Arizona republican., 1909-03-19

whats he adoin' a-ridin' araound hyer? If he was
dead I'd be pleased, and mebbe Amandy would be
none too sad neither
Old Bill rode up. He pointed his shotgun straight
at the cowboy.
Don't do thetP said Prentiss angrily The deru
ole thing might go off
But old Bill looked mighty serious. He spoke, and
Prentiss knew that this was business
"Unbuckle tibet belt o yours and let your gun fall
onto the ground" said old Bill cor I'll put double
handful OF shot into your stummick thout another
wordp
The cowboy looked at him steadily
Dye mean it. Mr.. Higginson? own you've got the
drop me-
Il mean it" said Higginson. His fierce old eyes
said so,
So Prentiss unbuckled his belt and let his gun fall
Walk away some" said old Bill When Prentiss
was twenty yards Hggnson alighted and picked
up the weapon. He belted himself with it and mounted
You'll walk ahead o me to my raynch," said old
Bill in the awful voice.
tiss as he marched Pore little Amandyl But Pm
some surprised! What'n he do? l reckon he'll likely
kill me"
It looked very like it But after half an hours steady
walk the ranch just ahead Of them.
Now we'll hear what's the difficulty" he said. And
then he two horsenen coming from the northwest
The four of them met just outside the door.
'Thess is the minister, Brother BTandraml" said
"Glad to see you. sub" said Bill grimly. 1--WE got
business for you, sub"
81 shall be glad to know why began BrandTam,
but Bill cut him short.
You'll know soon enough. MaryF
His wife cameaOut to the door.
LET ont Amandy' said her husband
Them as shut her up kin let my darter OUT said
old Mary angrily
I'm speak to you later on! woman" said Bill
George did a; he was told He broke down the
nailed 5atten and found A%1 c- with . red eyes
u won't come out said Amandy
y won't"
Tell him them shut up kin fetch me out"
said Amandy.
George repeated this to the father
"Amandy' said the old man.
There answer.
''Amandv" he roared.
-Ye-es, Paw" said the poor girl
EFF you don't KEN out befo' minutes gone. I'll kill
Billy Prentiss right herep'
The last person in Amandy's mind Billy Prem
tss; why should he kill Billy? It was very strange
"Oh KEN out. Amandy," said her mother.
Don't YOU KEN out If you don't want TO. Ar1andy,
him
I'll don't want you killed. Mr. Prentiss," said
Amandy. What hey you done?
Bill Higginson. still the pinto. and with his shot
gun covering the group. roared, Silence, and then
merry them two. sub and do it immejct" he said.
40 Paw said Amandy.
SILENCE gal" said her father.
al won't merry him." said Amandy.
Don't you if you don't want to. Amandy. said
Billy
Brother Brandrarn interviewed
eff the Young lady doesn't want to marry this young
man. l can't do it." said he
Bill lifted his gun
"You kin ard you will I'll kill you all and FIRE
The raynch and Kill the pinto, and blow my head on
"Steady" said Billy Prentiss. "Tm ready to merry
her and Amandv knows il. for I've bin askin her this
twelve months but I'd far rather perish here in my
tracks than merry her aGin her will .
'Good-by Amandy. | always loved you, said the
Amandy burst into tears
"Oh its shameful" she sobbed. 20 Paw, you shame
zone minnie zone" said old Bill
"If you don't love don't you merry me-, said
Prentiss.
'1-tke YOU some" said AE'andy. with her eyes TO
the ground
III you'd rather merry joyce or Morsa don't yo1
raind ne" said the cowboy. Il can die Amandy-
SBii. nebbe was wrong" he began
Silence" said his brother Ills too l7te for you .
be wrong It's Herriage or iTneJet di f4 ;.,.,.1
in ter ear: merry him and yor kin come and live
ny rayrch and I'll leave it 70 NO YOU when die
Three n1irutes wasted said BIZ
an r1erry YOU. Nj Prcntiss," said Ar1lndy.
do vour duty Brother Brandrari," said Bill rs he
returned the watch TO his pocket
And Brandran did his duty. in rather shaky vocr;
You're now man and wife" said he when he hal
Bill took up his parable again
"Ard now. hevin' merried her. Prcntss. you KIN
get out. and her more. For you amt
goin to reap no advantage through your wisSfI Ss
you ever more Git up and gitE
But she's my wife" said the cowboy in great
prise. Shell ken away with me-
Bill smiled an awful smile
you think So but you're of it. away of it, Prcntiss
II you don't clear I'll Kill VOC
Amandy felt that she was married woman and had
rev duties Mr.. Prcntiss had behaved nobly. She
went up to Bin shyly and stood in fro-t of MIN
HE amt goin thout me, and If you kills him you'll
hev to Kill me, too You've made merry him, Paw
ard now I'm merried. I'm merried"
"Waa. won't kill one at least 70 day" sai1
old Bill He got off the pinto He stocked the ancient
animals nose
After all. I'd rather it was vow Eilv Prerfiss th1a
Morgan Harris or Joyce Briggs" he said 81 always
was down Toyce BRIGGS"
That night Anandy TOLD her husband that She too.
had always been down on Joyce Briggs.