The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-26
Fighting for sail.

"IIow came you TO lose II? l asked.
was on d hunting tour out III the
"Rockies;" II was my guide l addressed
and the subject of the inquiry was the
better half OF his left ear.
In a fair hght.' was the reply.
81 trust | have given no offence /
FASTENED to say.
Not the leastest, Mr.. Spra"le!' lor
know you didn't mean ter.
made no reply, but left 1t to Mr.
scru0 more fully 10 explain or not as
he chose. the circumstances attending
the loss of his ear
He appreciated the delicacy; and after
a swig from his ticker OF whisky ana
snakeroot. first offered 10 myself and de-
cllned-principally. honesty compels me
10 add. on account OF the snakerooI-
my companion proceeded.
Me an SHE Budd, you see, was Dotn
courtin' Sail Bowler II was hard TO tell
which on US she give the most encour-
agement 10.
"Old Bowler seemed to like us both;
an when me an Sled happen TO go TO
see sail on the same evenin', as CHANGED
poorly often, the old man'd set up 10
keep the peace atween us; an thar we
three'd set a-talkin' and abusin' the
weather an the neighbors till Said git
tired an slip off 10 bed-arter which me
and SLED pick up our hats an leave
parting at the door without biddin one
another good night.
after a while things began TO run
down i'm the settlement. Fust they 0uilt
n courthouse, an then a schOolhouse an
a. soon as they got a schOolmarster TO
come. darned ef the game didn't seem 10
git as skeered as the boys did. Soon you
couldn't cit a crack at ennythng big
ger'n a gray squirt or a wild turkey.
"The schoOlmarster was hlaluun
chan. He wore store close. talked out o
the dixenerry, an boarded round with
the scholars. He soon larnt the best
places TO bunk at. an one o tho BEST
he seemed 10 think, was old Bowlers.
Three nights In the week the marster
was 10 be found thar sittin' up TO Sail.
but lettin' on he'd come home with her
brother Bill to help him out In long
division
'ATe an sile Budl sarv.d separate no.
dices on the cuss to the effec' that EFF
he didn't mind hin eve we'd sev'rally
hung IL. He thanked Us individually for
the politeness said he was non-comoy-
tant an besides that he didn't mean
nothin'.
"Blmeby the schoolmarster begun 10
take a shine TO me. he took an thirst
in huntin.'' he said. an wanted me to
teach MINI
lone day. when was shown him
how 10 draw a bead. he broke me of sud
denly. 90
SEE ne.
Nc. I don't SEE l.
"'He seq he can lick you seq the
schooimarster.
Tiles a lar seq |. AN he knows It,
81 never like 10 make mischief SEE
the schoolmarster; L only repeat what
Sle SEE.
"'WilI you see him soonY seq I.
"'Thls evenln. prob'ly.' seq he.
VIII you take him Il messIdge from
me?' SEE 7.
Ito obieege you seq he
"'Wall, you jest tell him. seq I. that
Tobe Scruff says he can whip the cOnslte
out o. the best Budd that ever Dragged
SEE /.
"I'u tell him. SEE the schoomarster.
80 obleege you: but I wouldn't be the
means OF maxim mischief for ennything'
.'The schoomarster kept his word
punctooal. an a poorly sassy verbal cor
resDondence sprung up atween Sile and
me. the schoolmarster actin as postman.
"The upshot was. we agreed n ncet
an lrht It out Il the crossroads, one
Saturday afternoon.
ION the app'inted day. with the excep-
ton OF the sick an afflicted. most every
man, woman. an child In the settlemenl