The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-03-23

the country two strong men and over
e6OO.
If this joke be incredible to you, read
the account Of another, perpetrated by
four such men on an old lrishman, whom
in pure alcoholic fun, they dragged out
OF bed, and gouging his eyes out, filled
them with quicklime.
1t must be unpleasant to brewers, dis
tillers, publicans, deans and chapters
with public house property, and lords
and gentlemen who have voted against
Sunday closing and in favor Of longer
hours for the sale of this playful inspir
alton, to read OF such cases; wherefore
forbear filling up this book, as | could
easily do. with more of them. But |
charge distinctly that every man who
(from q Home Secretary down to the
lowest publican) encourages the increase
of this traffic, and delays or hinders its
decrease. assumes directly a share OF the
responsibility Of such incidents as these.
At the far end Of the room, near the
fire, party held on bravely with uprori-
Gus revelry 1t was at this party that
Sam the bar.man was blinking through
the smoke. They were the choice boys
OF his custom, and when they got thor
oughly under way, as they had now done,
he knew they were capable of any mis-
chief Over this select crew presided
Mr.. Bill Knowsley, four Of whose sover-
eigns lay warm in Mr.. Sam Rattlers till.
Bill had begun the evening by saying he
was only going to divide a pint Of gin
with three friends, and must then go
away to meet a chum, but he had evi-
IDENTIFY changed his mind.
While Sam Rather w's thus gazing he
heard the door open. and saw a woman
enter, dripping with the evening storm,
her wet shawl drawn close about her
shoulders. She paused a moment and
looked down the room.
"Doan't ee do il" said Sam in a low
voice, as he saw her recognize Bill Knows
lev and pass onward. Either she did not
hear him or did not need him, for she
slipped silently down the room Even
then you could see by her walk that she
was heavy with "a double burden of life.
Bill Knowsley. sitting at the corner of
the bay glass in hand and far from
drowsy, though terribly drunk, suddenly
found his arm touched, and heard these
words in his ear.
"Bill BILL remember tn gemman,
and tn sooper all so nice; COON along,
chap"
When Bill turned and looked at his
wife, she wished she had staid at home
There was a dead silence among the
men.
"Dedn tell ee," he roared out, never
moure L COON an trouble | en- this
place p
"Yes, BILL" said the poor woman but,
Bill remember tn sooper lad, and tn
man waiten at tn house.
Bill Kuowsley finished his glass and
set it down, and rose up with wrath
in his eye and the devil in his heart.
Without word he smote with his left
straight out, as if he had been at the
hardened mug" Of a bruiser, into the
middle of the woman's face. Shrieking,
she went down on her back, face no
longer featured, face bloody and feature
less.
Take that-and thatl'
"The maniac's clogs were heavy. Once
into her side, and-0 my God are you
men who are looking on 2 are you men
or beasts 2-once again into her tender
sidel With that fell blow two lives went
out
Man Man Stay thy useless fury
now. The work is done. No need to
break or bruise the poor limp body any
more. The spirit is already before the
Judge Of the quick and the dead.
Not a man in the room moved while
Bill Knowsley exercised his admitted
rights OF home government. One or two
laughed foolishly. One man said, "Sarve
'en right" The rest were cowed or in
different Bill Knowsley. glancing round
savagely, as il to see whether any one
had any protest to make, sat down and
called for more gin.
Then Sam Rather came down the
room, and after gazing a moment at the
still heap that lay there weltering he
pointed to Knowsley's clogs, and said,
quietly but hoarsely:
There's blood, Bill Knowsley The'd
best to mizzle."
Bill Knowsley. looking down on his
boots, seemed to gather an idea. He got
up, and casting his eyes an instant on
his deadly work, skunk along the room
and went out into outer darkness.