The Van Buren press., 1899-01-07
iLRAWAY'S SWEAR=OFFt !
} By q. B. Dunham. \

vita bunch OF beeyes, and preferred
nigt riding 10 making another camp.
Thcow-ponies logged steadily along,
anathe men, tired and chilled, sat
stk in their saddles. There was no
talbetween man and man, but to his
mont each spoke word from time to
tin "a word of encouragement when
heIgged or of reproof if he stumbled.
1ward ten o'clock, when nearing
theate of the pasture, a light appeared
ahid and to the left of our course. AS
weame up to the fence, we saw that 1t
sof 20 rods off the road, and swinging
in e wind. By its fitful fare a man
in long ulster was digging in the
hal soil with a short-handled spade.
In ne uncertain light he looked to be
of lormous size and as he thrust the
spe with quick strokes again and
aga into the frozen ground, the long
taiof his coat swished about him or
strmed in the wind.
'boks like the devil a-dancing," said
onef the men as he got down to open
theate.
'le devil is making him dance, no
dou about that" replied the fore
mar
Nmore was said The man en-
grosd in his task had not seen or, at
leas had not noticed us. The loose
hors turned in at the gate, struck ur
a lily gallop; there was a general
shahg up of bridle-reins and ring
ing spur-ehains. Up long hill and
dow steep short one, and we were al
the lnch-house, and the grumbling
cookas turning out to get us hot
supr. He always grumbled-that
coolabout getting meals after hours.
but see when couple of us sneaked
In Ia and went to bed without waking
hime raised such a ruetion that we
nevaried it again
H an hour later we were well
ward and eating good meal in the
mes,ouse.
"Iaway is digging up his Bible
agai' remarked the cook, as he
poul strong black coffee into big
cups
chow it," said the foreman.
Fnk Laraway was a better man by
haitian half the men you know. He
hadlent as much will-power in resist
ingle drink habit as would suffice to
caritwo average men through life N
horable careers surrounded by
friss and family, and pass them on
vital credentials to better world
Aft wrestling with, and being period
ical thrown by, the appetite fer
liqr for many years, he left his worl;
in city and took to a ranch life. On
thench and range he became valued
erpye, but twice or more each year
he buld disappear for time, return
inghaggard, shrunken, and dead
bro, and with n fresh determination
TO nquer the appetite, 81 don't want
TO good, or great, or rich, said he;
81 1t want to be my own boss"
Iehanced one day that Laraway,
the SOLDERING up in little railroad
TOW heard a man say: "I'm going to
swr off this time on the biggest
Bit in town" He asked if he might
go,o.
Gre" said the man, becoming com
mucative at once; "I've swore off on
nubers of them little Bibles; I've
swe off before Judge Blank and Fa-
th Ryan. This time I'm going to the
bichurch."
he two men went to a pastor's study
aIthe section-hand, requesting him to
piluce the large pulpit Bible, was
sonnly sworn, with his hand on its
on page to abstain forever from all
ipXicating beverages.
That is long while" was Laraway's
cement.
Do you keep the Bible locked up?"
aed the lrishman, anxiously
The building is always closed when
n in use" replied the pastor.
Why did you ask him that?" de-
rnded Laraway, when they had come
ny.
The Irishman marveled at the ques-
tn. "Why, don't you see?" said he;
IS because if I can get at the book
nen the first is on me I can get let
E."
Swearing off, is a common industry
a frontier town, but 1t had never be-
re come to Laraway's notice. 1t
emed to him, on reflection, to promise
me assistance to himself in his per-
tual fight He bought Bible and
promised himself, with his hand
BON it, that he would taste no liquor
r six months. Then he came home
I'd went to work. He wrote the date
the book, and kept the book in his
Dcket. He kept the promise to the
tier and the day. After that spree he
ade an entry on the fy-leaf agreeing
abstain for one year. This time he
d not carry the book in his pocket;
J took it out on the range and
lried 1t.
"That crazy Irishman's notion about
ltting let off II he can lay hands on
te book don't go for cent with me
wv" said Laraway; "but before the
VAR is up I'll be a crazy Irishman my
ilf."
The one-year pledge proved too hard
I keep Twice since its making, at in
rivals of six or eight months, Laraway
Id dug up his Bible, cancelled his
ledge, and got drunk. Tonight we
nd seen him overcome for the third
me. We liked him well, and we were
eieved. but what could we do?
I"Why don't some of you make a
neak on his Bible and cache il where
2 can't find it?' asked the Kid (He is
-l...n..r nrl-inc- fc.nl nnastinnsA Tha