The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-10-21

and that's him over thar with the bro
ken nose.
"What ginerally happens out yere in
this land of gold and heather and hard
times when our wife runs away? If we
amt mighty glad Of it, which we most
~ be, we git on to her tracks and foller
'em till we overtake her. If she's alone,
we take her by the ear and lead her
back. If she's with the critter, we pop
him over. Thar amt no law in the case,
but the custom is purity we'll known.
The man who steals another man g wife
expects to be popped by the injoored
husband, and he likewise expects to pop
that same injoored husband if he gifts
the chance.
'"Tom Jones didn't pursoo. Thar was
the broad trail before him, and he had
guns and knives and boss, but he
hadn't the sand He jest comes a hump
in down yere to boiler fur the law and
shrek fur jestice, and to git all men,
includin this court, down on him fur
his doggoneness. His wife, who ar that
female over thar, with a mouth as big
as bar'l, had gone off with Abe Skin
ner, as aforesaid, and had headed fur
this very camp. As they flies from Big
Find they. meets up with Jim Hope,
who's the cuss over thar with the game
leg and one eye gone Jim he stops 'em
and seq:
"'Abe Skinner, what yo' got there?'
"a female.
"'Who is she?'~
"'Tom Jones' wife.
"And what yo' a-doin with her?'
"'A-runnin away to Sandy Bend.
"'Then you needn't 60 no furder.
I've bin wantin wife fur the last six
months, and I reckon I'll take her off
your hands.
"Waal," continued his honor, Jim
Hope he had his gun plump on Abe
Skinner and his finger on the trigger,
and Abe had to give in. This yere court
can't Farm that the woman objected tc
the change. On the contrary. thar il
evidence that she didn't keer a CONT
mental, as Jim Hope is better lookir
critter than Abe Skinner. The couple
heads this way by the trail, while Abe
Skinner takes a short cut and arrives
Justly and comes to me to yell fur jes
tice. Thar's two fellers a-yellin fu1
jestice, and a third one with the WON
an. The woman gifts yere in doc time
along with Jim Hope, and over by TIT
creek they meets Joe Scott, who stop'
to say:
Jim Hope, I was jest goin out tt
hunt fur one.
"'What ye mean to do?'
"'I want a female woman fur {
wife, and you git down and skip
"Thar was a gun on Jim, and he hat
to give the woman up. This court can !
1'arn that she shed tear or did any
kickin, but Jim he comes whoopil
down to me and wants law and jestic'
and all that. That makes three of 'en
a-wantin, and SO tells the constable t,
arrest Joe and the woman. Yere's fou
men and one woman, and the law pear
to be purity badly tangled up. Fustly
Tom Jones, is this woman your wife?'
"Sartin she is answered Tom.
"Hev yo' got dockments to prove it?'
L
Territory var ago."
"Waal, this yere court has nuthin
do with the Injun Territory, and tina
marriage won't stand yere onless tn
woman wants it to. Mrs. Jones, as
will call ye, what made ye run ava
from TOMB"
"Got tired of him." replied the VIC
man.
"Do ye prefer Jim Hope or Joe Scott?'
Il amt pertickler.
''That makes the case easier. Han
Williams, stand up!"
Hank stood up and proved to be
middle aged man of decent appearance
blank, dye want wife?' asked til
cosrt.
II dew" was the reply.
"Then I'll marry ye to this woman
Both Of ye stand up yere.
"But 1 say married her!'spersiste
Tom Jones'
II know ye say so, but the Inju
Territory don't 60 yere What we is al
ter is1estice fur all hands. The woma
didn't like ye and skipped. Ye didn'
go arter her and pop over Abe Skinne,
and so ye've lost her. fine ye $40 fu
disturbin the court. Jim Hope, ye too
the woman from Abe Skinner by fore
of arms and then lost her to Joe Scot!
Ye want jestice, and I'll fine ye sac
Joe Scott, ye leveled gun on Jim Hop
and made him gin up the woman, an
the constable had to arrest ye. I CUES
fine of $15 will hit you >
"I'm gin it!'' shouted the three me
in chorus.
"That makes no difference" ar
swered his honor. "The fines stanc
and yell hev to pay. Hank Williams
will We take this deluded woman to t
yer lawful wife?"
"You bet!'
"And will you cherish and defen
her and keep all other critters off?''
II will
"Mrs. Jones, ye hear what the critic
SEE. Ye may be married, and ye ma
not, but this court amt a-goin to ru