The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-04-11
I"IetIs pack our trans :.

Going to their sleeping quarters,
they packed their wo 'dly effects in
the long sacks used by cowboys IN
lieu of yalises, and which are known
in the lingo OF the range as .'waI
bags This task completed. they
saddled their horses, tied the bags
behind the saddles and secured the
animals to the corral fence.
No two pugilists about to battle fo1
a great purse ever faced each other
with more determined look in their
eyes than did these quondam friends
as they stood ready to begin thei1
desperate battle for love. They shook
hands, each reiterated his promise tc
leave the country if defeated, and
the struggle began.
They were evenly matched in size
and pugihstic skill, and for fully q
minutes neither seemed to have
gained any noticeable advantage
They fought with the fury of tigers
Blood streamed from each of theil
faces, for their blows were dealt un
sparingly and with the utmost mus
cular violence.
Round and round the corral they
fought, now one PROSTATE by a blow
now the other. They were both be
coming exhausted, and neither fell
sure of the victory. Gathering al
his remaining strength, Mat dealt
Tony a fearful blow between the
eyes and felled him like an OK. Fol
a moment the PROSTATE man seemed
stunned, then regained his feet and
staggered toward his antagonist. A
similar blow, and once again he went
violently down.
81 amt no hog, Mat. Reckon
know wen I've got enough"
DO you give it up, Tony2"
"Yes."
'Thar's yer hoss"
Tony staggered to his horse, an6
when mounted reached out his hand
and said:
"Goodby, Mat. I'm a man o. my
word, an I'm agoin to ride. Don't tel
her nothin bout this. shan't pack
away no hard feelin's to'rd you, an
we'll be friends if we ever meet agin.
'Thar's my hand, Tony. I'll allus
think well o you. Goodby and goo5
luck to you"
And Tony rode away to the north
ward.
1t was two weeks before Mat goi
his battered face in presentable shape
to visit the prize which had cost him
a desperate battle. He was welcomed
by Mrs. Rogers, who noted the scars
on his face and the slight discolora
ton yet remaining about his eyes.
Watts the matter o. your face,
Mat2 Bin a-scrappin with some
body2"
''No; broncho busted me-"
As it was no unusual thing for 6
cowboy to be thrown and injured by
a vicious broncho, the woman said
nothing more on the subject. Mat
sat uneasily for half an hour, bored
by Mrs. Rogers voluble talk, his eyes
turning toward the door at every
sound. Finally he asked:
''Whar's Mary7"
Gone to Roswell Didn't you
hearY"
mo. Hear watt"
Gone to git married. Pop went
along"
Married." he gasped. "who tor
'Milt Carter, of course. You see
they've bin engaged long time, an
we all thought it war best to git the
thing over with before the fall round
up begins. They're goin to live al
the 7 x till Milt puts up a house OIL
his claim down the river"
Mat didn't even pause to say good
by. Rushing from the house, he
sprang into the saddle, rode hurried
ly back to the T Z and packed his
war bag. At daybreak the next morn
ing he took the trail leading to the
northward.
Day after day he rode, tracing his
partner from ranch to ranch. Al
last, away up in the Conchas river
he found him riding for the Bell Cat
tie company.
Good God, Mat, ar that your"
Its sure me, Tony. Same o.
chums, amt we, Tony2"
''Sure. But-but- -MaryY"
went an married Milt afore
could coil my rope an git throw al
her. She war one O. them cocats
Tony"
"Yes2"
Yes, darned cocat. Jack Craw
ford in Frank Leslie's.