The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-12-30
AMICADLY SETTLED
BY Il. A. sLATrENoREN.


CHANGING over the sun-baked plains, he
noticed something In the distance
which caused him to hesitate and look
more carefully. After a moment, he
went back into the house and came
out with field glass. Levellng this
at the thing that had interested him,
he saw something that made him
swear, as he lowered the glass.
"Audry." he shouted.
Hello" came q voice from the shade
OF the shack.
"McLaughlln's cattle have broken in.
to the oats again. I'm going over 10
give him piece Of my mlndE
In few minutes Ruffy was astride
his pony, raising clouds OF white al-
kali dust, galloping in the direction OF
McLaughlin's ranch.
Mclaughlin was busy mendng a
saddle when Ruffy rode up to him ana
shouted somewhat angry, "Hello,
there"
"How are you, Hank9 Glad to see
you"
Say, your cattle have broken into
my oat field again."
"By heck Is that so?" said Nc
Laughlln In surprise as he arose.
"Yes, that's so, and you'd better get
them out Of there"
Soon several of McLaughlin's men
were driving out the cattle and repair
ing the fence.
On the following afternoon Nc
LaughIin noticed that some cattle were
in his wheatfeld Hastily procuring
his fieldglass, he saw that the cattle
belonged to Ruffy.
"Aha, tit for tat" he thought as he
saddled bis pony, mounted and rode
away toward Ruffy's ranch.
When he reached Ruffy's place he
found the latter lOunging in his chair,
smoking and reading a paper.
Hello Mclaughlin. What's the
trouble?
Hello Hank. Nothing much, ex-
cept that yonr cattle are sampling my
wheat"
1.-THE deuce they are. Darned crit
ters anyway. Say, Audry Audry |"
"Coming up. What you want?"
"Husry up and get my mavericks out
of McLaughlin's grain. Be sure to fix
the fence for good"
81 got you"
"How about some sunnybrookl ?"
asked Ruffy.
''No. don't care for any. Thanks,
nevertheless. We must keep the cat
tie out Of the grain If we want to do
any threshing this fall"
"You are right" agreed Ruffy. "The
next time your cattle break into my
patch of choice Silver King oats I'll
ride over and shoot you up"
"The same herel" Mclaughlin
shouted as his horse galloped away.
Audry was desperately in love with
Alga Mclaughlin, so much so, indeed,
that he had saved all his money dur
| ing the last two years and bought an
automobile because she was very fond
OF motoring. Almost every evening
they took spin together over the
plains.
A few days after Mclaughlin had
visited Ruffy in regard to the cattle, he
noticed with chagrin and anger that
Ruffy's cattle had again broken into
his wheat field. Very angry, he got his
rife jumped onto his already saddled
pony and rode away.
At about the same time Hank Ruffy
Nf hn 70 rot Mo
Laughlin's cattle had again strayed in
to his patch Of choice Silver King oats.
He swore lengthily. After this psychic
relief he remembered his threat, and
at once decided to put it into effect.
About half way between the ranch
houses Mclaughlin and Ruffy met.
Ruffy shouted: "Do you rememb cr
what l said I'd do if your cattle got IN,
to my oats again?"
"Yep, and do you recall what I also
sald?"
"Get off your horse. / can't shoot
you In cold blood"
rThat's what / say. I'm quite handy
with my fists"
Consequently the two slid from their
steeds, slung their rifles over the sad
die horns and pulled off their outer
clothing. Then after a few minutes
of sparring and invective they closed
in on each other and engaged in a reg.
'ular rough-and-tumble fight. This last
ed for about five minutes.
Too tired to fight longer, they re
treated to their horses and grasped
their rifles. AT this juncture an auto
mobile emecged from turn in the
road and sped toward them, so before
the enraged ranchers could shoot at
each other Alga and Audry had driven
their machine between them.
Audry spoke: you big men are act
ing like q couple of kids. It's the
worst I've ever heard of. Don't you
think it Is ridiculous. comical
scream ne asked AIga, who had be.
gun to litter. She nodded and laughed
outright, and be joined in until they
we're both convulsed with laughter.
Rufy ami Mclaughlin glowered at
each other sheepishly until their chill
dren quieted down.
Then Audry took Alga by the hand
and said, "She has promised to makS
me the happiest man in the world. You
know what that means" Forthwith
he crushed her In his embrace and
ftc-o1 bor hluchinU pboafrc