Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1902-06-05

-You towards. You get man
where he's weak! towards! You'd
damn his soul for his money"
There was dead silence, and Craig,
lifting his hat, said solemnly;
MAY God forgive you this nights
work."
Then, turning to Nixon and throwing
his arm over his shoulder he said In
voice broken and husky;
"Come on, Nixon! Wen go!'
Idaho made a motion as If to stop
him, but Graeme stepped quickly for
ward and said sharply, Make way
there, can't you?" and the crowd fell
back, and we four passed through.
Nixon walking as in dream, with
Craig's arm about him. Down the
street we went in silence and on to
Craig's shack, where we found old
man Nelson, with the fire blazing and
strong coffee steaming on the stove. 1t
was he that had told Craig, on his ar
rival from the Landing, of Nixon's
fall.
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity, in tone and touch as
Craig placed the half drunk, dazed
man in his easy chair. took off his
boots, brought him his own slippers
and gave him coffee. Then, as his stu
por began to overcome him, Craig put
him in his own bed and came forth
with face written over with grief.
4 al nIoY n n
kindly.
But Craig looked at him without
word and, throwing himself into a
chair, put his face in his hands. AS we
sat there in silence the door was sud-
denly pushed open, and in walked Abe
Baker, with the words. Where is Nix
ON? and we told him where he was.
We were still talking when again tap
came to the door, and Shaw came in
looking much disturbed.
"Did you hear about NiXon?" he ask
ed. We told him what we knew.
: "But did you hear how they got
him 2" he asked excitedly.
AS he told us the tale the men stood
listening. with faces growing hard.
1t appeared that after the making of
the league the Black Rock hotel man
had bet Idaho a hundred to fifty that
Nixon could not be got to drink before
Easter. All Idaho's schemes had failed,
and now he had only three days in
which to win his money, and the ball
was his last chance. Here, again, he
was baked, for Nixon, resisting all en-
treaties, barred his shack door and
went to bed before nightfall, according
to his invariable custom on pay days.
At midnight some of Idaho's men came
battering at the door for admission,
which Nixon reluctantly granted. For
half an hour they used every art of
persuasion to induce him to go down
to the ball. the glorious success of
which was glowingly depicted, but
Nixon remained immovable, and they
took their departure, batfied and ours
ing. In two hours they returned drunk
enough to be dangerous, kicked at the
door in vain, finally gained entrance
through the window, hauled Nixon out
Of bed and, holding a glass of whisky
ed the glass away, spilling the liquor
over himself and the bed.
1t was drink or fight, and Nixon was
ready to fight, but after a parley they
had drink all round and fell to per-
suasion again. The night was cold, and
poor Nixon sat shiyering on the edge of
his bed. If he would take one drink,
they would leave him alone. He need
not show himself so stiff. The whisky
fumes filled his nostrils If one drink
would get them off, surely that was
better than fighting and killing some
one or getting killed. He hesitated,
yielded, drank his glass. They sat
about him amiably drinking and laud-
ing him as fine fellow after all. One
more glass before they left; then Nixon
rose. dressed himself, drank all that
was left of the bottle. put his money in
his pocket ard came down to the
dance wild with his old time madness,
reckless of faith and pledge. forgetful
of home, wife. babies, his whole being
absorbed in one great passion-to drink
and drink and drink till he could drink
no more.
Before Shaw had finished his tale
Craigs eyes were streaming with tears,
and groans of rage and pity broke al.
ternately from him.
Abe remained speechless for a time
not trusting himself, but as he heard
Craig groan, "Oh, the beasts, the
fienus" he seemed encouraged to let
himself loose, and he began swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdlina
deliberation.
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac
ton in Abes performance, when sud
denly he seemed to waken up, caught
Abe by the arm and said in a horror
stricken voice:
"Stop! Stop! God forgive us! We
must not swear like this"
Abe stopped at once and in a sur
prised and slightly grieved voice said:
"Why, what's the matter with that
Amt that what you wanted"
Eyes, yes. God forgive me! l an
afraid it was" he answered hurriedly, |
"but I must not"
ooh, don't you worry?' went on Abe
cheerfully. "Ill look after that part
And anyway amt they the blankest
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