The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-02-27


Yes, yo're tn biggest fool I ever saw, "
replied Greener. "Yo're loooed through
an through; an I'm goin' to take great
pleasure in putting you away But 1 want
TO thank you for one thing YOU did. You
were drunk at the time an may not remem-
Der it. When you hit Nolan for talking
like he did liked you for it, an I'm goin
to tell you so. Now Wen get al tn matter
before US so I can move along.
Neither had paid any attention to Norah
IN the earnestness and keen-eyed scrutiny
of each other and the first sign they had Of
her actions was when she threw her arms
around Greener's neck and shielded him
He was too much of man to fire from cover
and Johnny realized it while the other
tried to get her to leave the scene,
81 won't leave you to be murdered
kHO5O what it means, kHolg it, " Norah cried.
My place is here, and you can't deny your
wife's first request! What viii / do without
you! Oh, dear, let me STAY ] 5cW STAY
What woman ever had such a wedding day
beforel Dear, dear, what can / do7 Tell
me what to dol"
Johnny shifted and wished the posse had
taken him. This was a side he had never
Then he was too late, and TO go ON would be
a greater evil than the one he wished TO
eliminate. When she turned on him like a
tigress and tore him to pieces word byuurd,
tears rolling down her pallid cheeks and UNI
told misery in her eyes, he shook his head
and held up his hand.
"Greener, you win; / cant stop v'ats
happened he said, slowly But Ill tell
you this, an I mean every word: l vuu
don't treat her like she deserves. .I.il come
back some Of these days and lii you siaye.
Nolan got his because he talked iil 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 10
treat my wife" retorted the other An
I'm beginnin' to see tn cause OF wore ir-
sanity, and it pardons YOU as nothing else
will. Put up yore gun an get back % Oh
ranch, where you belong an Keep aaay q.
from me. Savvy2"
Not much danger Of me gc'tin I'M y0rc
way, growled Johnny, wien I'm huutcd
like dog for doing what any man would a.
done. When tn sheriff gets we'll il he ever
does, mebby I'll come back an take my
medicine. How was he, anyhow. when you
left2"
Dead tired, an some under tn n-
fuence OF liquor, replied Grecner, a smile
breaking over his frown. He knew the
whole story well, as did the whole rarge and
he had laughed over it with the Bar-zo out
ft
whats that? Amt he near dead?"
cried Johnny, amazed.
"Well, purity nigh dead OF fatigue dancin'
at our weddin last night: but / reckon he'll
be driftin home purity soon, all recovered"
Greener suddenly gave way and roarcd
with laughter There was a large amount
of humor in his makeup and it took posses
sion 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 proteg6 and keep from it.
This climax was too much for him, and his
wife, gradually recovering herself caught
the infection and 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 curc-a-friend
nerve didn't last; an when heard why YOU
licked him saida few words that made him
a HAsCA uldus A1C ulOu uuuL you dILeT IN
first day Now you go up an shake hans
with him. He knows he got what was COM
ing to him and so does everybody else know
it. Go home an quit playin' tn fool for tn
whole range to laugh at. "
Johnny stirred and came back to the
scene before him. His face was livid with
rage and he could not speak at first. Finally,
however, he mastered himself and looked
up: "I'm cured, all right, but they ANTI
Wait till my turn comesl What a fool /
was to believe 'em; but they usually tell tn
truth. 'Cure-a-frend nerve'l THEY'LL nav
me dollar for cent before I'm finishedl" He
caught the sparkle Of his diamond pin, the
pin he had won, when drunk, at FL Paso,
and sickly grin fickered over the black
frown. I'm little late reckon; but I'd
like to give tn bride present to show there
amt no hard feelin's on my part, an to
bring her luck. This here pin amt no st
ornament for fool like me, 50 If it's all
right, I'll be plumb tickled to sec her have
It. How bout it, Greener7"
The happy pair exchanged chances and
Mrs. Greener, hesitating and blushing,
accepted the gift: You can bend it into
ring easy" Johnny hastily remarked, to
cut off her thanks.
Greener extended his hand. II reckon we
can be friends, at that, Nelson You
squared up with me when you licked Nolan.