The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-01-24

mere turning of button. Afterward
he explained that the cellar would be
always light. Then everybody smiled.
That meant something to Travis GUS
toners. Ever since the store opened
there had been a barrel of the best
whisky conveniently remote from gen.
eral view, but free to whoever chose
to go and take a drink. 1t was, of
course, point of honor not to drink
unless you were pretty good GUS
tomer. Major Borum was a pretty
good customer, in spite of social COM
plicatiOns, but nobody ever suspected
him of even knowing where the bar
rel stood.
1t lay bung up, with the thief hang
Ing. upon a handy nail In the wall q
foot away. The thief, understand, was
only an innocent tin tube, open at both
ends and slender enough to slip easily
through the bunghole. In use 1t was
thrust down into the liquor. open end
ed. Then finger held close over the
upper end made it fetch out enough
liquor for drink. stiff or mild accord
ing to the depth Of the plunge. By
way of keeping the thief In place a lit
tie ring had been soldered on to the up
per end, long wire twisted in the.
ring and likewise made fast to The nail
in the wall Careless drinkers might
otherwise have dropped the Invaluable
tube or abseptminded ones, after the
third drink, have gone Oft with It in the
| pocket.
| Throughout the summer Major Bo-,
rum came into the store only when he.
had business, but as the days grew
short and nipping he fell into a way Of
sitting into the group around the stove.
| listening when he had to-that was
rather seldom-and talking when he
could-that was most Of the time.
| Toward Christmas the major haunted
the store more than ever, especially
| late in the day when there was al
ways plenty Of trade. He had got so
| familiar he went everywhere, up stairs
| or down, without exciting comment.
Some few said he was simmering down.
They reckoned 1t would be all right be-
twixt Jink and Molly by-well, say,
next spring; but Jink and Molly knew
better. Indeed they had almost lost
hope when Dan Brown came to their
help.
| The lights had been working badly.
SO Dan chased down into the cellar
about dusk one night to look after the
| switchboard. In a minute he came up,
his eyes staring like sauoers, beckoned
Jink to him and plunged again below.
Nobody saw any more Of them that
i r.trr -a1 tn ha
near II o'clock and went home chuc-
king aloud.
All next day Jink moved like man
In a dream. waiting upon customers
with his head half turned over his
shoulder. 1t was a busy day, Satur-
day, and the world and his wife were
In town. About noon, when the crush
was greatest, everybody was startled
by a succession Of yells, unearth-
ly, agonizing. coming up. 1t seemed
from right under their feet. Three
parts of the hearers dashed into the
street, two, women tainted, and old
lady Buckley snatched up her basket
of eggs, crying out that she "allus
knew som'p'n' was bound ter happen
ter that store ever sence they took an
made candles outea the Lord A'migh
ty's own thunder" But half a dozen
rushed below, where the screams still
kept up, interminsled now with roars
of strenuous laughter.
There was more laughing when they
saw the whole thing-Mator Borum
their In hand, bowling, hopping from
one foot to the other, unable to let &C
and between howls swearing like 8
pirate at Dan Brown. who stood will
his hand upon an innocent looking key
newly set In the switchboard.
Dan was saying between gasps:
You've got to agree, major. Le
Jink have Molly or here you stay al
day. You can't let 60 that thief. It's
got a full lamp voltage. We f1xei
it, Jink and 1, as soon as ever caugh
you taking a drink on the sly"
"No, no. Dan. l can't let you perse
cute Molly's uncle" link said. reach
ing for the key. I'm awfully obliged
to you. though, for watching here" h'
went on. You know" to those be
hind him, 1--WE could not afford to turr
on the current-until we were sure o.
our man."
81 sorter reckon you've made sure o.
your GAL" old man Buckley said as tn,
crestfallen major vanished up the stair
Sure enough, 1t turned out that Jinl
had.