The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-07-20
A SALOON INCIDENT.
ny ALVIN JoNENIL.

- Of classes, ribald laughter and
~ ;ar while the atmosphere was thick
.Io fumes of tobacco and alcohol.
W. n,,,r was near midnight and the eyes
ls,o mon sitting around the little la
,I.s drinking and playing cards were
and bloodshot. The ound, red
.lo Of the bartender was flushed with
1 l, and exertion; for his patrons were
1rinl,inc heavy and often. Presently
.I,oro was lull in the business and the
bar.keeper improved the opportunity by
limo forward and resting both elbows
ICON fine counter in font of him.
For some time a shabbily dressed old
oo standing near the door and leaning
,oins+ +he soiled wall of the room, had
boon watching the dealing out of the
Tenor with feverish, bloodshot eyes.
uis face was pale and thin almost to
omaciation and his gray hair and beard
wore long and unkempt. The thread
hare black coat, which chung loosely
\ ohout his attenuated frame, was buttoned
4 IN +ichtly around his throat and down
4 his breast AS he stood there his long,
i thin hands would clasp and unclasp
themselves nervously, while every now
and then tremor would pass over his
frame, When the bar-keeper leaned his
fat arms upon the courier the old man
gave a quick, nervous glance around the
room and walking up to him asked, in a
husky voice, for glass of whisky.
The bartender looked at him con-
temptuously for moment and then in
CURED "Have you got the chink?'
Certainly, certainly; of course have.
Il I'm no dead-beat, replied the old man.
Il The saloon-keeper handed him glass
of the fiery beverage and he drank it
8 down at a swallow.
As he put the empty glass down upon
the counter he turned to the man behind
the bar and said: 'Say, old fellow, l
have poured large fortune, beautiful
home and a loved wife and child into
your still and you have poured ruination
down my throat; so l guess you can
stand this one drink, for l have not got
a cent left in the world" and he turned
to 90,
mot So fast" cried the enraged saloon
keeper, as he sprang over the counter
and seized him by the collar. "You
drunken old brute, pay for that glass of
whisky or III kick your old carcass into
the gutter -
The old mans voice trembled as he re-
piled; Don't, don't old friend. For
you have lost fortune, home, wife and
baby; surely you will not begrudge me a
single glass of whisky? l had to have it
or would have died.
"Out upon you, you shivering old hyp-
ocrite," yelled the saloon keeper with an
oath, emphasizing his command with a
brutal kick and violent jerk on the coat
81 collar.
Inc collar gave way, and the greedy
eyes saw thin gold chain to which was
fastened a small gold locket, hanging
around the bare, wrinkled neck.
IRA, ha. You old miser," laughed the
orute as he tore the chain violently from
on The old mans neck. 'Tll keep this
pi'te trlnket till you pay for the whisky"
Tor moment the old man stood as il
aazed' and then, clutching wildly with
OOth hands at his throat, in a vain search
'oF the locket, cried out: 'For Gods
sake give me back my locket.. Give me
O"ck mo locket. Don't open it, he
Selled as the saloon keeper began to ex.
mine The Iocket. "Give it to me! Fol
'He loVe OF heaven give it to me-"
lou 0Iubbering old idiot" laughed
ie saloon keeper, who'd have a sweet
''"i' dV your time of life. Come. bows.
~ Us see what kind of a looking gal she
VIC looKerS-On saw strange
o"'' Inc gray-headed old man flung
i''eH on his knees before the brutal
I0oH Keeper, and while the tears ran
I Nv" lis hollow cheeks, begged and i'm
''0 il'ln TO give him back the locket.
1"' 'ne saloon keeper only laughed
N - 9''o' Must be pretty girl to make
'I"' luSo owe | wouldn't miss see
nr,. picture now to save my soul from
GS'yoFy'' As he said this he opened
N l. g,De, long curl of beautiful gold
41', leII out and catching on his fing-
NV 'nciltself around them like thing
sIa5 Saints and angelsr' he yelled,
"' hurled the l0cket boir o,d.11