Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-06-28
MYSTERIOUS EYES.

old year in true JagsOnian style and
started for home when tho infant 1895
was only three hours old, carrying a
load that was heavy ven for SO expert
q vehicle rs tho Jagson anatomy. Then
the surprise came. When the old boy
appeared later in the day and took his
usual seat alongside the old guard, a
tumbler Of straight" was at once
brought All tho others raised their
glasses, murmured Happy New Yeeri"
sinking the last syllable INTO tho glasses
ns they quaffed tho rare old brew, and
then looked at Jngson. There sat the
veteran, but his hand had not touched
the glass. Silently he reached forth, and
taking n lumber full Of water he slow
" drank. CONSERVATION but feebly ex-
presses the feelings Of the old guard.
Jagson drinking water, and that, too,
on New Years dayi What had hap
pened2
Eager inquiries brought no satisfao-
tion 70 anxious friends.
mo; I've not sworn of, F" said Jag
BON.
Never going to drink any moreY'
asked the old guard in chorus.
II may, f" replied the hero of many a
tussle with old red eye.
"Siok?'' again came from the chorus.
enc" came from between the colo
nel's tightly compressed lips, and with
n curt GOOD dayl' be strobe majestic
ally from the cafe.
This action brought dismay. Tho old
guards ranks were already depleted.
Only four now -rondezvOused daily, and
Jagson's detection meant more to tho
survivors than can we'll DO understood
by outsiders.
Nevertheless, despite all the efforts Of
entreaty and SOLICITORS inquiry, the colo
mel remained a total abstainer. BE zane
daily to join his comrades, to gossip and
swap stories, but never once did he be-
tray, by word or sign, tho reason that
led him to abjure the wine when it was
red OF the bowl when it was flowing.
Thus affairs ran on. The Old Guard
was troubled, and Colonel Jagson lock.
ed worried End acted like a man over
burdened with serious thought and a
deep financial disorder. The fear that
Colonel Jagson was caught in the finan-
OAaA HNAAnEfn0l AnhnIDA REutLAA SUNNI
to take his wife into his confidence.
With that tact and intuition that are
woman's chief charm she went ut once
to call On Mrs. Jagson, and with the
usual result-she got the root Of the
trouble in short order. Mrs. Jagson was
positively radiant The colonel was al.
ways sober, the household allowance had
been increased, the table bore more deli
caoies Of the season, her wardrobe and
bonnets were new, and Mrs. Jagson be-
gan to think that the declining years of
her married state would be happier than
the earlier period.
"And how did it all come about2'
quoth Mrs. Soake. Now, Mrs. Jagson
knew that Mrs. Soake had suffered from
the same rivalry that she herself had
endured, and that soft pity to which
femininity is so prone swept over her,
and she gave the cause of the reforma-
ton away TO her friend.
lyon know, my dear Mrs. Soake, F"
began Mrs. Jagson, 1.-THE colonel came
nome just before daylight on New Years
morning and was not quite himself.
The ~conyiYiality had proved too much
for his equilibrium, but after much
fumbling he got the door opened and
came up stairs as softly as circumstances
would permit. Contrary to my usual
custom, 1 mad put the light in his room
entirely out. He seemed unable to find
q match and evidently tried to go to
bed in the dark. Faint rumblings and
mutterings caught my attention, then a
wild roar l rushed in to find him on
the floor grasping at the carpet When
tho COS was lighted, he became quiet,
went TO bed, and 1 left him in the darh
again
"A second time no called and asked
me TO sit with him in the light. / die
so until he fell asleep. The next morn.
ing ne felt that some explanation was
due, / suppose, and told me that bright
spots like %twinkling eyes had peered al
him from the floor about tho bed, anC
when he tried TO grab one nothing wa
there. You may DO assured Colonel Jag
son was badly frightened at the effects
OF his overindulgence, and from tina.
day to this he has not tasted liquor o.
any kind.
But the explanation, my dear Mrs
Jagsonr' cried the excited Mrs. soake
"Wsil, you must keep it secret. L
the truth DO found out, the colone
might go back 10 drinking again. 4
was this way; You see, I'd been having
the colonel's room cleaned and fanciod
only fanoied, you know. that the bee
might havo some Of those little pest.
lurking in the crevices. so ] told th'
girl 10 use a phosphorus powder, and
she oarelossly let some sift onto the car
pct. OF course, in the dark it shon'
bright. and that is all tfyIe is to thi
eyes that haunted the q opeL"
Just phosphorus beuyug powderl'
exclaimed the wife Of the old guards
man. who had not stopped slipping thl
cheering bowl in more than 40 years
Just think Of iti Broken from a habi
of so long a time by 20 cents worth o
bedbug poisonl / shall go and get somt
Immediately.
Thus bubbling with eagerness the lit
tle woman rushed into the chill atmos
phere Of the outer world and into thu
arms OF her dearest friend, Mrs. Majoi