Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-10

not long in learning that while she
| only wanted one of them, they all
! wanted her.
/ Here was a dilemma, for though she
| had carried three pieces of coal in
her pocket for many days, she was
still quite unable to decide which she
| liked best. Her hesitation induced
| mild suggestion from her uncle, and
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
1 tiers to a crisis and asked Sally Ann
to marry him. She, in the depths or
her indecision, answered, ST want to
marry one of you, but can't make up
my mind which to take"
Nick left the house that night, deep
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.
sNow," he said, sthis is my idea.
We be's all of a size about, and we'se
all want the girl Then he proposed
his plan. 'ThatU settle it, and there
won't be no more fuss about it; what
dye say?"
eft do be good plan, indeed, lad, =
said Tom Williams, "and I'll be with
you. There do be no use waiting.
neither, so I'll be ready tomorrow
latter work, back of the old Katydid.'
'What dye say, me laddie buck? ?"
cried Martin to DOORS.
"Well, you fellers can do what ye
want" was the answer, "but I amt
goin' to make a fool of myself like
that
ooh, golly, my!"
"Lsten to him, will ye?"
These ordinations 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 ye're afraid"
It 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
| hdUyOiu DIcdkSI, WAS d qu1cC SHOb Oj1
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 a spot from which she
could see everything and not be seen.
The old breaker offered an excellent
- f. .;o1--
ETY. and blaskened steps she climbed
and carefully making her way past
the rusty crushers, and by the long
about so feet above the ground, which
commanded a view of the mountain
back of the breaker.
1t was shortly after six when VIII
liams and Martin with their friends
arrived and joined the crowd which
had 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 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 q
proud look of satisfaction and cried
''Leddies, kids and gents, 1 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 arc the stakes, what are the
stakes, Sandy boy?" called out some
), one, loosely.
!. Sandy continued gravely, "The gent
I that wins this ere fight will have the
privilege of marrying Sally Ann, which
> yer all know
i "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 OF
S from her window, fascinated by tn,
scene and eager for what was coming
J. All this was new to her and sh.
watched every movement intently
The men stepped to the center ant
= shook hands, and in a moment, Will
clinched fists and arms advanced
; were slowly circling around eaci