The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-23


This story is old 1t came 10 me little
battered and frayed about the edges still
| think II may amuse the ten thousand
readers of the FREE TRADER.
A certain saloon man, now old in the
business, but yet sticking to 1t even while
his bank account must tell him that he Is
wealthy enough to retire, because he was
born for II and has no enjoyments other
than standing behind his bar from seven In
the morning until eleven at night and hand
out his own 10 favored customers,-was
once the butt of the harmless jokes of as
merry a cOterie of jolly good fellows as ever
drew a glass of liquor across bar, One
day, when nothing In particular agitated
their intellects they drirted into his place,
and after the usual prellminaries drank
several potations and ranged themselves in
conversational attitude. One-poor fellow,
he now sleeps beside tine river-had been
reading in Chicago paper of the surpris-
ing lack Of knowledge In religious matters
among "men about town." ana remarking
II, wagereu another of the party that he
could not say the Lords prayer. The
saloonst naturally became stakeholder and
and Judge After clearing his throat the
challenged party adopted his form to
scanctlmonous attitude and solemnly start
ed In to repeat:
"Now lay me down to Sleep
There was the sound as of the remnant
of basin Of water escaping through wat
grippe. 1t was the saloonst clearing his
voice Of snags.
"Shendlemen" he said "Mishter R
wins de money Dot ish all right'W
| Sometime ago, | believe 1t was In the
month of August, four young bloods of the
town who had received invitations to a
dancing party given by wealthy north
farmer, dubbed together and having decid.
ed to "stag it," hired closed hack and
driver, and sailed forth to enjoy them
selves If there should be any enjoyment at
hand They did not forget while prepar.
ing to depart to visit a nearby saloon and
provide themselves with spirits In bottles.
The evening was gaily spent-dancing and
conversation made the hours to pass quick
ly and at midnight the party broke up and
the boys turned homeward They present
ell one bottle TO the driver and proceeded
TO discuss the others with one another In a
compliment mood After while they be-
came very tight and very sleepy, and with a
few warning yawns were soon lost to con-
seriousness. While this little affair was
progressing inside the hack, the driver
who found the morning air somewhatchilly
was not idle and before half the distance
home had been traversed, he had fallen
back upon the top of the conveyance In a
drunken stupor The horses finding them
selves free from restrain, increased their
pace to a swinging trot, and the hack was
soon bounding over the rough road rocking
and swaying like cat boat in choppers"
The jarring and jolting of the vehicle At
length awakened one of the bloOds, upon
whom the liquor had not had so much
effect rs upon the Others and he in turn
awakened the driver, who stopped the team
In short order
"Where are we?' asked thu blood in
some alarm, as he hastily scrambled out of
the hack.
IL cont know Never been here before.
There amt no houses In sight, that | see"
Drive ahead Till we see a house"
He did so and In few moments build
ing loomed up through trees. 1t was a
bright moonlight night and the youth who
had assumed the captaincy of the expedi-
ton, jumped out and inspected the prem
ices. The place was deserted, and the
moonlight streaming through upon the
bare walls, which, together with the I'M
kept surroundings, made ii seem sepnl-
chial. He shuddered and hastily re-enter'
ing the hack, commanded the driver to pro-
coed About half mile further on they
came to another house and the surround.
ings seeming TO proclaim the presence of a
tenant the youth pounded vigorously on
the door. A window went up with bang
and harsh voice asked:
"Who's there?
BY way of answer the youth shouted:
"Where the HI do you live?
; "Why, right here of course" and the
voice contained traces of anger
"Wen, where's here? We're lost Where
Is Ottawa anyhow"
This Is the new bluff road that goes
> down by the Nef place, Keep straight
? ahead"
I "Oh! thanks.
| The window went down with a rush, and
! all that disturbed the silence of the summer