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 that a large and powerful cowboy hed been puttin' heavy and lovin' pressure on her short ribs, and a-kissin' her fit to bust, as I see with these eyes of mine."

He was sure of it, and the detail of the love-scene grew on him every moment.

"Yes, Amandy, my love. I'll hev another wedge o' thet pie. My indigestion don't permit me to eat your aunt's pie, but thess pie ez pie, and I kin consciously declare it is pie, and not rock, nor a door-mat, nor last yeer's mud, nor onythin' unwholesome. In the matter o' pie me and yur aunt has trouble, but I minimises friction now I'm older by never tacklin' it."

And as he ate the pie he saw Amandy and the large and powerful cowboy.

"Her a-lookin' up at him so confidin' and lovin', with tears in her eyes, pore dear, and a-liftin' up thet rose-bud of a mouth to his large and powerful one, and all the time her knowin' how useless it was to buck up agin' Ole Bill's firm and judishus intention to wed her by force to a millinaire when one kems along. 'Oh, how sad,