Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-03-07
SERPENTS OF SALVATION.
The Ordeal of a Night in Texas Cabin
b
BY GwENDoLEN OvERTON.

~ ~ ~
when he's in love. but when he's in
love and can't swear off, he is in a very
bad way" And they went on to point
out at length how the subject of dis
cussion might end up all at once in a
general collapse, to which finish the
air of the country was favorable, or,
on the other hand. might last to a
green old age, rank. and the retired
list. "You can't most always tell" de-
clared one. "but. so far as I'm con-
cerned, should like to see him die Off
early enough for Miss Cunningham to
get over it and forget all about it."
"I," said Macintosh. had rather see
him cured"
"You," observed captain, with ad-
miration, must have been drawing on
the post Sunday school library. Come
Off"
Whereat all the contrariness of Mac
Intoshs nature was aroused. Iwould,"
he insisted. Then an idea seemed to
strike him. "And I'll bet" he added,
that I'll reform him. too"
angels have trod there" they as
sured him. "but it would be pictur
esque to see you rush in. And, by way
of incentive. We'll bet you a hun
dred to ten that you won't"
Macintosh took it. and two months
was set as the limit of time in which
he might show the finished article.
provided, always" he stipulated,
that the G. o. will give me another
hunting-leave inside of week."
This the commandment-the matter
being presented to him-agreed to do.
So Macintosh told Barclay of certain
magnificent hunting grounds he had
discovered on the last trip, and worked
on his imagination and his sportman-
ship; and they started off together, on
horseback, with their bedding wrapped
in rubber ponchos, and provisions on
a led-horse. Macintosh did not want
a private or any one else along.
Barclay, being in state of new and
keen repentance, abstained from TAX
ing flask along. but Macintosh did
not believe in foolhardy heroism of
that sort, and his saddlebags held two.
Their way led across an all but in
terminable waste of chaparral. The
first day out Barclay drank water.
But he stood it in silence until they
halted at noon under a mesquite bush.
Then Barclay gave a great groan; it
was so nearly sob that Macintosh
shuddered. He asked what the trouble
was, but he knew very well.
"Pd give my eternal soul-if
haven't already-for drink" he said.
II don't believe I can stand it, old fell
low; let's go back"
But Macintosh refused; he had come
out to be gone eight days, and he was
going to stay out. you're two days
from the post, anyway" he reasoned;
and you'd either be dead or over it
before you got back"
So Barclay had no choice but to keep
en-. Macintosh said nothing about the
TASKS in the saddle-bags. He was
keeping those for possibly more ur-
gent use.
AT nightfall they came to settle
ment in a gulch between two bare foot
hills. 1t was a deserted settlement. Of
mining origin to judge from forsaken
shaft or two. and if it had ever had a
name it was forgotten now as had
probably been the pony whose skele-
ton-the legs still hobbled-lay across
the entrance of the one street, which
ran along the bottom of the gully and
was lined on either side by a dozen
or more shacks.
I'VE can put up in one Of those
houses tonight" Macintosh said cheer
fully. II did when l was here a few
days ago."
Barclay, who was in a very bad state
by now, and whose nerves were agoniz-
ing, looked dubious. and said that he
would prefer to sleep outside under a
poncho, as they had done the night be-
fore. "The places are probably alive
with centipedes or skunkS or some
thing" he complained.
Macintosh had a career of falsehood
opening before him for the night in
any case. SO he entered courageously
upon it now. He said that the house
he had gone into had been singularly
free from anything of the sort. that
it had been very comfortable. and that
a roof where you could get it was in
dubitably better than the stars. So
they cooked their supper and hobbled
their stock. and when the moon
rose they took their bedding
rolls and went into the shack. which
appeared to be in the best state of
repair, and which had. in the towns
lifetime been its most fourishing
saloon.
Macintosh lit candle, and set 1t on
what remained of the bar. If Barclay
had been in a condition to notice any
thing besides his own woes. he would
have seen that MacIntosh's face was
white and his looks anxious. But he
only unwrapped the poncho with shak-
ing hands. and began to spread 1t in a
corner. Then he jumped back and
stood looking, terror-eyed into the
shadow. There was an ominous. sharp