, until Steve began to show I'M.
mistakable signs of fatigue. painting and
blowing as he came to the surface
As yet no word had been spoken
"Gittin' skeerce o. wind, is YEP" demand
ed Grove with exultant satisfaction. Eyer
thieyin' skunk, Pm nigh a mind ter make
yer drown yer trifiin' carkis | hev Dipp'
Steve promptly obeyed
Again and again Grove compelled him to
go down under the water, each time giving
vent to loud outlaws of delight which
echoed through the valley
Between these outbursts of merriment
Grove kept up running commentary:
"Lordyl Lordy! this is heap sight fun
nier than Their show, hit air. Hits better'n
them dedicated animiles. Eff yer gifts a
little wet 'twon't hurt yer much. I'll git
Bill Warner ter fotch yer down some prime
ole redeye, but don't yer git on no spree,
kase yer mout not be able ter keep yer pint
ment with me. S'pose yer dip down again
that's hit-only yer mustn't keep yer
noggin under Their water so long, fer Pm
feared yer health'll be so porely yer can't
go down ter Dry Crick Settlement mex
show day, which would be powerful on
fortunit on Miss Betsy Scruggs, now
wouldn't hits Nus yer dip down agn?
Well, don't stay thar long, fer | want ter
see yer purity face soon. Here yer come up
Now s'posen yer try divin onct more-hit
sorter minds me of a turkle slippin' often a
log DANCED eff this haint sight better'n
any show ever seed Hal hal ha, how he
kin dive"
Finally, utterly exhausted and breath
less, Steve caught hold of the barred roots
of u tree projecting out over the water.
"Ef yer air goin' ter shoot, why, shootP
he cried sullenly. Whats ther use o
foolin'?"
"Tain't none" answered Grove laconic
ally, Though hit do look like pity ter
spile nice love match, liken yer an Miss
Betsy hev got up. I'm arter game, how
somever, an | don't low ter miss none
wat comes in my way. This air good
time, too, ter settle up some ole scores wat
hev been runnin' fer long time back"
He slowly lowered his rifle, examined the
lock carefully, then the printing ana de
liberately raised it to his shoulder again.
Ready, is yer, yer pizen headed rat
tler?" he called out to Steve, who through
all these preliminaries had maintained a
stoical bearing.
"Shoot, yer sneakin' coward! the batner
called out unfiinchingly.
The next instant the sharp report OF a
rifle rang out through the silent valley
awakening the echoes among the hills.
Grove stood and watched the spot where
Steve once more went down until the cir
cling rings widened and widened and bro Ike
upon the further bank. Then when the
troubled waters grew calm again he Slowly
shoudered his rifle and strobe away
c. Wood in Romance
A Jealous 8. p. c. A. officer.
man who was furiously driving through