ave,' says he, speakin' to Tutt, 'that them
miscreents has got anything up their sleeve?--any little thing like a
ace buried?'

"'Which they wouldn't dare. Also, since you brings the matter up, Dan,
I now gives notice that for myse'f I shall regyard success on their
part as absoloote proof of perfidy. That settled, I sacks that hamlet
of Red Dog, an' plows an' sows its deboshed site with salt.'

"'That's the talk!' says Boggs. 'Let 'em win once, an' you an' me,
Dave,'ll caper over in our individyooal capac'ty, an' lay waste that
Red Dog hamlet if it's the last act of our lives.'

"The spellin' school is schedjooled for the r'ar wareroom of the Noo
York store, whar the Stranglers convenes. All Red Dog is thar,
dressed up like a hoss, their Wells-Fargo book-keep in their exultant
midst. Enright calls the meetin' to order with the butt of his
six-shooter; our old warchief allers uses his gun as a gavel that
a-way, as lookin' more offishul. Also, since the dooty of a
presidin' officer is to preserve order, it's in line to begin with a
show--not too ondecorous--of force.

"Enright states the object of the gatherin', an' Peets, spellin' book
in hand, swings into the saddle an' in a moment is off at a road gait.
The words falls thick an' sharp, like the crackin' of a rifle. Which
they shore does thin out them contestants plenty rapid! Boggs goes
down before 'Theery,' spellin' it with a extra 'e.' Tutt lasts through
three fires, but is sent curlin' like a shot jack-rabbit by 'Epitaph,'
which he ends with a 'f.' Texas dies on 'Definite,' bein' misled by
what happens to Tutt into introdoocin' tharin a sooperfluous 'ph.'

"'I ain't none astonished,' Texas says sadly, when Peets informs him
that he's in the diskyard; 'since ever my former Laredo wife acquires
that divorce, together with al'mony an' the reestoration of her maiden
name, the same bein' Suggs, I ain't been the onerrin' speller I once
was.'

"Cherokee has luck, an' lasts for quite a time. It's the 'leventh word
that fetches him. An' at that thar's a heap to be said on the side of
Cherokee.

"The word's 'Capitol,' as Peets lets it fly.

"'C-a-p-i-t-a-l,' spells Cherokee.

"'Dead bird!' Peets says, plenty sententious.

"'Whatever kind o' capital?'

"'Capitol of a State.'

"'Then I misonderstands you. Which I takes it you're referrin' to a
bankroll.'

"The Doc, however, is obdoorate, an' Cherokee shoves back.

"'I think,' says Nell, whisperin' to Missis