The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-05-30
liked best. Her hesitation induced .

L
numerous well directed and exceed
ingly blunt hints from his wife
These, coupled with the attentions
of the three young men, drove Sally
Ann almost to despair.
At last Nick Martin brought MAJ.
ters to a crisis and asked Sally Anu
to marry him. She, in the depths o,
her indecision, answered, II want tn
marry one of you, but can't make up
my mind which to take"
Nick left the house that night, deev
in thought, and impressed with what
he thought great idea. The next day
when the shifts changed at the mines
he called Dooris and Williams to him,
and explained the situation.
"Now," he said. "this is my idea.
We be's all of a size about. and we'se
all want the girl" Then he proposed
his plan. 'That1l settle it, and there
won't be no more fuss about it; whit
dye say?"
at do be good plan. indeed, lad ''
said Tom Williams, land I'll be with
you. There do be no use waiting.
neither, SO I'll be ready tomorrow
| after work. back of the old Katydid."
What dye say, me laddie buck?''
cried Martin to Dooris.
well, you fcllers can do what W
want" was the answer. but / amt
goin' to make a fool of myself like
that"
"Oh, golly. my"
Listen to him. will YEP"
These exclamations of contempt
greeted his decision, and Martin con-
tinued. "Well, you're out of it, then;
she won't have nothin' to do with You
after she hears we're afraid"
1t was not until late the next morn
ing that Sally Ann heard about it,
for the men had made no secret of
their intention, and as their plan was
universally applauded by the people
of the Patch the news soon spread
and everybody was anxious for the
appointed time.
The place selected, back of the old
Katydid breaker, was a quiet spot on
the mountain just above Brandy
Patch, and there Sally Ann, eager to
see the affair, and rather proud that
she was the sole cause of such an
unusual proceeding, made her way
early in the afternoon with the inten-
ton Of finding spot from which she
could see everything and not be seen.
The old breaker offered an excellen.
place of concealment and up its rick
ETY. and blackened steps she climbed
and carefully making her way past
the rusty crushers, and by the long
abandoned shutes, reached a window
about so feet above the ground, which
commanded q view of the mountain
back of the breaker.
1t was shortly after six when Will
liams and Martin with their friends
arrived and Joined the crowd which
lad already assembled. Preparations
were quickly made. A hollow square
was formed by the people, two blocks
Of wood were placed in opposite cor
ners and q pail of water near each
man Sally Ann from her vantage
point viewed all these proceedings
with extreme interest.
Then Williams and Martin, who had
been taken to the old boiler house,
appeared. Each was stripped to the
waist, and their muscles. hardened
by years of toll in the mines, stood
out boldly and defantly on their
splendid arms and chests. The men
passed into the square and were
roundly cheered as they seated them
selves in the corners. "Sandy" Griffin,
taking upon himself the duties o;
master of ceremonies, stepped to the
center. He looked around with
proud look of satisfaction and cried.
"Leddies, kids and gents, I take the
happiness of introducing to We Tom
my Williams and Nick Martin. what
do be here ter fight ter finish and
may der best man win"
what are the stakes, what are the
stakes, Sandy boy?' called out some
one, loosely.
Sandy continued gravely, "The gent
that wins this ere fight will have the
privilege of marrying Sally Ann, which
yer all know"
"Hurrah for Sally Ann" shouted
the crowd.
"And," went on Sandy. "ef he do be
a real gent he'll invite all on us to the
wedding and have plenty of beer"
"You bet he will, Sandy" yelled the
crowd.
Meanwhile Sally was looking on
from her window, fascinated by the
scene and eager for what was coming.
All this was new to her and she
watched every movement intently.
The men stepped to the center and
shook hands, and in moment, with
clinched fists and arms advanced
were slowly circling around each
other, with set muscles, every nerve
tense and eyes alert. Now Williams
left arm flew out, but Martin spraag