The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-02
A Death-Dealing DESTROYER.

A DS~th-DOhAlH9 DESTROYER. %
There was an air of grim desoerat;o.
about him as he stalked into tho N, ~ou
taurant and sat down at a table. IT, IT,,
bar-keeper regarded him suspicioral'e
and waited for an order, but none can ,ty
The man who sweeps out the estabGaS
ment for his morning cocktail crent in."
his corner and busted the hinges Of tEo
door assiduously, while the custom sue
without money who were waiting for tbo
customers with money laid their baeds
more closely together and unanimonsII
agreed that the drought would ruin ~
crops. 'He
"Why did l kill those two unfortur.to
strangersP" demanded the desnerato0
man, bringing his fist down on the tabt o
and glazing around fiercelv.
"Ah-h!'' murmured the imnecnr;
Gus customers, che has killed two men y
and they edged up toward the wall Tbo
honest artisan rubbed the hinge with b0
sleeve and glanced toward the bar.kao ono
er, who stared at the stranger with oao
eye while he searched around for the
bung-starter with the other.
"They may have had families do.
pendent upon them!" continued tbo
rullian, a gloom ofremorse stealing ovou r
his visage, ''and the other three That
killed yesterday may have been tbo
heads of happy households. Why did
slaughter themp Why did | do itP
ask" and he arose from his seat and
paced the room with nervous strides.
"Five men!" muttered the pennileSs
chorus. ''He has killed five men in two
days!" The man at the hinge picked at
a blotch of iron rust with pin, and the
bar-keeper laid hold of beer-faucet
with hysterical grip.
Had | the right, because three
wouldn't treat me and two wouldn't
trust me, to imbrue my hands with their
bloodP Was I justified in taking human
life because they opposed my insane eff.
forts to secure the liquor my soul
cravedp" went on the desperate man,
scowling around him.
"He killed them for drinks" whiS
pered the congregation of hard-ups
"They wouldn't treat or trust hint"
The sweeper wet his thumb and tried to
oil the hinge, and the bar-keeper reach
| ed under the counter for a mallet.
"But would do it again!" continued
the reckless stranger, with smile that
looked more like groan. "Opposition
to me means death. You hear me?n he
cried, approaching the bar.
"He'n do it again!" moaned the
empty-pocketed spectators to this horr
bic scene. The man at the hinge breathed
thereupon and polished it with his ell
bow, while the bar-keeper fumbled in
the till for revolver.
"Let there be an end to bloodshed!n
said the stranger, gloomily. "Let this
wanton sacrifice of precious life stop
right here. Give me some whisky and
charge it to me-"
GIVE it to him!" shouted the little
mob of anti-monopolists. Let him
have what he wants!" The hinge.
cleaner crept up behind the ruthless
slayer and fixed his gaze on the bar
keeper. Suddenly, and with noise
that shook the building to its founda-
tions, the bar-keeper closed one ere
The-sweeper-out-fo r-his-morrarg cock
tail grasped the stranger by the neck
and annex and fired him out. Om
through the swing doors! Out over the
cold, merciless pavement! Out through
the golden glare of the laughing sun!
Out into the muck and shadows OF the
resistless gutter!
"Did YOU know him?" asked the
breathless scorners of bonds, as the
sweeper settled into his corner and drew
his thumb nail through the crack of the
frowning hinge.
The speaker turned his pale face to.
ward his questioners.
al have six saloons on my route" he
answered, with a hoarse glance, "andi
was at the other five that he did the
killing he spoke Of"
"And he killed themp" they asked
The bar-keeper stopped mixing the
cocktail he had under preparation for
the sweeper and listened curiously.
"He did," replied the sweeper-out,
running his eye over the hinge to
moisten it. "He did it remorselessly."
"Who were they! How did he do
itp" asked the pallid throng.
"They were bar-keepers, and he hung
'em up" whispered the sweeper, andas
he filed away the cocktail in the noun
tain Businesses of his stomach, the i'm
pecunious customers crowded out one
by one, and went next door to see il
they could get change for the holes in
their pockets. -Brooklyn Eagle.