Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-07-27

] Self-Salne pall-hnu WENT Ou'
Here's one. by Jake. at amt been
told on dozens o. politics men. And
every word of II is the solemn. dyin'
death-bed truth, too.
zone time / was out In the noun
tains a-huntin'. a-goin' along slow and
a-lookin' TO squirrel when all Of
student / hears a skeery noise right
ahead o. me In the laurels-Zz-Z-Z-z
Z-z-z-z-zl Jest like that. ! stops. l
stops de-e-ad still. looks keen. Thar
was a den O. rattlers, and the very
least one was as big around as my left
hind laigl Then hears a turrible
growl right ahind o. me. looks keen.
Thar stands a big old she-bear with
her teeth a-showin, and two cross
eyed cubs Then l hears whine at
my left looks keen. Thar stands a
she-panther as big as boss, with her
spittin' sound out 10 my right. l looks
keen. Thar was seven full-grown Wild
cats, and all of em had been bit by a
mad dawgl Some fix to be in? Yeuh !;
some 6xl
well. thinks to myself. Ef
shoots the rattlers. thinks to myself
the bear and the panther and the wild
cats'll git me. And eff l shoots the
bear, the panther and the wildcats
and the rattlers'll git me. And eff /
shoots the panther, the wildcats and
the rattlers and the bear'll git me.
And eff l shoots the wildcats, the rat
! tiers and the bear and the panther'll
git me. And eff don't shoot none OF
'em, they'll all git me Some ongodly
fix wasn't It, Bill? Now, how do ye
reckon l got out of IT."
Bill Dale only smiled. 81 can't i'm
agine, By" he said.
II CANT imagine, neither" grinned
Heck. "But anyhow, I'm alive today.
! Well, now that ye're in a good humor
one time more, I'll tell We some news.
| hated TO ruffie We up like a yaller
goose a-hyin' back'ards whilst We was
so cussed, DANCED blue. Bill, old boy,
Ii amt but five days ontel Christmas.
A lot O. them Nawth Ca'liner Turner'S
from Turner'S Laurel is a-visitin' their
kinfolks. the Balls, and they'll every
| dadslatted one OF EN- git drunk on
white lightnin' Ticker TO Christians,
and-they'll shore think o. Black
Adam. The Morelands amt Wiz We
no more, Bill, rickollect; only the Lit
tlefords is here now"
Bill Dale rose and stood there star
ing at BY Heck with eyes so bright
that they sparkled.
IF they came down on us looking for
trouble, I'd be a sort of elan chief.
wouldn't II" he asked. Without wait
ing for an answer: II wouldn't mind
that, y'know. I've got a letter here,
BY, that l want you to put aboard the
next southbound train that passes the
Halfway switch. You've got about an
hour; can you make IT."
EFF the world was made in six days,
by God. it shorely looks like BY Heck
could make six miles in hour. don't
it?"
The tall hillman left the Moreland
Coal company's Office with the letter in
one hand, his rife in the other, and
tears of Joy In his eyes.
For Bill Dale had laughed, actually
laughed.
BY Heck put the letter on the train.
The train carried IL to Bill Dale's home
city. and the postman carried 1t TO the
stately mansion of Old Coal King John
K. Dale, and black Isham. the servant,
carried II to Miss Elizabeth Littleford.
Miss Elizabeth Littleford was sitting
alone on an iron settee among bushes
Of lilac and cape jessamine; the wealth
err had made another Of its remarkably
sudden changes and the day was suns
ny and pleasant She was about to
tear open the envelope when the tall,
straight figure Of Jimmy Fayne APP
peared before her. He had on riding
clothes. and there was a rawhide quirt
In his hand.
you scared me, JIMMY" laughed
Miss Elizabeth, a trihe nervously. II
didn't know you were anywhere
aroundw
BEG pardon" Jimmy smiled. MAY
I sit down beside your"
Eyes"
He sat down beside her and began
thoughtfully TO flick the toe OF one OF
his shining boots with the tip of his
qulrt. She knew what he had come to
say, before he said It.:
"Once more" looking pleadlngly into
her eyes-"won't you marry me and
make me happy forever afterwards"
She turned the letter over In her lap
In order that Fayne might not see, ac-
cidentally or otherwise, the address.
Jimmy" she finally said, I'D like
to have little more time to think
about It. Things like this oughtnt to
be decided in hurry"
you've already had months! Or
we're they years-or ages? Why do
you keep putting me of like this, Eliz-
abeth7" vi
"As I told you, Jimmy. don't"
He interrupted almost sharply: Il
know you don't love me. But you'll
learn to-after you've seen how much
I shall adore YOU"
He made q move as though to take
her into his arms, and she shrank