The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-30
Judge Hoke Of
Sandy Bend
By N. QUAD
By N. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

uOAier Iur JoSLlce. he 0a0 q vile up
thar at Big Find. He went home one
evenin' to find that she had skipped
with another man. The name Of that
man vas Abe Skinner, and that's him
over thar with the broken nose.
what ginerally happens out yere in
this land o. gold and hard times when
u wife runs away? II. we amt
mighty glad Of 1t, which we mostly be,
we git on to her tracks and foller 'em
till we overtake, her. If she's alone
we take her by the a and lead her
back. II she's with a critter we pop
him over. Thar amt no law in the
case, but the custom is purity well
known. The man who steals another
mans wife expects to be popped by
the injoored husband, and he likewise
expects to pop that same injoored hus-
band If he gifts the chance.
"Tom Jones didn't pursoo. Thar was
the broad trail before him, and he had
guns and knives and a boss, but he
hadn't the sand. He jest comes a
humpin' down yere to holler fur the
law and shrek fur jest1ce and to git
all men, includin' this court, down O.
him fur his doggoneness. His wife,
who ar that female over thar with a
mouth as big as a bar'l, had gone of
with Abe Skinner as aforesaid and
had him headed for this very camp.
As they flies from Big Find they meets
up with Jim Hope, who's the cuss owe
thar with the game leg and one eye
gone. Jim he stops 'em and SEE:
"'Abe Skinner, what you got thar?'
".A female
"'Who is sheT'
"'Tom Jones' wife,
"'And what you a-doin' with her?'
"'A-runnin' away to Sandy Bend
""Then you needn't 60 N further.
I've been wantin' a wife fur the last
six months, and I reckon I'll take her
off your hands!'
"Waal," continued his honor, Jim
Hope he had his gun plump on Abe
Skinner and his finger on the trigger,
and Abe had to give in. This yere
court can't Earn that the woman OBJ
jected to the change. On the contrary,
thar Is evidence that she didn't keer a
continental, as Jim Hope is a better
lookin' critter than Abe Skinner. The
couple heads this way by the trail,
while Abe Skinner takes a short cut
and arrives fustly and comes to me to
yell fur jestice. Thar's two fellers
yellin' fur jestice and a third one with
the woman. The woman gifts yere in
doc time, along with Jim Hope, and
over by the creek they meets Joe
Scott, who stops to say:
":Jim Hope. I was jest goin' out to
hunt fur one.'
"'What you mean?
"sI want q female woman fur a wife.
and you git down and skip!'
Thar was a gun on Jim, and he had
to give the woman up. This court
can't Farm that she shed a tear or did
any kickin', but Jim he comes whoopin'
down to me and wants law and jestice
and all that. That makes three of 'em
a-wantin', and SO l tells the constable
to arrest Joe and the woman. Yere's
four men and one woman, and the law
pears to be purity badly tangled up.
Fustly, Tom Jones. is this woman your
wife,"
''Sartin she is," answered Tom.
"Hev you got the dockyments to
prove It'll"
mo, but l married her in the Injun
Territory a var ago."
"Waal, this court has nothin' to do
with the Injun Territory, and that mar
rage won't stand yere unless the wom-
an wants it to. Mrs. Jones, as l will
call you, what made We run away from
Tom?"
"Got tired Of him." replied the wo-
q
do you prefer Jim Hope or Joe
Scott"
II amt pertickler."
"That makes the case easier. Hank
Williams, stand up"
Hank stood up and proved to be q
middle aged man Of decent appearance.
"Hank. dye want a wife?" asked the
court.
Il dew" was the reply.
''Then I'll marry ye to this woman"
Hank Williams, will We take this de.
luded woman to be yer lawful wife?"
You betT
"And will We cherish and defend her
and keep all the other critters of ?"
81 WILL"
MRS. Jones, We hear what the critter
sez Ye may be married, and We may
DOT be. but this court amt a-goin' to run
any chances Of any future rows and
killin's. VIII ye take Hank for better
or wuss?"
Reckon CO."
"And will do yen, bestf'
yes" iii.
'.Then jine hands. I pronounce ye
man and wife, and durnm NY hide, which
AZ the hide Of this court, IN turn ont
and help hunt down any human crittel
as tries to come between you and Hank
I now consider that jestice has been
done to all hands and all around. and
q only remains fur the happy bride.
groom to head the purcession to my %.
loon and trent all hands over the happy
event, and thar won't be no III feelin's
ana nuthin' to ind fault with"