The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-06-24

=
should ssget used to."-Bishop Clark, IN
New York Ledger.
A Death. Dealing Destroyer.
There was an air of grim desperation
about him as he stalked into the res!
taurant and sat down at table. The
bar-keeper regarded him suspiciously
and waited for an order, but none came.
The man who sweeps out the establish
ment for his morning cocktail crept into
his corner and busted the hinges of the
door assiduously, while the customers
without money who were waiting for the
customers with money laid their heads
more closely together and unanimously
agreed that the drought would ruin the
crops.
"Why did 1 kill those two unfortunate
strangers?' demanded the desperate
man, bringing his fist down on the table
and glaring around fiercely.
"Ah-h!" murmured the impecuni-
GUS customers, che has killed two men,"
and they edged up toward the wall. Inc
honest artisan rubbed the hinge with his
sleeve and glanced toward the bar-keep-
er, who stared at the stranger with one
eve while he searched around Tor the
bung-starter with the other.
"They may have had families de-
pendent upon them!" continued the
ruffian, a gloom of remorse stealing over
his visage, 'sand the other three that l
killed yesterday may have been the
heads of happy households. Why did /!
slaughter them? Why did l do it? |
ask" and he arose from his seat and
paced the room with nervous strides.
Five men!' muttered the penniless
chorus. s.He has killed five men in two
days!" The man at the hinge picked at
blotch of iron rust with pin, and the
bar-keeper laid hold of a beer-faucet
with a hysterical grip.
"Had 1 the right, because three
wouldn't treat me and two WOULDN'T
trust me. to imbrue my hands with their
blood? Was 1 justified in taking human
life because they opposed my insane Ell,
forts to secure the liquor my soul
craved?" went on the desperate man,
scowling around him. :.
"He killed them for drinks" whls-
pered the congregation of hard-ups:
sThey wouldn't treat or trust him!"
The sweeper wet his thumb and tried to
oil the hinge, and the bar-keeper reach
ed under the counter for a mallet.
"But l would do it again!" continued
the reckless stranger, with a smile that
looked more like groan. s'Opposltlon
TO me means death. You hear me?' he
cried, approaching the bar.
"He'il do it again!'' moaned the
empty-pocketed spectators to this horn,
BILE scene. The man at the hinge breathed
thereupon and polished it with his ell
bow, while the bar-keeper fumbied IN
the till for revolver.
"Let there be an end to bloodshed!'
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. 6 Let him
have what he wants!'' The hinge
cleaner crept up behind the ruthless
SLAYER and fixed his gaze OH the bar
keeper. Suddenly, and with a noise
that shook the building to its founda
tons, the bar-keeper closed one eye
The-sweeper-out-for -his-morning- COCK
tail grasped the stranger by the neck
and annex and fired him out. Ou
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 thu
resistless gutter!
"Did YOU know him?" asked thu
breathless scorners of bonds, as thu
suaoner settled into his corner and drew
his thumb nail through the crack OF tn
, frowning hinge.
The speaker turned his pale face to
ward his questioners.
81 have six saloons on my route" h
answered, with hoarse glance, and
was at the other five that he did tn
killing he spoke of"
"And he killed them?" they asked
. The bar-keeper stopped mixing tn
. cocktail he had under preparation TO
: the sweeper and listened curiously.
"He did," replied the sweeper-out
running his eye over the hinge t
. moisten it. i" He did it remorselessly:
> "Who were they! How did he d
n it?'' asked the pailid throng.
"They were bar keepers. and he hun
q 'em up" whispered the sweeper, and
= he filed away the cocktail in the noun
a tain Businesses of his stomach, the III
n pecunious customers crowded out on
by one, and went next door to see
+ thew could get change for the holes
: their pockets.-Brooklyn Eagle.
s gymnastics as Cure OF Disease.