St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-19

seemed IN
wrong with the orchestra. rho " 90
appeared to be wandering aimIeps,' cello
and down the scale, occasionoII,. up
ing up with the tune with my PICK
and then dropping it. As BnIv s lala'Ion
approaching he drew himself ~ ~" Tue
great solemnity, gravely winked = ~ win
and said: aI HE
"Shllpped a cog, Misthar Cam.
Mosh hunfortunate BeauchffrI} ', ,oH
strument, but ships cog. Mosb ' L I'm
fOrtunatew uun
And he wagged his little head soo,,.
playing all the while for dear Iif ,"seIS
second and now lead. ' Low
Poor Billy! 1 pitied him b.,
thought chiefly of the beautffn, Vu' |
face that leaned toward him tLo s 20!
the league was made and of the b nisl1
voice that said, You'll sign witt, I''Su'
BillyE and it seemed TO mo va Ie
deed to make him lose his grin of ' ~.
and hope, for this is what fine nIoa 1'e
meant to him. P''use
While was trying to get RiIlv ou
to some safe place l heard a on,,
shouting in the direction of tbo s, L'
followed by trampling and scuelinn u,
feet in the passageway. SuddnnIr
man burst through crying: "
Let me go! Stand back! 7 lrou,
what Pm aboutr "'"
1t was Nixon, dressed in his No..
black clothes, blue shirt, red tio roa.
ing handsome enough, but half drnn.
and wildly excited. The "Hioblana
Fling competition was on at tho nv
ment, and Angus Campbell. Iacblon'.
brother, was representing the umhor
camps in the contest. Nixon looked ~
approvingly for few moments Tbon
with a quick movement, he seized tbo
little highlander, swung him in bis
powerful arms clean off the floor and
deposited him gently upon a beer bar.
rel. Then he stepped into the center NJ
the room, bowed to the judges and be.
gan sailors hornpipe.
The committee were perplexed hnt
after deliberation they decided to In.
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 crowdng in
from the bar to admire, for Nixon
was famed for his hornpipe. But when
after the hornpipe he proceeded to ex.
ecute clog dance, garnshed with
acrobatic feats, the committee inter.
fered. There were cries of Put him
out" and Let him alone, Go on, Nix
onw And Nixon hurled back into the
crowd two of the committee who had
laid demonstrating hands upon him,
and, standing in the open center, cried
out scornfully:
Put me out. Put me out. Certainly
Help yourselves! Don't mind NE"
Then, grinding his teeth SO that
heard them across the room, he added
with savage deliberation, IF any man
lays Il finger on me, I'll-l'Il eat lis
liver cold
He stood for few moments g.arins
round upon the company and then
strobe toward the bar followed by tie
crowd, wildly yelling. The ball was
forthwith broken up. | looked around
for Billy, but he was nowhere to he
seen. Graeme touched my arm.
"There's going to be something Of
time, so just keep your eyes skinned
he said.
"What are you going to do asked.
do? Keep myself beautifully ont Of
trouble" he replied.
In Il few moments the crowd came
surging back, headed by Nixon, who
was waving Il whisky bottle over bis
head and yelling as one possessed,
Hello" exclaimed Graeme softly
Il begin to see. Look there"
"What's upE asked.
"You see Idaho and Slayin and Their
pets" he replied. They've got poor
Nixon in tow. Idaho is rather nasty
he added, but think I'll take hand
in this game. I've seen some of ldahoS
work before"
The scene was one quite strange TO
me and was wild beyond description
A hundred men filled the room Bottles
were passed from hand to hand. ana
men drank their fill. Behind the re-
freshmen tables stood the hotel man
and his barkeeper, with their coats Oh
and sleeves rolled up to the shoulder
passing out bottles and drawing beer
and whisky from two kegs hoisted UP
for that purpose. Nixon was in ms Si''
~. 1t was his night. Every man was
to get drunk at his expense lie pro-
claimed, fiinging down bills upon 'AV
table. Near him were some league men
he was treating literally and never IaI
away were Idaho and Slayin passing
bottles, but evidently drinking little
I followed Graeme, not feeling too
comfortable, for this sort of thing was
new to me, but admiring the cool as
surance with which he made his way
through the crowd that swayod am
yelled and swOre and laughed IN
most disconcerting manner.
Hello shouted Nixon as he causu.
sight Of Graeme. Here you are
passing him a bottle, "Gonre
knocker a double handed front 400.
knoclier. You polished off old WlIlsH'
soak here, old demijohn," pointing "
Slavin, '"and I'll lay five to one W.T.
cnn linl, INV lnnl,nty hlnnk thieNgs "