Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-29
! @@@ q Il 50 @ 4 Il 81,
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! Black (; ) ) )
! Rock ;
: By RALPH COMMON $. $.
[coNT1NuED.l
By Ralph Common

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LcoNT1NUED.l
But Craig looked at him without a
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." 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 befo1 e
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
gathering 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, baff1ed 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 glass of whisky
to his lips, bid him drink, but he knock
ed the glass, away, splitting the liquor
over himself and the bed.
1t was drink or fight, and Nixon was
ready to fight, but after parley they
had drink all round and fell to per-
suasion again. The night was cold, and
poor Nixon sat shivering 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 and 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
Craig's eyes were streaming with tears,
and groans Of rage and pity broke al
ternately from him.
Abe remained speechless for time,
not trusting himself, but as he heard
Craig groan. ooh, the beasts, the
fiends! he seemed encouraged to let
himself loose, and he began swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdling
elaboration.
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac-
ton in Abe's performance when sud-
denly he seemed to waken up, caught
Abe by the arm and said in horror
stricken voice:
'Stop! Stop! God forgive US! We
must not swear like this"
Abe stopped at once and in sur
prised and slightly grieved voice said:
'Why, what's the matter with that?
Amt that what you wantedY
eyes, yes. God forgive me! am
afraid 1t was" he answered hurriedly.
"but must not
ooh, don't you worry!" went on Abe
cheerfully. "I'll look after that part.
And anyway amt they the blankest
blankety blank"- going off again into
a roll of curses till Craig, in an agony
of entreaty. succeeded in arresting the
flow of profanity possible to no one
OuI a. iuouulu1u SldSe uIlFci. AUG
paused. looking hurt, and asked if they
did not deserve everything he was call
ting down upon them.
Eyes, yes" urged Craig, "but that is
not our business"
well, so reckoned," replied Abe,
"aeognizing the limitations of the cloth
''Yoa amt used to it, and you can't De
expected to do 1t, but it just makes me
feel good-let out Of school like-to
properly do 'em up, the blank, blank"-
And off he went again. 1t was only
under the pressure of Mr.. Craig's pray
ers and commands that he finally
agreed to ''hold in, though it's tough"
What's to be done?" asked Shaw.
Nothing" answered Craig bitterly.
He was exhausted with his long ride
from the Landing and broken with bit
ter disappointment over the ruin of all
that he had labored SO long to accom-
plish.
"Nonsense!' said Graeme. "There's
q good deal to do"
1t was agreed that Craig should re-
main with Nixon, while the others of
l1S ShOnl6 otho,. nm what fro o,,, 1,