St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-02

the same plan as Tommy Warren, the
feather-weight and ne is about
as act We on his feet aud. coupled with his
agility. he carr Is around with him more
than an ordinary amount of john l..
science.
Early in the spring Rockwell happened
to be in Hnckley on business tor the road
and in the evening he sat IN the office OF the
hotel, out of winch opened the bar-room,
reading the morning paper. Now PhllO
never drinks anything stronger than coffee
and this fact was known 10 the proprietor
Of the hotel. who thought he would have a
little fun for the amusement of his guests.
In the crowd around the stove was big,
broad ShOuldered lumberman nearly two
feet taller than Rockwell and certainly a
hundred pounds heavier. He had just
come in from the woods. with his pockets
lined with the earnings OF winter and was
proceeding to paraiyze himself with Hnck-
ley whisky at very lively gait. Rusty
Bill he was called, on account Of his red
hair and whiSkers, and he was the bully of
the camp. Along about 9 O'Clock Bill was
pretty well loaded and filling the SMOKY at
mOsphere of the baT-roOm with bragadOciO
and wild threats of what he could
do The proprietor thought that il was
the proper time to work up the sport, and
taking Bill To one side he told him that
there was a fellow out by the stove who
was a teetOtaler and if he would go and
make him drink, he would set up the stuff
to the house.
You bet yer life he'll drink" said
Rusty, as he staggered towards the hotel
Office.
Rockwell. unaware of the pool that had
been made against him, sat by the door
quietly reading the paper. when Rusty
reeled up to him. and laying his heavy
hand on his shoulder said: ''Scuse me,
stranger. but | want yer ter cum an drink
WI ME"
Never drink, my boy" replied Rockwell.
with gOod-natured smile peculiar to MIN.
Never drink, hey?'
No"
"wad, I reckon yer'n drink wi me,
strar ger, if l say So
IA drink as quick with you as 1 would
with anybody else"
- wouldn't WONDER" said Rusty with a
grin. looking over his shoulder and winking
at the crowd Of interested spectators beyond
the door of the bar-room. Cum in an have
er good whisky wi me-
No
Say, stranger, der you know who yer
foolin' wi? I'm Rusty Bill, an when / say
drink everybody tips an don't yer furgit
it,"
Il don't care if you're John L. Sullivan,
don't propose to drink with you, calmly
replied Rockwell.
You don't, hey?' said Rusty. ':Waal,
Well see eff yer do er not and stepping back
he began to roll up the sleeves Of his heavy
shirt.
Fun was coming, and the crowd could
hardly refrain from roaring and Rusty
smiled with satisfaction at the interest that
was being taken in his actions. Gett ng
his sleeves under reef. he stepped up to
Rockwell and gripped his shoulder as if to
drag him from the chair
A verbatim report of what followed was
not preserved. but it was of such a nature
that the spectators who had counted on
great layout OF fun were somewhat sur
prised though not disappointed. Just as
Rusty's hand connected with Philo's
shoulder there was a rushing sound, fol-
lowed by crack! crack! and then a dull
thud as though the cornice had fallen off
the house Nor did the fun cease at this
point, for from distant corner of the loom
TWO bodies swung out into the middle of
the room, and there was a Diff! biff! and
Rusty went down like log with one ear
buried in a cuspidore. He arose and made
some remark like We'll see whether yer'lI
drink with ME or not" when ROckwel's
left caught him on the jaw and he slid un-
der the table, where he lay about three
minutes thinking to himself. When he
came too and crawled out. Rockwell was
sitting by the stove reading as unconcern-
edly as if nothing had occurred.
Going over to him, Rusty said, s'Say,
stranger, don't know Yer name, but guess
/ made er mistake in pickin' you out ter drink
wi me. OF course eff yer don't want to drink
yer don't have ter. 1 amt going ter try ter
make yer. Let's shake an call it squar'"
Rockwell took the proffered hand, and
from that day Rusty Bill has been his best
friend.