Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-03-11
nd together they sought the fore

and together they sought the fore
man.
"Milt, do you know Mary Rogers,
down the river2'
Reckon Go. Knowed her sence
she want any ttllern a Week-old
calf"
We'll, it's like this: Mean Tonys
both c,:sin,in the right to put Il bransl
on her fe.:s .iifs'> "a w~can' settle who
has tie lest .!.o,v fur ropln the title
c1itte2', So VIC W. ssg,reed to leave it all
to you, arse.:. yuuya heard both of
us. We
',Pe:ll Up right thar, Mat the fore
man said. L can help you settle
business matters, a., I'm always glad
to do it, but You can't rop. me into
no gal scrape. Settle your own love
affairs"
He walked away. leaving the two
rivals facing each other III anger.
No use talkin: this things got to
be settled, Tony said You made
a proposition an it wouldn't work.
Now, I'll make one. Well both of
us pack our war bags. saddle our
hosses an tie EN- to that corral fence.
Then We'll go i'll the corral an fight
it out, an the one at gifts licked far
an square'n git on his hoss and pull
out fur some other range, laavin the
other ya1' to git the gal.
Thar aint nothin crooked bout
that, an I'll go YOU" Mat replied.
Lets pack our traps" p"
Going to their sleeping quarters
they packed their worldly effects in
the long sacks used by cowboys in
lieu of valises, and which are known
in the lingo Of the range as war
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 for
great purse ever faced each other
with a more determined look in their
eyes than did these qrondam friends
as they stood ready to begin their
desperate battle for love They shook
hands, each reiterated his promise to
leave the country if defeated, and
the struggle began.
They were every matched in size
and pugilistlc skill, and for fully 20
minutes neither seemed to have
gained any noticeable advantage
They fought with the fury of tigers
Blood strcanled from each of their
faces, for their blows were dealt I'M
sparingly and with the utmost mus
cular violence.
Round and round the corral they
fought, now one PROSTATE by blow,
ROW the other. They were both be-
coming exhausted, and neither felt
sure of. the victory Gathering all
his remaining strength. Mat dealt
Tony a fearful blow between the
eyes ard fe!!ed him like an OK. For
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.
Il amt 10 hog, Mat. Reckon
know wen I've got enough
'*Do you give it up. Tony2'
Yes"
'.Ihar's yer hoss."
Tony staggered to his horse, and
when mounted reached out lis hand
and said:
.'Goodby, Mat. I'm man o my
word, an I'm agoin to ride. Don't tell
her noth1,1 bout this. I shan't pack
away no hard feelin's to'rd you, an
We'll be friends1f If we ever meet agin. y
'.Thar's my hand, Tony I'll allus
think we'll o you. Goodby and good
luck to you"
And Tony rode away to the north
ward
It was two weeks before Mat got
lis 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 sears
on his face and the slight discolora
ton vet remaining about his eyes.
WAITS the matter o your face,
Mat? Bin ascrappin with some
body?'
mo; broncho busted me-
AS it was no unusual thing for a
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 Nary
Gone to Roswell. Didn't you
hear2"
No. Hear w'at?''
Gone to git married Pop went
along
"l1arrled!'' he gasped. Who to-"
''Milt Carter, Of course. You see,
they've bin engaged long time, an
weall thought it war best to git the
thing over with before the fall round
up begins. They're goin to live at
the I x till hIilt puts up a house on
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 x 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 bis
partner from ranch to ranch. At
last, away up in the Conchas river,
L. I L.: Ill