The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-02-06
A FIGHT
FOR A WIFE
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By NJ. QUAD

mighty Gus Wlen L got LILY "hC' OhO
day, when l was young teller OF
twenty-five seen gal over on totner
side Of the mountings that jest nlled
the bill. made up to her and was
talkin' bout bars and wildcats and
SIGH when her mother steps in and SEE:
stranger, mebbe yo' are wantin
to take my gal away fur wife?
"T'm reckonin' to consider that 1
would l replies.
"'Then I'll blow the horn fur her pop
to cum outer the woods and tell yo'
what is whatr
"She bowed and blowed, and bimeby
the old man appeared. He was a
powerful man, and he didn't look good
natured. His name was Rabbit, and
arter lookin' me over he SEE:
Stranger. it's got to be a mighty
good man who takes my darter Sue
away fur his wife. How fur kin any
body h'ar yo' holler?
"'Two miles, if the wind is right
SEE l.
"tAnd about yo'r jumpinT
ats clus to eight feet when | don't
slip
"'Hev yo' ever dun any climbin!
81 hev. I've climbed the tallest tree
in sight of these we're Cumberland
mountings.'
"'And the number of bars and wild
cats what yo've slain? he goes on
seemin to want to pick furse with
me-
"'They'd purity nigh fill yo'r cabin
seq l, feelin' leetle riled at the way
he spoke.
"'Well,' seq he. arter stoppin' to con-
slider a bit. nobody kin take that gal
away Jest bekase he kin boot or climb
or kill varmints. He's got to lay me
on my back in far fOut. I'll gin you
a week to think ii over. If 20 want
the gal yo' must cum back and tackle
me, and I'm tellin' yo' I'm bad crit
ter as long as I've got one foot on the
airth.'
81 went away feelin' sort o cast
down, but the mo- L thought OF 1t the
mo- wanted the gal Sue fur my wife.
Il
I'd try fur her. and next day L went
back to the cabin. Her pop was thar
and walkin' around and feelin' power
full peart.
THAR was a crar space in the front
of his cabin" said the old man. land
when the gal and her mother had cum
outdoahs we threw off our coats and
begun bizness. l was accounted
powerful hand on wrassle. but that
man was also n powerful critter. ana
I reckoned I'd hev to hev help from
the Lawd to gain the victory. 1t was
10 o'clock in the mawnin' when we
begun. and the clock was jest strikin
when Topped him on his back. That
spot on the ground looked as if fo'ty
hawgs had bin rootin' it up fur a
week. and he was so beat out he could
hardly speak. Mo- than twenty times
in them three hours that critter had
me almost dun fur, but I'd send up
sort of prayer and git new hold. and
at last | fetched him. When he was
able to talk he riZ up and took my
hand and SEE:
"'Stranger, 1t was a far wrassle,
and I've been topped. l wouldn't a be-
lieved yo' could hev dun 1t. but yO'
did. and I'm sayin' yo' ar a purity
good man. Howsumever, it amt over
Wit. Yo've got to lick me to git Sue.
and know you kin never do 1t. Well
take three days to rest up. and then
yo' kin cum back and tackle me-"
"And did you go?" l asked as the
old man made long pause.
EUR suah." he replied. Il was
mighty sore and lame, but knowed
he would be as bad off. Besides. that
gal Sue had hooted fur me when |
Topped her pop. and l knowed by that
she was with me and would hope fur
me to come out on top. In three days
went back to hev it out. The critter
was a-lookin' fur me and glad to see
me.
elbows it to be?' SEE l.
GA far fout,' SEE he, mo THROWN
rocks nor hittin' with clubs. Whoop!
COck-a-doodle-do!
"Waal. we went at it. Sue and her
nav was out thar as befO', and the gal
gin me a smile as went in. 1t was
rough and tumble fout. jest knowed
I'd got to do my level best or go under,
and lost no chances. That fout last
ed mighty nigh two hours, and two or
three times | was almost on the pint
of lettin' go. Bimeby, howsumever,
seen that Rabbit was gettin' tired out,
and the gal clapped her hands and
sicked me on. Ten minits arter that
had him whopped. Thar wasn't no
mistake about it, bekase he riz up and
SEE to me:
"'Zeb White, I'm a whopped man,
and that gal is yo'rs. l didn't believe
thar was a critter on these mountings
as could make me boot, but yo' dun it.
And now when do yo' want the gal?
fright now. reckon SEE l.
saint it purity suddenY
"'Not so very. bein' as she's ready
to CO.
"'Then, nav. bring out the broom
stick and let 'em jump over it, and If
they want to be married by preacher
they kin do it sum other time
And you took the girl homes?
asked.