Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-09-22

somewhere amid the voluminous cali
co and turned to him once more, I'M
fastening as she did so businesslike
looking leather whip from beneath her
apron.
You shet your mouth" she repeat
ed. IAN go long home"
Each seemed to be measuring the
strength Of the other. For full half
minute they stood thus. Then bel
lering voice from behind them broke
the tension:
Vow, Who's a-callin' Buck Haney.
I'd like { know
A second unsteady figure was ap-
preaching. this time by the rain quilted
lane.
"where'd y throw that gun?'' Cal
whisper ID hoarsely to his mother-in-
law, who was doing her best to hide
the whip
'-Shet up she admonished tersely.
who's a-goin' a lick tn hide often
me, You-yuh pizen faced varmintr
Buck asked, casting a whitening leer-
ing look Of contempt at Hoskins. "Stand
out thar tell l put A. In yer hider'
he ordered
That's enough outen your
Mrs. Miracles voice had an unpleas-
ant. acidulous rasp in 1t when she be
came thoroughly angry. She sprang
from the mule and advanced upon him.
Gals nasty looking revolver in her
hand.
He was too astonished as the barrel
gun at first, and when he thought of
1t she anticipated the movement
NO, y don't, nuther! Stick your
paws up. an don't go grabbin' for your
gun. III do hitr'
Mechanically bis hands went up.
Turn aroun', l sayr'
Slowly be turned, still keeping his
hands up, and when his back was op-
posite her she deity drew his gun from
his hip pocket The mule stood STILL
an interested spectator. and, going
back to him. she led him to the fence
and climbed upon hts back
Now, you all calkalate on chawin'
each other up. don't yuhT' she asked
coldly. forcing the mule over toward
the two.
They looked sheepish and amiable and
drunk, but not thing Ike fighting.
Scorn leaped into her eyes and col
ored her weather beaten features She
advanced upon them as swiftly as she
could make the mule go, the appraised
whip wfithing In snaky circles above
her head
Air We goin' to fight? 2" she demanded.
The culprits looked decidedly ag-
grieved. How could they possibly be
80 misunderstood? And fight-without
a gum What business had q woman
mixing In with mans business any
way?
Mrs. Miracle was running things. and
she didn't hesitate to let them see It
either. Her next words were to the
point.
You ais been shootin' your
mouths or about each other long 'nuf,"
she told them "Now's your chance to
claw an scratch to your hearts con-
tent. You all mix right In now, an
III see tibet yuh play fairr'
The whip whistled and sung about
them, its cracker alighting occasionally
with tantalizing nip.
Finding there seemed to be no alter
native, Cal advanced upon Buck and
tapped him playfully upon the shout
der. Buck after clumsy pass return
ed In kind Then they backed away
and regarded each other fondly.
Keep onr' she encouraged. Gal
says he kin lick tn hide offen yuh- A
body dassent say thet to me and me
take hit!' abe said scorrfully.
Turning TO her son-inlaw, she re-
minded him: Buck called you q pizen
face Air We afraid of him?' she ask
ed wrathfully.
Keep on. Keep on" and the whip
swished an echo.
Thus stimulated, once more they ex-.
changed blows, and. owing to a rolling
stone beneath his foot, Buck slipped,
and his Est landed squarely and with
considerable force In the middle Of
Lowisey's mans countenance.
That injected the required ginger
into Cal, who rewarded It with a ter
rife old time ''open handler" beside the
other ones head that cracked with the
delivery. Then. Of their own accord.
they went to it. Mrs. Miracle nodded
approval.
There was much language used-tor-
rid, descriptive, noncomplimentary-
but that was only to be expected
Their stern monitor sat above them
on the mule. the varying stages Of the
battle successfully written upon her
sharp. sun yellowed features.
Now stern disapproval as the action
Jagged or whisky clouded brain di-
rected an unusually clumsy blow. Now
quick flashing smile Of appreciation
as toll hardened paw Of hand land
ed good one upon the others face or
body.