Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-12-02
soribne = Monthly. oVt is.p.
DICK.

rsr. and presently began studying the
very unusual company Of passengers in
from, Of me.
The car vas nearly filed ~i,h men
~hO ~ere returning from California; .
~ild. rough se, Of fellows. Who had gone
out With high hope. and large prospects.
bu, we're nO~ coming back disappointed
and reckless. They we're rudely dressed
and each man wore At bis belt. s,rspP'd
on outside hi. blouse. either knife or .
revolver. While arm. Of greater magnitude
leaned against every seat.
The party had been travelling for more
than three weeks. having been .no~ed In
again and ss.in on the f.r Western
road. Weary and dssPera,e |. they
~sre. they sang roaring .Ons'. and shout
I'd and qasu,led but more than al. they
drank. A large demyOhn stood 'on .
.hslf in the from, kfi hand corner of the
cat. and from ihi. the cups and bottle.
~sre flled from time TO time as u became
necessary.
A. ~s swep, around the head OF the
lake. We halted. ior the ffs, time since
starting. at Michigan City. Here ne~
passenger entered the car and took the
.ss, Immediately b-hiad mice. A hAsiy
glance .hosed him 10 BE- man Of about
thirty five. stout. With dsrk complexion
bro.n eye. and hair. heavy mus,sehs.
and an sr OF usor and business that
made me look Al him i~iee. lie ~oie
. .ome~hs, faded. shaggy overcon. q
far ,urban cap, and heavy ,oP'bcoi' mo
Which hi. ,ro.ser. we're tucked. Tie bad
no baggage. ba, held lantern in his l'f'
hand. s~inging Il oarles.ly between b..
knes. and often looking ,houshifally Il
Il f1r s0me minute. .ts time. Again
and again found myself half TUNED IN
my sect. ssrins al him.
Meanwhile the din sad ro~dyism In
N. car gre- more and more boisierou.
Presently one Of the loudes, and worst
boxing q the company. ha'ias hlled .
l.rs, bottle from the tank ia the eornsr'
bsssn to pas. !, to each Ooe in turn I. he
staggered down the aisle. oa he came
,o.ard the iesr. drinking. clrsing. yell
Jog and every man ,ha, he passed drank
With him. A, last he stood at the seat
before mine. a- ,hA, he Was about
10 osF.r me the bottle. and 20 avoid him.
| turned and looked oa, Of the ~indo~'
A. he came even with me. he reached
over and pulled me by the shoulder
forcing me TO face him. and told me to
drink. Tie was well bull, fellow. 'is
Zee, and over. bn~ny. and With too
navy re,olver in hi. belt, aud . lons
drk.kniie az hi. breast. and he was
thoroughly drunk. looked him straight
ia the eye. bu, he only leered a, me and
renewed hi. demand. sPOlosired. told
him | never drank. and begged Of a.
be., could. bat !, va. all Of no avail.
| ui-d TO get oa, Of the sea,. and 40 out
Of the en, bat he stood across the pas.
..s,, aud raising the bottle high ose'
HI. head ~i,h one hand. be held me by
the shoulder ~ish the other. and With .
terrible oath. commanded me TO drink OF
he would break the bOt,le over my head
Ia stature | am Eve feet eight, and both
Hose and Fairbanks agree ,hs, kick
the beam al one hundred and twenty
Eve. Under these circumstances. u &C
cured TO me that discretion Vas the bet
ter par, Of valor. %. taking the bottle
fron hi. hand. | ehoked dosn swallow
Of is vile eon,en,.
Pushing me back into the seat. the ruff
fan proceeded TO the stranger behind me
and offered him the liquor The man
ga. bending over. boldins his lantern
9TH both hands. and slowly swinging ''
backward and fot~ard. he raised hi'
keen brown eyes to those OF the rough
dropped hi, chin .lish,ly. aud then with
oa, emotion, said deliberA,ely.-
go to hell :"
The a...il.nt va. dared for an In
slant. ba, recovered him.slf. aai reae"-
ed hi. demand. Then the stranger se
hi. lantern upon the q or. stood up to hi
fall height. and said quietly:
Stranger. | don't van, no fuss will
you, an don't cslc'ls,e to have any
ba, the bes, way for you TO get clear OF
kaoek.down II be to ge, away from herr
about as quick . you can! DO yo'
hesr,"
lie looked him full 10 the eye. and
stood there 90 quiet, ye, 50 determined
TIA, the drunken man. after eyina hin
for minute. dropped hi. head, turned
and vent. mambl'ng. to the froat OF ih
car and sa, down. The stranger s'oo
ull the man was seated. and then. seat
ing himself. took up bis lantern an
| quietly swung il {. before. l was o'e'
whelmed With shame, and turned On
spolosired to him.
The keen brown eyes looked frsnkl
into mine ss spoke. and seemed to rss
me through and through. When ] ha
finished. the man placed his hsod almo'
,suderly upon my arm which rss'ed uP0
the back Of the seat. and sid;
"str.nser. don't you fret. You did =
right. for man in your fix. IL hkel