The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-05-25
By CLARENCE E. MULFORDI

COPYRIGHT 1911

Greener's wife! Then he was too Late
and 60 go on would be a greater ovtl
than the one he wished to eliminate
When she turned on him like q tigreaH
and tore him TO pieces word by word,
tears rolling down her pallid cheeks
and untold misery In her eyes. no
shook his head and held up his hand
"Greener. you win; / can't stop
what's happened" he said, slowly.
But I'll tell you this, an i mean
every word: If you don't treat her
like she deserves. Ill come back some
of these days and Kill you shore
Nolan got his because he talked III
of her; an you'll get yours If die
the next minute, if you amt square
with her"
Il don't need no instructions on
how to treat my wife," retorted the
other. AN I'm beginnin' to see tn
cause of yOre insanity, and IL par
dons you as nothing else will Put
up yore gun an get back TO tn ranch,
where you belong-an' keep away
from me. Savvy?'
Not much danger of me gettin'
in yore way" growled Johnny. when
I'm hunted like a dog for doing what
any man would a done. When tn
sheriff gets well, if he ever does, meb-
by I'll come back an take my medi-
cine. How was he, anyhow. when you
left2"
Dead tired, an some under tn
influence of liquor replied Greener.
a smile breaking over his frown. He
knew the whole story well. as did the
whole range. and he had laughed over
it with the Bar-20 outfit.
What's that? Amt he near
dead?" cried Johnny, amazed.
Well, purity nigh dead of fatigue
dancin at our weddin' last night; but
1 reckon he'll be driftin' home purity
denly gave way and roared with
laughter. There was a large amount
of humor in his makeup and il took
possession of him, shaking him from
head to foot. He had always liked
Johnny, not because he ever wanted
to, but because no one could know the
Bar-2O protege and keep from it,
This climax was too much for him
and his wife. gradually recovering
herself. caught the infection an0
Joined in.
Johnny's eyes were staring and his
mouth wide open, but Greeners next
words closed the eyes to a sQuint
and snapped shut the open mouth
THAT there paralysis of tn cure-a-
friend nerve didn't last; an when /
heard why YOU licked him ] said a
Few words that made him wiser
man. He didn't hunt YOU after tn
first day. Now you go mp an shake
hans with him. He knows he got
what was coming 10 him and so does
everybody else know il. Go home an
quit playin tn fool for tn whole
range TO laugh at"
Johnny stirred and came back 10 the
scene before him. His face was livid
with rage and he could not speak at
hrst. Finally, however. he mastered
himself and looked up: I'm cured. an
right but they amt, Wait till my turn
comes! What a fool / was to believe
EN-; but they usually tell tn truth
Cure-a-frend nerve. They'll pay me.
dollar for cent before I'm fnishedi''
lie caught the sparkle OF his diamond
pin, the pin he had won. when drunk
at FL 'aso, and a sickly grin nickered
over the black frOWn. I'm "A LITTLE
late / reckon; but I'd like to give tn
pride present To show there amt no
hard feelins on my part an to bring
her luck. This here pin amt no fit
ornament for fool like me. SO il it's
an right. III be plumb licked to see
her have it, How bout il. Greener?''
The happy pair exchanged chances
ana Mrs. Greener. hesitating and blush
ing, accepted the gift: You can bend
II INTO a ring easy Johnny hastily re
marked, TO cut on her thanks
Greener extended his hand: Il
reckon We can be friends at that, Nell
son. You squared up with me when
you licked Nolan. Come up an see us
when YOU can"