Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-03-07
CHATTER xI-CContcinued.1

en- l%oungers about public-houses-were
around him and laughing and encour
aging him with their cries and with the
clapping Of their hands.
AS Noel looked into the room his nee
essary but disreputable acquaintance
was holding in his hand a EGO note,
which he was waving above the heads
of the people surrounding the table on
to which they had hoisted him,
Widely were all eyes opened, greedy
were the looks fixed on that bank note;
and not a man of them whose fingers
were not %twitching with eagerness to
clutch it..
Gentlemen" Nicksey was shouting,
drink as much as you want, AID as
much more as you like. l have just
come into my property, and shan't n
| descend to accept any change from this
| fimSy; all of it has to be swallowed,
SO set to work, gentlemen"
Shouts of applause rewarded Mr..
Nicksey for his liberality.
And then that gentlemln fell to sing
ing and dancing Oh the table. Pres
emily h" stopped, and as well as he
| could, being scant of breath, again ad-
dressed the company.
"Gentlpmen," and he pulled and
! spluttered. Il am not n OF you, but
l permit you all to be one of me. You
are all vagabonds, and | am an aristo-
crat; but | am very glad to see you.
You are poverty-stricken wretches, AMI
! am a man OF property; and money
levels all distinctions. and the only man
of you | should consider beneath me
would be the one incapable Of taking
his fair share Of liquor. At h pres,
ent moment l am above you, but we
shall all be equals when we are to-
| gcther under the table"
Loud and reiterated cheers from the
| company. in the midst Of which Nick
! soy fcIi from the table and came with
a heavy thump on to the floor Of he
room.
In falling. the bank note had escaped
from his hand. and a struggling and
Scrnmbling ensued amongst Nicksey's
friends for its possession.
But Nicksey, quite unhurt, with the
usual good fortune which it Is said at
tends tipSy persons, had In a moment
regalned his feet. using them to kick
from about him those who were striv-
ing to grasp his note.
He made no gentle use either of his
fists, and soon had made a clear space
around his bank note, and eXclalm ng:
III massacre the first man that
touches my himsy!' placed his foot
upon it.
Having seized n chair and hurled IL
amongst his friends, he stopped and
took Up his note.
Behave like g~entlemen!" he cried,
gpsticulating violently, "Or I'll throw
you out Of the Window
Rnt two or three Of the fellows had
been struck by the chair which Nicksey
had thrown: one man had received a
blow from II on the head, which had
stunned and sent him sprawliGg. and
had become enraged, and were full OF
fury now against the gentleman with
whom. Just before, they had been so
exceedingly delighted.
1t would have gone badly with MIR.
Nicksey but Mt the moment that all,
combining their strength, were about
to advance upon him, Darlington step
ped into the room. and dipping his
hand into his pocket, drew from II a
handful Of silver. which he sent flying
amongst the Infatuated ruftians.
Arrested by the shower instead OF
fighting with Nickspy, they proceeded
to buffet and overthrow each other TO
obtain what share they might OF the
money which had been cast 70 them.
harrington seized the opportunity to
drag Nicksey from that room and into
another apartment, of which he secured
the door.
Nicksey had recognized his friend. or
had not so easily given himself to Bar
rington's guidance; and rs soon as they
were alone together, said, in n tone OF
injured innocence:
Did you ever know snch vagabonds?
And ! was behaving 10 them with such
libcrality and condescensiOn!"
Never mind them" said Noel, sooth-
ingly. You and l will be jolly to-
gether."
Eyes. that's itr' cried Nicksey.
And then. his eyes swimming vacant
" around the room:
"Rut, where's the young 'un?" he pro-
cpedpd. There were three Of us In
the affair. Doesn't he mean to come
for his share Of the swag?'
"Oh. vest" he was ans wered; land In
the meantime, here am l to receive
mine"
But Mr.. Nicksey would have more
liquor before talking about 1t: his
throat was too dry for conversation,
he said.
Harrington knew It would be vain to
attempt to reason the fellow out OF
his determination, and 80 liquor was
ordered and brought. of which Nick
soy. Of course freely imbibed, while
Noel resolutely refused to touch 4 drop
of it. !
You needn't be afraid TO drink"
shouted Nicksey. II pay, and not wi h
your money; your share and the young
'un's are put away safe-dcn't you be
frightened that anybody will get hold
OF them-the swag Is hid away snug
enough where | live-along with some
bits Of Daper-all riglIt!'
And he winked and looked stupidity;
but rs he believed knowingly, Oh Bar
rington with his now fishy eyes.
And the communication just made to
him WAS n great satisfaction to Noel,
whose aim must now be. he sad 10
himself, to get Nicksey home again as
soon as possible.
After NickSey's eyes had again wan
iercd around the ROOM, he slid, having
totally forgotten that he had before
iskcd the PRESTON:
where's the young 'unT'
'At the deor In a coach awaiting us,"
- wzl