The first time he opens on me with his 44-gun before ever I ends the sentence.

But he misses.
Nacherally, I abandons them marital intentions for what you-all might call the "nonce" to sort o' look over my hand ag'in an' see be I right.
Do my best I can't on earth discern no reasons ag'in the nuptials.
Moreover, the lady--who takes after her old gent a heap--cuts in on the play with a bluff that while she don't aim none to crowd my hand, she's doo to begin shootin' me up herse'f if I don't show more passionate anxiety about leadin' her to the altar.

It's then, not seein' why the old gent should go entertainin' notions ag'in me, an' deemin' mebby that when he blazes away that time he's merely pettish and don't really mean said bullet none, that I fronts up ag'in.' "'An' then,' asks Enright, 'whatever does this locoed parent do ?' "'Which I jest shows you what,' says the pin-feather party.

'He gets the range before ever I opens my mouth, an' plugs me.

At that I begins to half despair of winnin' his indorsements.