Page:Jim of the Hills.djvu/45

 An' he laughs an' winks at Pike In a way that I don't like. "Widders," grins young Dusty Dick, "Likes a bloke whose hands is quick. Now poor Ben can take the sack." But I frowns, an' turns my back.

It was Spring, the fickle Spring; an' a most amazin' thing  ''Came upon me sudden-like an' set me marvelling.  For no longer was I lookin' for a wife to do my cookin'.  But for somethin' sweet an' tender of the kind that kiss an' cling.  Oh, for such a one I'd battle, an' I'd win by hook or crook; '' But it did seem sort of foolish to go fightin' for a cook.

Standin' on the sawdust heap I feel mean an' rather cheap. Widows? Let the widow go! What we fought for I don't know. Murray offers me his hand: "Jim, you've won; so, understand, I don't mean to block your road …" But I answer, "That be blowed!"

''"Why, it's Spring, man. Spring!" (An' I gave his fist a wring) '' "If you reckoned me your rival, give up thinkin' such a thing.  I just fought for fun an' frolic, so don't you get melancholic;  An', if you have notions yonder, why, buck up an' buy the ring!