Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-10-01

law, who was doing her best to hide
the whip.
"Shet upw she admonished tersely.
Who's a-goin' lick tn hide often
me? You--yuh pizen faced varmint!'
Buck asked, casting a whitening, leer,
ing look Of contemplate Hoskins. stand
out thar tell putfa A in yer hiderr
he ordered .
That's enough outen your
Mrs. Miracles voice had an unpleas-
ant, acidulous rasp in it 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
of 1t neared him to reach for his own
gun at first, and when he thought of
it she anticipated the movement
"No, y don't, nuther! Stick your
paws up, an don't go grabbin' for your
gun. I'll do hit!'
Mechanically his hands went up.
Turn aroun', say!'
Slowly he turned, still keeping his
hands up, and when his back was op-
posite her she deftly drew hiE 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 his back
Now, you all calkalate on chawiu'
each other up, don't yuh?' she asked
coldly, forcing the. mule over toward
the two. 5e.y ....
They looked sheepish and amiable and
drunk, but not thing like 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 writing in snaky circles above
her head.
"Air ye goin' to fight?" she demanded.
The culprits looked decidedly ag
grieved. How could thcy-' possibly be
so misunderstood? And tight-without
gun? What business had a woman
mixing in with mans business any
way?
MI .. NNlLdClS w do uDuluSy tblIS,S, anu
she didn't hesitate to let them see 1t
either Her next words were to the
point.
you ais been shootin your
mouths off 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
I'll see tibet yuh play fair!''
The whip whistled and sung about
them, its cracker alighting occasionally
with a tantalizing nip. ,........
Finding tiAere seemed to be no alter
native, Z. 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 ether fondly.
Keep on" she encouraged. Gal
says he xiii lick tn hide often yuh. A
body dassent say tibet to me and me
take HIT she said scornfully. r.
Turning to her son-in-law. she re-
minded him; Buck called you pizea
face. Air We afraid OF him." she ask
ed wrathfuily ~.
! "Keeponl Keep. on, !, and the whip
! swished anfech0. ''." -
Thus stimulated, once more they ex,
changeu blows, and, owing to u rolling
stone beneath his foot, Buck slipped
and his fist 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,
1 they went to it. Mrs. Miracle nodded
approval.
There was much language uSed-tor-
rid, descriptive, noncompimentary-
but that was only to be expected.
Their stern monitor sat above them
IN the mule the varying stages of the
battle successfully written upon her
harp sun yellowed features.
Now stern disapproval as the action
Jagged or a whisky clouded brain di,
rected an unusually clumsy blow. Now
a quick flashing smile of appreciation
AS Il toll hardened paw of hand land
ed Il good one upon the others face OF
Body
Cal succeeded in planting one in
Bucks ribs that called forth ponder.
Gus grunt, and the next instant tried
dizZily to dodge a like one coming in
his direction. He was partly success
full, but the blow, sliding beneath his
arm, threw the two men together
whereupon they Immediately forgot
their mutual grievances, threw theil
arms about each others necks and be
came as loving brothers.
SWISH swish The whip Kissed
through the air above their heads anG
alighted In singing semicircles across
their backs and shoulders.
Both men were in their shirt sleeves
and the rawhide bit through the cot
ton. 1t did not require many such ap
, plications to break the fraternal EN-
brace.
) stop thet!' she screamed angrily
l This amt no love feast"
, Again the whip sang and cracked
, above them.
! Hit him, Buck. He says there aim
no man hereabout kin lick him.
Then to Cal: EFF you don't whuT
: him Tll-Ill tell Lowisey. Thet'll be
] sumpen else fer you to answer to hel
fer"'
The sobbing ceased with gulp, and
< once more they went to it.
| Once the patient, long suffering mule
+ supported the pair until they regainet
Ahnir nn1iilih,,i11r,n Snnnntinnnc thor FOL