The National tribune., 1901-12-26

there, you've got two kings and pair of
treys. Do you stand pat, or do you want
to draw some: You hain't seen the ante
Iyit. Put up"
They raised yell at the look of dis
gust which the Deacon turned on the
cards which he noticed for the first time,
and flung them down with as much force
las if they were the most repulsivc filth
'DorniX' struci up.
"And I'll lay five dollars down
"I'll lay five dollars down.
And leave 'cm III my will
The situation seemed to call for another
drink all around.
"Gentlemen." said the Deacon. with
forced calmncss, and equally forced polite
mess. Il must again beg you to go away
land leave me alone. I'm an old man, and
a very tired one, and | want nothing so
much as to be allowed to sleep iii peace"
lie picked up his carpet-bag and over
coat. and changed them back to the in
side end of the seat. lay down again with
his head next the aisle. and went to sleep.
The glec of the crowd over their feat
was unboundcd.
''Scnred the old pUnkinsced nearly to
death. First lot o real thoroughbreds he
ever struck" pipcd up DOrniX.
''How he did beg off, said the leader.
Hadn't struck mourner'S bench this
time"
No" said the man with the tow-wisp
beard, nor some poor devil that the Con
stable brung before him
we amt going to let him off this wav."
said the leader. "We must do something
10 make him remember us Wen fix him
another hand to begin with. As he's Il
Methodist preacher. he's fond of women.
Well give him all queens. Probably he's
got them hoop-skirts up there to take to
some women Of his congregation.
From several decks If old cards the
leader picked out all the queens. and
thrust a full hand. well-displayed. into
each Of the Dencon's hands. Then he
stuck the additional queens in his collar
land breast.
Then the leader pulled from his pocket
c0nv Of the police Gazette. with a
lady dressed mainly in stockings occupy
ing the first page. This he fastened un
on the window. i'll such way rs to make
it appear that the Deacons admirinS face
was turned upon her, even as he silent.
Then the wit took the long StOgy he was
smoking, and twined it i'll the Deacon :
roach.
Lets give him good. big hos-droyer's
drink. boys said the leader, pouring into
Il glass a stiff dram of new corn whisky.
He doubtless takes his nins on the sly.
hut Wen give him one that'll go right to
tn" Snot and make his toe-n1ilS curl
He stenned forward, and poured the
fiery, scnrchins fluid into the DeacOn's
open mouth.
The Deacon was instantly awake and
very mad He c0mghed and s"lntterrd for
Il minnie. to get rid of the choking lidunr.
land saw through the tears which filI"d his
ewes the iecring yelling crowd. He felt
something burning in his hair and
lsnat"hed ont the stoGy.
Then he went into action, battery front,
lat gallon.
One of his large fists CAUGHT the leader
under the law. and niled him uD across
the back of seat. The Young man with
THE evil face went down in the aisle with
N broken nose. from backward Swcen OF
the Deacon's left arm. The man with the
tnw-wiso beard received the next atten-
ltiou of the Deacnn'S right and went col
Unused into a dirty heap between the
seats. The man with the crooked. nose
had that organ still further uniformed
from the Dcacons left. and ip"rnlx. turn
ing to lice. was caught bv III" toe of the
Deacon's No IL. and sent snrawling over
by the stove After hitting again every
one that showed signs of life. the beacon
tpicked No the dirty queens and Jammed
them into the leaders month.
The conductor and brakeman came run
ming in with couplng-pns in their hands.
80 YES. you're on hand low You re
Won attending to your business and pro-
teciing your passengers from insults by
drunken scOundrelsE'
WHY, sir" said the conductor. study
ing the scene. I'VE don't think we could
have imnrovrd on this. For an amateur.
it is about the best sob | ever saw dome
What more do you eXnect us to do! TAKE
| 'em ont and bury 'em?'
Who'd a thought that John c. Heenan
would he going around the country i'll dis
euiSe that wav, layin' for suckers" NUT
tered the leader. as his crowd gathered
outside ''NobOdy ever struck out with
his right that way eXcent John g. Heenan.
It's what licked John Morrissey. think
its real Iow-down in him to play 1t that
way on country peoDle, and / don't care
who knows I say s0.'
'Tbat's So" added the man with the
tow-wisp beard, irving to stanch the flow
from his nose. 'rhere ought to be law
agin prize-fghters passing themselves off
on innocent reople for ministers O the
Gospel. "Taint right"
II couldn't get at my knife, or Id we