The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-10-29

what I'm aboutD'
It 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 Il few moments. Then,
with q quick movement, he seized the
little highlander, swung him in his
powerful arms clean off the floor and
deposited him gently upon beer bar
rel. Then he stepped into the center Of
the room, bowed to the judges and be-
gan 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 when
after the hornpipe he proceeded to ex-
ecute clog dance, garnished with
acrobatic featS, the committee inter-
fered There were cries Of "Put him
out.w and Let him alone! Go on, Nix
on!' And Nixon hurled back into the
crowd two Of the committee who had
laid remonstra ting hands upon him,
and, standing in the open center, cried
out Scornfully:
"Put me out! Put me out! Certainly!
Help yourselves! Don't mind me"'
Then, grinding his teeth so that l
heard them across the room, he added,
with savage deliberation, IF any man
lays a finger on me, I'll-I'll eat his
liver cold"
he stood for a few moments glaring
round upon the company and then
strobe toward the bar. followed by the
crowd, wildly yelling. The ball was
forthwith broken up. looked around
for Billy, bat he was nowhere to be
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 out Of
trouble" he replied.
In a few moments the crowd came
surging back, headed by Nixon, who
was waving a whisky bottle over his
head and yelling as one possessed.
.Hellow exclaimed Graeme softly.
81 begin to see. Look there"
whats up?' 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 1daho's
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, and
men drank their fill. Behind the re-
freshment tables stood the hotel man
and his barkeeper, with their coats of
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 his glo-
~. 1t was his night. Every man was
to get drunk at his expense, he pro-
claimed, finging down bills upon the
table. Near him were some league men
he was treating literally, and never far
away were Idaho and Slavin 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 swayed and
yelled and swore and laughed in q
most disconcerting manner.
"Hellow shouted Nixon as he caught
sight Of Graeme. "Here you are"
passing him bottle. you're
knocker, double handed front door
knocker. You polished off old whisky
soak here, old demijohn," pointing to
Slavin, "and I'll lay five to one we
can lick any blankety blank thieves in
the crowd" And he held up roll Of
bills.
But Graeme proposed that he should
give the hornpipe again, and the floor
was cleared at once, for Nixon's horn
pipe was very popular and tonight, Of
course, was in high favor. In the midst
of his dance Nixon stopped short; his
arms dropped to his sides; his face
had a look Of fear, Of horror.
There, before him, in his riding cloak
and boots, with his whip in his hand
as he had come from his ride, stood
Mr.. Craig. His face was pallid, and
his dark eyes were blazing with fierce
light. AS Nixon stopped, Craig STEP
ped forward to him, and, sweeping
his eyes round upon the circle, he said
in tones intense with scorn:
"You towards! You get a man
where he's weak! Cowards! You'd
damn his soul for his money!
There was dead silence, and Craig,
lifting his hat, said solemnly:
"Alay God forgive you this nights
work.
Then, turning to Nixon and throwing
his arm over his shoulder, be said in
q voice broken and husky:
"Come on, Nixon! We'll 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 a 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 be that had told Craig, on his ar
rival from the Landing, Of Ni1on's
fall.
There was nothing Of reproach, but
only gentlest pity, in tone and touch as