The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-12-20


Once Boggs an Texas an them others
feels safe, the knowledge that the
pore old colonel must go cavortin'
across the red-hot plowshares, don't
bother 'em bit. They all likes him
plenty sincere at that. But sech is
life! They coldly leaves him to
trend the wine-press alone. an all as
onfeelin' as band of prairie dogs.
Which I don't scrupple later, to ree-
proach Boggs with this yere lack of
sympathy.
What can we-all do?' he replies.
I'm friend of the coloneps; but
what then? This is case whar every
gent must kill his own snakes. Be-
sides. l see now she's doc to make
him happy. Do you note how free
she plays them plum air-tights on
him? An no more holdin' back, than
If they're canned tomatters! Rightly
looked at, the colonels in a heap of
luck
"Enright is plumb Greet in his
count-up of the colonel. AS Boggs OBJ
serves, he's game as t'rantlers; still,
it's his sand, it's his onswervin' p'lite-
ness, an good manners that's bound to
hold him. Which said trooth is evil
dent, when the colonel discusses this
new an surprisin' slant in his for
tunes with Enright an Poets. This
| we're caucus occurs two days later,
after Missis Rucker offers him her
hand.
Its about second drink time in the
evenin' when the colonel, lookin' pale
An shaken, comes totterin into the
Red Light, askin' for Enright. Cher
okee Hall, with Faro Nell on the look
outs stool, is dealin' bank at the time,
an divers of us is seem what we
can do ag'inst him; but, at sight of
the coloneps face, one an all we
cashes in. Cherokee cleans up his
game, an We all gathers about to
listen.
(Which you've no objections,
colonel asks Enright, mighty urbane,
ito the camp bein' in on this powwow
none? From the rapt look in your
eyes, l sort O. guesses what joyful
things has happened, an of course
tf-bein' over-delicate, mebby, in af-
fairs OF the heart-you prefer this
confab to be private, why then, mach
orally, your wishes should be regard
ed, an privates the word
"But the colonel says he valves
privacy. The camp to man is his
friend, an plumb welcome to his con-
fidence. Hearin' which, we draws up
in silence, waitin' for him to begin.
AS we does so, Cherokee whispers to
Faro Nell that mighty likely she'd
better put on her shaker, stampede
across, an congratulate Missis Ruck-
er: which suggestion she yields to re-
luctant. preferrin' to listen to them
adventures of the coolnel.
Its this away says the colonel,
when Faro Nell is gone an every
body's organized comfortable. Which
it's Unnecessary for me to go tellin'
a passed. of sech experienced sharps
as you-all, what's took place. Suffice
it that this evenin', after supper is
over, she drives me into corner an
tells me she is mine. Now, understand,
gents all; I'm too much slave to eti-
quette, an was too we'll brought up
by my folks, to go backin' out of the
objections of any lady. Which I've
alters held that lady is not to be re-
foosed. Her heart is ever a boon;
an, once she bestows it, no gent so
distinguished is possessed of any
crooel license to thrust it aside
(Which sentiments does you
credit, colonel observes Enright, as
the comm bridegroom pauses to wipe
his for'head
That's whatever!' chimes in
Boggs, emphatic.
| mo, SIR resoomes the colonel,
when he ag'in commands himself, "a
lady is not to be declined. That is,
she's not to be declined, assoomin'
her to be free. It's on that pint, an
that alone, I've come meanderin' over
to be heard. What / asks is the one
question: Is this yere old man Ruck-
er shore dead? What I urges is that,
ontil the same be proved, I'm entitled
to a stay of execootion. 1 leaves it
all to you-to you, Enright, an to
you, Peets-do ask too much? Look
in at the play from every angle, an
keepin' it before you that my sole
reason for balkin' is reason of NOR
ality, puts it to you, as gent to gent,
whether l amt right"
This yere is a mere quibble!"
shouts Boggs, plenty heated; but En-
right, who's the soul Of fairness, stops
him.
It's impossible to deny responds
Enright, when Boggs growlin'ly sub
sides, that the proof, techin' the WHIP
in out Of Rucker, an the consequent
widowhood of his relict, is at present
some Meager. Also, I'm bound to
add, that Wolfville, as strictly moral
outfit, ain't hungerin' for no Enoch
Arden games. What's your jedg-
ment, Ooc?'
| Which 1 entertains feelin's SIM
lar returns Poets. We shore don't
want to 80 ribbin' up no sityooation,
where one lady has two husbands.