Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-03-09

lie Jest come at me with both hans, an
we clinched ag'in, an down we went IN
a pile mn laid thar pantin an clinchin
fur about a mint. when thought I'd
give him another trial, so I lei 10, an
we both staggered to our feet.
"'Got 'nough2 2 says l.
Not ha'f. Gays he.
"'Do 80 still think ye'ro the best
manG'
"T'm a better man than ye ever
dared TO be. says he.
"'All right. says I. spittin in my
hans. here goes to prove It., an at it
we went ag'in. Ye know Ben's arms IL
Jest a leetle but longer'n mine. an he
could tech me afore l could git in a lick,
when we stood square mp to each other.
SO Iswung round my lef' han. an as he
flung out Bis right to ketch the lick l
peeled him side nv the head with my
right an Knocked him into the middle
nv the road.
ale stood thar sorter dazed fur q ha'f
a mint. an her he charged ram sheep
fashion an butted me in the stummick,
an the lick knocked the breath out'n
me. As ] sorter doubled over from the
lick he struck me n sorter g%luncin blow
on the head. an ducked an ketched
him round the middle an flung him
over my head.
"'Purty good fur you. Bill, hearn
some un say, an. glancin round. seed
pap settin on the fence a-grinnin from
year to year. While l had my 'tention
drawed to the ole man Ben tuck the
vantage nv me an give me a lick in the
burr nv the year that made me see seb-
en- stars.
81 wheeled round IN peeled him ia
the uouth an knocked two NV his teeth
put. He stopped to spit, when l lit into
him fur all be war wo'th. Ye see, 1
knowed that pap war watchin us. an
whichever got the wo'st nv it'd halter
settle with the ole man. Hiram. /
fetched a jump an struck Ben right an
lef'. an he went over back'ards, but as
he went be carried me with him, an
then | felt somothin come down on my
right thumb an knowed Ben had it in
his mouth.
81 tried to jerk loose, but he friz to
that thumb wos't'n one NV these ere
thunder cooters what don't turn loose
Their grip tell it thunders. l knowed
somethin had to be done. so | reached
round with my left han an grabbed mp
a han'ful nv sand, an l begun to cram
it into Ben's eyes.
'OuchG yelled Ben. 'Lemmo up
I've got 'nough.
still think ye're the best manH'
axed.
'Lerlme up; I'm satisfied.
$50 ] let him so. an we both set back
an looked Mt each other fur bout a
mint. neither one NV us havin breath
'nough TO speak.
I'VE haint a'-9winter set up thar
on the fence any mo an suck yer teeth
at me. says L.
Ben looked sullen and c~owedlike, but
he shuck his head. Then l knowed the
grudge war settled. But ye jest orter
a-seed US. Ben's nose an lips war
swellcd 3 If he'd ben through a yeller
jackets nest. His eyes wal bloodshotter.
an his cio'es war nigh bout tore off'n
him. My lef' eye war closed an my
thumb war a plumb sight. al my shirt
war ripped clean down to my wais'ban'.
an thar we sot like two badly bunged
up ROSTERS.
Il 'Git up. ye young raakils,' says
pap. AN go down to the branch an wash
yerselves. Ye amt SIGH bad grit, a'ter
all. feel ruther proud Nv yei Mex
time ye wantcr try yer spunk jump on
to somebody what's not in the family.
Hits ag'in' the rules fur the Forresters
to fight 'monSst each other, an then
he tnrned an walked off mp tho road
whistlin his favorite chune when he
feels right good. y. T. McVuy in st.
Louis Globe Democrat