The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-07-17
A PRACTICAL JOKE


Passing q farmhouse near by. he made
eyes 10 girl on the veranda. and her
father, seeing II all. ordered his daugh-
ter into the house
Harry came on into camp aglow
with excitement and was soon telling
US what had happened. He admitted
he had become smitten with the lady's
charms and was satisfied she was des-
perately In love with him.
We all deeply sympathized with him.
and one OF Us suggested 70 him that IL
he wished to write TO the girl we would
contrive In some way TO deliver the
letter and gee a reply II possible. Har-
~ jumped az this at once. and on he
went to write the letter.
In a day or two another letter was
written by Harry and soon as possible
delivered and a reply received. In the
course OF ten days some four or FIVE
letters were sent and replied 10. In his
last he insisted ON a meeting, II only
for few minutes-begged her 20 ar
range one Immediately. In her reply
the lady said she was willing-eager.
In fact-but her father and brothers
We're suspicious and watched her very
closely. However, for his sake she
would take great risks. At O'Clock
that night she said she would try TO
slip away from the house and go 20 a
certain peach tree that was In the field
back OF the house.
In the meantime we had induced n
young soldier who was small. slim and
beardless 10 help us. The country was
secured and n woman's dress and sun
bonnet secured and all preparations
made. A short time after dark Blan-
ton was noticed to slip out OF camp
and move toward the field. The night
was dark. and he went slowly, but he
finally reached the designated tree,
and, sure enough, after few minutes
waiting his beloved came tripping 10
the trusting spot. The conversation
was carried on In whispers and they
were having n sweet time when gun
was suddenly fired near them from the
direction OF house and a mans voice
nngrily exclaimed: "Oh, you scoundrell
| intend to kill you
The pair were terrified, and the girl
fell to sobbing, telling Harry her IA
Their would nearly XIII her and 1t would
be torment for her 70 live at home
after that, and, oh. she was so mlser-
able. Blanton broke out In q cold per-
spiratlon. What was 20 be, done? He
had an ideal And after whispering n
few words 10 the girl cllnging 10 him
the pair turned and sped across the
field toward the camp. the brother fol-
lowing as best he could In the dark
and swearing loudly what he meant TO
do when he caught them. Harry and
his girl reached the fence, cleared II
In second and hurried on 10 camp.
Just before reaching there they ran
upon several OF us taking walk. just
by accident. OF course. In that dlrec-
ton. An explanation followed. Harry
asked us 10 help him.
After talking II over hurriedly II was
decided that the only course left was
for Blanton TO marry the girl. and ne
once, 10 which the pair agreed A prop
er soldier was hunted up to act as
the minister. and Blanton and the girl.
who had been carried into tent, were
now brought out. told 10 join hands
and stand In front OF the minister and
by the dim light OF the campfire the
marriage ceremony proceeded. IL pro-
ceeded so far as to secure Harry's af-
firmative response. but no further, for
at that point shout was heard and up
rushed the brother OF the girl. shout
ing and swearing, hunting for Harry
Blanton whom he meant 10 Kill
The half married couple were hur-
ried into tent by some OF the boys,
while the rest OF them gathered around
the half brother-in-lnw, explained mat
tiers 70 him and tried 10 pacify him
But nothing would do He meant "a
kill Blanton. He consented, however.
after much argument with him. 10 give
Bianton n chance by lighting n duel
with him then and there. Blanton was
not spelling for n fight. but with great
reluctance he consented. He was
brought out, placed near the campfire
and pistol put In his hand His oppo-
nent stood opposite him
The word Ready was called and
then Fire.! There were two reports,
and the half brother-in-law fell to the
ground. and some one told Banton he
was shot through the breast and was
dying Blanton was Mortified. At his
query Of what 20 do he was told TO
leave for the upper country; otherwise
be would probably he court martialed
and shot The heartbroken wife bade
hirl sorrowful goodby, and he III out,
horribly bewildered.
Now. his only and direct way out
was 90 cross Johnson's bayou az n
bridge about fourteen miles distant.
AZ this bridge was stationed guard
a fact Blanton was not aware of-for
the purpose OF OBTAINING deserters,
spies, etc About daylight the guards
discovered man approaching, whom
they promptly arrested. " proved 90
be Harry Blanton. and n forlorn look
Ing captive they had-tlred out, wet
"a.