The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-05-01

By SWIFT ADAMS
Copyright, by shortstOry Pub. Co.,

that touches her. Slim answered. look
ing desperate.
what are you talking about, you
cussed idiot Red Mike yelled.
"'Ain't you sent by ledge Buck 10
bring back his daughter Slim asked
confused like.
THE boys beloved with laughter
and Slim went red as lobster.
lord, Slim!' Mike exclaimed, you
don't tell me you've gone and stole
Maria Buck?'
Were running away and we're
going to be married in Spikeville to-
morrow. You amt said you're not
after us, though Slim added. sus-
piciously.
| "'Well, that wasn't exactly what
we're figuring to do said Mike, when
he could talk for laughing. 'You-ali
had better ride along with u.s.
"Slim got the girl from where she
was hid, and we moseyed along the
/ trail, Red Mike telling Johnson what
We were up to. We wanted Slim to
Join us, but he said he couldn't do that.
Pretty soon Slim and the girl fell lit
tie behind and we could hear her tell
ing him he ought to help her old man.
But Slim knew us better than to try
'1n about half an hour we got TO
Browns Corners. We hiked over to
the store, and, by gum. there was the
jedge setting inside with big duck
gun acrost his knees. When he saw
us he knew we weren't there for no
good. He had sand, though, and came
out and said he'd plug the first man OF
us who came within smiling distance
of the mazuma.
"Whity Hanks Che could shoot the
date OF dime) let go 4S-caliber pill
that sent the gun flying out of the old
mans hands. We yelled and started
, to rush inside, when Slim ran up the
, steps and turned around on us.
Il II felt real panied, for | knew II
! Slim was going to try to stop US, he
was likely to get awful unpopular.
Boys Slim said, 'you-all have got
3 all night for this job. Lots Of time.
Now, Maria and want to get married,
3 and want you to help me make the
/ ledge hitch US up
The bunch saw the beauty OF the
n situation and just howled with de
light. When the ledge saw his daugh
> ter he was plumb crazy. He said
! things, but we couldn't hear them fol
\ the whooping of the boys. He stood
up there in the moonlight, red and
/ excited and swearing. and we were
n about drunk with Joy.
slim and Maria got off their horses
/, Slim waved his arms until he could
4 make himself heard Then he grabbed
d the girl and squared off to the Jedge
# He explained that he and Maria wa
$ going to splice and it might as wei
d be done right there.
"T'll see you both shot first, yo'
red headed horse thief the Jedg
. shouted, his face all twisted up wit
X mad
10 Now Slim was good-nature
Of enough but the ledge was prickin
st him on a painful incident of his e,
IRENE youth. He yanked out gun.
a you'll marry us right low, or +
rt put a bullet plumb through you. b
IN shouted.
ga "'You haven't the grit, you pom
IS grabber!' yelled the ledge.
IN by gum, Slim let fly and bored HI
nj Honor in the left ear.
"'Now will your he beloved. NJ
no hearing Maria, who was sdualling.
a. THE ledge was driveling, but I
wasn't so mad he couldn't see Sill
-. was in the deadest kind Of earnest.
% STAND up. confound you'll! Il
Nv ledge cried, shaking his fists
,is "'Slim Johnson, you no-good coyot
ia do you take that willful hussy asst
Ith you to be your wifeT
"'Yes, you old heather shouts
a Slim. And you-all keep your mou
llv shut of calling that girl names!'
,ur maria, you good forsnothing vixe
we said the ledge. getting madden all q
time, are you going to take that MI
-. dering idiot, Slim Johnson, as 20
inc husband?'
ct 81 be- Maria said.
h.. Il pronounce you man and wife
he and disown you. drat you The Jed
was SO full Of angry he couldn't ev
md swear. The boys cheered and whoop
. It up for Slim, but right in the midt
Oh, of It. Slim showed Maria inside t
Ion store and faced around beside
rho ledge. with his guns drawn.
ned Nov, boys he said, git
md. For a minute we was stunned. r
Mike swelled up indignant, but beft
he could explode Slim cut in:
Mo- "T'm thankful to you. boys, for b
erv you've helped me. But the ledge
, ~ lmy old man now, and before you
the him you'll have to get me, too
Il don't know what would have b
cbt pened. But just for minute We '
,,ir, undecided like The ledge was
.h,,, body's fool, and he saw that someth