, 1864-02-13
NO. 10:

with tin cups and bottles, with one great
stone jug, answered for the bar. :.
l had scarce noticed all this when small
giant, the very counterpart Of the landlord;
stepped out from the group, and giving me
q slap upon the back sufficient to knock life
out Of an ordinary man, said:
"Come, stranger, take drink r =.
Ideclined, quietly, merely saying that I
did not wish to drink, and the gentleman re:
tired again into the group, but only to re:
turn instanter. -
"You'd better drink, stranger; the boys
kalkilate on yer drinkin."
l didn't like the style Of this invitation,
it sounded too much like threat, and I
told him abruptly that I would not drink.
"The boys kalkilate on it, stranger
Come now, don't put on any airs--take q
drink" t
az told you, sir, that l wouldn't drink.
won't drink! Isn't that enOughp
"Sse here, stranger, my names Chris
Alison. When I'm tu hum l live down to
Coon Bend. ! amt no fool, strangerj but
clss mo if you karn't drink you must
dance, and if you karn't dance you must
fight"
"Well," said I, springing to my feet,
looking him straight in the eye, al won't
drink, and won't dance. Now then you
can do the next best thing"
"Then, by gum, stranger, I'll do that!
My names Chris Alison, an l kin whip
anything of my weight in Illinois State.
I amt a gwine to be put down BY any cuss
comm around with store clothes on. See
here, stranger, thar's the whiskey an here's
little talkin' Molly; now..if you don't drink
in just one minute thar'll be dead sucker
around var pretty soon." ..,,
! saw at glance that had d desperate
ruffian to deal with, who stood presenting
an old fashioned holster pistol at my head,
and who would have made as little Of blow!
ing my brains about the cabin as he would
of drinking glass Of whiskey. l knew !
must change my tactics or lose my life, ~ I
was totally unarmed. 1t was IN this vein
that instantly dropped the defensive, and
said:
swell, then, sir, If I've got to make by
choice between drinking and death, Ill
drink, if you are cOwardly enough to force
an unarmed man, do it." And advanced
towards the bar accompanied by Chris All
son, and poured out tumbler Of Whiskey.
l saw in moment that my defiant manner
had its effect on the man, and that when I
poured my tumbler literally full the res:
pect was heightened. The crowd came
slowly to the bar, much as though they
were not inclined to endorse the action Of
my master for the moment, and rs slowly
filed their glasses. At this moment Mr.
Chris Alison, with o smirk Of satisfaction,
as though he had the entire game in his
hand, laid his pistol on the bar to gil his
glass. did not wait for second glance,
but as quick as lightning grasped the wcG-:
pom, and in an instant had the muzzle point
ing straight for its owners head. There
was little spasmOdic laugh broke out Of
his throat as he saw himself in my power,
aud, with something like choke, he got
out: ..... ..... .. ,
"IIel-loo! stranger, what's the rntss
what are you gwnine to do!"
I" I'm going to blow your head off," was
my response, " unless you do just as say"
"Oh, git out !" said Mr.. Chris Allison, in
a coaxing tone, "you're funning."
"Now, then, Mr.. Chris Alison" | said
looking nm straight IN the eye, i've got
u few words to say to you; you look smart
enough to understand 'cm. came here 4
quiet, civil man, wet tired and hungry. I
wasn't disposed to trouble any gentleman in
TINS mouse, ana don : tnink any one put
you were disposed 70 trouble me. because
you were armed, you chose 70 use your
arms 70 force me 70 drink against my wili:
Now I'm armed by the same RUE want
you 70 dance Come, striEe ID pay away
music. lngive you Just nan minute:
"Cuss ye! said Aiilson, In q winning
tone, cav nance ,.,i
lance l sald "tnc next 'i"e 'eii
you II snooti o.. a.. a. =,
Inc great tout ralseo one Ioo' al.el Tue
o'ner hke = =, pear wa,klng On ny. P's'es.
Faseer :. snou.eu, anu iaster ne %en.,
wmie ms companions Droke OUT ID q snout
Oh aensn1 -, -
ras'er Ioared, "or you're oeaa
man, and the fellow threw ms hnlps ABOUT !;
sntil tne petsplratlon starred on! upon ms
. ace' .;a rJr NV i've S. mnS.es seP. & mm !. S
Guiding the landlord, and then covering tne
pistol, ana presenting the DUE % MN wi'n