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Show Judge Hoke of Sandy Bend By mTqUAD Copyright 1911. by th McClure rfawxpaper Brndicilt. When tho court at Handy Uend bad been opened In duo and legal form Judge Hoke naauined what he con kldcred n proper Judicial dignity nnd said: "Tula ar enso such i we her nev cr bad afore ut before, but wo Iblok we kin straighten out tho klnki nnd do Jestlcn to nil. Tlireo daya ago that red hciided cr'.ttcr over tbnr, wlio call hUaelf Tom Jones, cotlo liurapln down tho trail from Dig I'lud to ax If tlmr waa any law In thla kentry nnd to boiler fur Jeatlce, Ho had a wlfo up thar nt lllg Hnd. He went borne one evenln' to find that she had skipped with another limn. Tbo name of that tnnn wna Abe Hktnner, and that's him orcr tlinr with tho broken note. "What glacrally happens out jrcre In thU In ml o' cold nnd bird time wbon our wife run uway) If Wo nln't mighty gtnd of It, which wo mostly In wo sit on to her track nnd fuller 'cm till wo overtake tier. If atie'a alone we take tier by I lie car nnd tend her hack. If alio' with n critter we o htm over. Tlinr nln't no law In the case, but tho custom Is ptirty well known. The mnn who steals another itmn'a wife expect to bo popped by the Injoored htubnnd, and ho likewise expect to pop that snino Injoored but bnud If he glta tbo chnnce. "Tom Jonra didn't ptiraoo. Thar waa tbo brond trail before htm, and be bad gun nnd kntre nnd n Iick, but tin hadn't the snnd Ho Jest comet n humptn' down yero to bolter fur tho law nnd ihiirk fur Jcstlco and to git all men, Includln' Hit court, down on htm fur hi doggnncticM. HI wife, who ar that frmnlo over tlinr with a moiitti aa big na n bar!, had Rono off with Aim Hklnner n aforesaid nnil had htm bonded for I hi very en nip. Am (hoy file from Illg Find they meet up with Jim Hope, who' the cum over thar with tho game leg nnd one eye gone. Jim ho to 'cm and sex: "'Abo Hklnner, what you got thsrV A female.' "'Who I her M Tom JnneV wife "'And what you n-doln' with herT "'A-ninnln' nwny to Handy Ilend,' "Then yon needn't go no further. t'ro been wnnllu' n wife fur the Inst six mouths, nnd I reckon I'll tako her off jour timid,' "Waal," continued hi honor, "Jim Hojw ho had lit gun plump on Abe Hklnner nnd his finger on tho trigger, and Abo bad to glvo In. This jero court enn't 1'nrn thnt tbo woman ob Jcrtcd In tho chauge. On tho contrary, tlmr U evidence Hint who didn't keer a continental, a Jim Hopo 1 a letter looklii' critter than Abo Hklnner. The couple brad thU way by the tralL, while AIhj Bklnucr take a abort cut and arrive fiutly nnd comes to tne to yell fur JrMlrc. Tlmr two feller yellln' fur Jestlcu and n tblnt ono with the woman. Tho woman glbt yera In doo time, nloug with Jim Hope, and over by the creek they meet Joe Hcott, who atop to any: "Jim Hope, I wn Jest goln out to hunt fur one' "What you tiicitrtT " 'I want a female woman fur a wire, and )uu git dovvu and sklpf 'Tbnr waa n out on Jim. nnd lie bod to giro the woman up. TliU court en n't l'urn that aho shed a tear or did any klckln', but Jim be cornea whoopln' dovvu to me and wauta law and Jeatlce and all that That make three of 'era a-KMitln', and no I tells tbo constable to arreat Joe nnd tho woman. Yere'a four men and one woman, and the taw 'pear to be purty badly tangled up. Kustiy, Tom Jones, la thla woman your wlfer "Sartln she U," answered Tom. "Hot yoa got the dockyments to prove Itr "N'o, but I married her In the Injnu Territory a y'ar ago." "Waal, tbl court haa notbln' to do with tbe lujuu Territory, and that mar riage won't aland yuro uiileni Uie worn, ou wants It to. Mrs. Jones, aa I will call )ou, what tuade yo rn away from Tomr" "(Jot tlrd of him." replied the woman. wo-man. "Do you prerer Jim Hope or Joe Hcuttr "I nln't stickler " That make the enm easier. Hnuk Williams, stand up." Hunk stood up and proved to be J mlddlo agetl man of decent upearance. "Hunk, d'ye want a wlfol" naked the court. "I dew." wa the reply. Then I'll nmrry ye to thla woman " "Hank Williams will o take' thl deluded de-luded woman to le yer lawful wlfo?" "You bet " "And will ye cberbih nnd do fend her and keep all the other crllter off!" "I will." "Mm. Jones, ye hear what the critter act. Ye tuay be married, and ye may not be, but ttiHcourt ain't a-goln' to run any chance of any future row and kUlln'a. Will ye take Hank for better or wuV "Iteckon so." "And will do yer beatf "Ye." Then JIne hand. I pronounce ye man and wife, anddurn lay hide, which ar the hldo of this court I'll turn ont and help huut dowu any human crllter as trie to come Lotween you and Hankl I now cousider that Jwtlcc has been dono ti all baud nnd all around, nnd It on!) remain fur tho happy bridegroom bride-groom to head the purtyssslon to my mi-toon mi-toon and treat alt baud orcr the happy event, and thar won't !e no 111 feslk's nnd nuthln" to And fault with." |