Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-30

their cOaIS OH anu prOceeueU 10 kuOch
the knots out of the floor" in break
down dances of extraordinary energy. |
These, however, were beguiled iDto the |
barroom and filled up for safety, for |
the committee were determined that
the responsibility of the ball should be
preserved to the end. Their reputation
was at stake not in Black Rock only,
but at the Landing as well, from which
most of the ladies had come, and to be
shamed in the presence of the Landing
people could not be borne. Their diff
culties seemed to be increasing, for at
this point something seemed to go
wrong with the orchestra. The cello
appeared to be wandering aimlessly up
and down the scale, occasionally pick
ing up with the tune with animation
and then dropping it. AS Billy saw me
approaching he drew himself up with
great solemnity, gravely winked at me
and said:
"Shlipped a cog, Misther Conner!
Mosh hunfortunate! Beauchiful him
strument but ships a cog. Mesh hun.
fortunate!'
And he wagged his little head sagely,
playing all the while for dear life, now
second and now lead.
Poor Billy! 1 pitied him, but /
thought chiefly of the beautiful, eager
face that leaned toward him the night
the league was made and of the bright
voice that said, you'll sign with me,
Billy?' and it seemed to me a cruel
deed to make him lose his grip of life
and hope, for this is what the pledge
meant to him.
While l was trying to get Billy away
to some safe place 1 heard a great
shouting in the direction of the bar,
followed by trampling and scuffiing OF
feet in the passageway. Suddenly
man burst through, crying:
LET me go. Stand back! I know
what I'm aboutr'
1t was Nixon, dressed in his best
black clothes, blue shirt, red tie, look.
ing handsome enough, but half drunk
and wildly excited. The Highland
Fling competition was on at the mo-
ment, and Angus Campbell, Lachlan's
brother, was representing the lumber
camps in the contest. Nixon looked on
approvingly for a few moments. Then,
with a quick movement, he seized the
little highlander, swung him in his
powerful arms clean off the floor anO
deposited him gently upon a beer bar
rel. Then he stepped into the center OF
the room, bowed to the judges and be.
gan a sailors hornpipe.
The committee were perpleXed, but
after deliberation they decided to hu.
NOR the new competitor, especially as
they knew that Nixon with whisky in
him was unpleasant to cross.
Lightly and gracefully he went
through his steps, the men crowding in
from the bar to admire, for Nixon
was famed for his hornpipe. But wher
after the hornpipe he proceeded to ex
ecute a clog dance. garnished will
acrobatic feats, the committee inter
fered. There were cries of Put him
outp' and Let him alone! Go on, Nix
onr' And Nixon hurled back into the
crowd two of the committee who hat
laid demonstrating hands upon him
and, standing in the open center. CRIED
out scornfully:
Help yourselves! Don't mind me!
Then, grinding his teeth so that
heard them across the room, he added
with savage deliberation, IF any mai
lays a finger on me, Fll-Ill eat hi
liver cold"
He stood for a few moments glarin;
, round upon the company and thel
strobe toward the bar, followed by tn
; crowd, wildly yelling. The ball wa
forthwith broken up. l looked aroun
for Billy, but he was nowhere to b
, seen. Graeme touched my arm.
There's going to be something of
time, so just keep your eyes skinned,
7 he said.
what are you going to do?' l asked
d. "Do? Keep myself beautifully out O
| trouble" he replied.
; In few moments the crowd cam
surging back, headed by Nixon, VIII
! was waving a whisky bottle over hi
i head and yelling as one possessed.
'Hellov exclaimed Graeme softl!
t 81 begin to see. Look there!"
i "What's up?'' l asked.
i "You see Idaho and Slavin and the
e pets" he replied. They've got poo
Nixon in tow. Idaho is rather nasty,
/, he added, 'but l think I'll take han
S in this game. I've seen some of Idaho
a work before"
n The scene was one quite strange
t, me and was wild beyond description
a A hundred men filled the room. Bottle
o were passed from hand to hand, an
( men drank their fill. Behind the r
q freshment tables stood the hotel ma
1t and his barkeeper, with their coats o
It and sleeves rolled up to the shoulde
t. passing out bottles and drawing be,
and whisky from two kegs hoisted L
t. for that purpose. Nixon was in his 81
ry 1t was his night. Every man w;
n to get drunk at his expense. he pr
claimed, fiinging down bills upon Il
table. Near him were some league me
N he was treating literally and never f;