Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-11-21

ence meeting of the Have Another"
Club was called to order. The unique
Liar" Strengthened himself up and the
"Man-who-tells- fish-stories" yawned
visibly.
This l might say" continued the
speaker, "is q tale about a wedding
that had variations. Indeed, the yari-
atoms are the best part Of the story.
1t is an anecdote that mingles hui
NOR with pathos, and prison cells
with prayer. But on the whole it's
a good story" There was a pause for
q moment until an attempted jibe Of
the low comedians had been sup
pressed and then the Westerner re-
sumed:
II was working at the time for a
big furniture firm in Colorado Springs
and | travelled all Over the state TAX
ing orders. When we sold a bill Of
goods on credit it was u rule to
take a chattel mortgage against the
purchasers property to secure our
selves. In case Of non-payment the
mortgage entitled us to sell the de-
linQuent out. AS ! had been working
pretty hard of late l decided one day
to take a short vacation.
Accordingly l saddled up my pony
and started out for the mountains.
i spent some pleasant days among
the prospectors and finally rode up
10 Ute Pass. Up in these parts there
used to be a famous summer resort
that had gradually fallen into decay.
What had been once the TRUSTING spot
OF wondering tourists was now a typi-
cal mountain town with inhabitants
of the most primitive type. The old
hotel buildings were still standing,
but the occupants Of them no longer
laid in wait TO fleece the summer
visitor. l happened to remember as
i approached the place that a wOman
up in one of the old hostelries owed
US a bill that was long overdue.
Thinking that l might as well COM
bine business with pleasure l con-
Guided to go up and pay her a visit.
When within the outskirts Of the
town l noticed that something I'M
usual was on foot. Excitement was
In the morning air. Men were o
ing about with Winchesters in their
hands and looks of determination in
their eyes. 1t didn't take me long to
find out what was the matter, for as
i drew up rein on the main street a
mountGineer rushed up to me and ex-
claimed:
"'Say. stranger, we unS would like
ter bOrrie yer boss eff yer hes no OBJ
iections.'
whats up?' l inquired.
"'Why, sum varmint broke inter
Their post offs last night an we II
es a goin' ter chase him a bit down
Their trail
~ declined TO lend my animal and
my new friend left me after telling
me hat l better stay around a bit
till the fun began.
Accordingly | put my pony in n
Of the hotel sheds and sauntered to
the house presided Owe by the land
lady who owed me the bill. My in
teryiew with the woman proved any
thing but satisfactory. She had no
money and she didn't know when
she would have any. She said she
could not accommodate me with a o
and altogether she impressed me with
the idea hat she was anxious to get
rid Of me as soon as possible. Her
motive was beyond my reason. Con
SlupTl1E the ldCI tndt l. Huh pdpSlS
on which | could turn her out of house
and home for nOn-payment | should
have thought that she would want
to %conciliate ne instead of raising
my Ire. SO | walked down the street
20 plan my next move The first man
] ran into was MY old friend Amherst
the Pinkerton man, down at the
Springs.
81 HILL Nrtl s.hnt hpinrC Won
here2''
"Postofice robbery was the laconic
answer.
I'VE stopped and chattcd for n few
minutes, and | told him of the frost
/ had experienced up at the hotel.
oh. that's all right said Amherst,
the old lady's daughter is going to he
married tonight, and | guess she
didn't want you around. But, say, go
up and see her again, and make her
give you a room for two. III stay
with you over night
"In n few minutes, by dint Of SUM-
dry bluffs. | managed 10 @ h
desired room. The madam also told
me that she had some cattle out in
the mountains somewhere. and that L
might 60 out and round up enough tn
uldht EbDu TIA i'ui o'f
was entirely satisfactory.
The conversation turning to the sub
feet Of the wedding, | soon learned
that the groom was to be the consta-
BILE. He seemed to be about n mixture
Of ignorant mountaineer and country
dolt, as much as anything else.
In view OF the approach
ing nuptials he had temporarily
turned over the duties of high con-
stable to his prospective father-in-law.
The latter, clothed in all the dignity
of his new honors, was out leading the
posse that was chasing the postofhce
thief"
Toward evening the representatives
Of the law and order returned with a
prisoner who, 1t seems, was a tender
foot. Captors and captive only arrived
as the wedding was abnit to start II
the young man vas locked up In a
room while the guests proceeded to the
parior.
'sThe bride turned out to be a real
pretty young girl, of about eighteen
years. and she was attired In the most
-nwu01rS ctvla n hos ayer DQpn nv