The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-05-27

winsome faced man, was the Ald.
Bunts, row jovially zdsslnk,. but in
possession of all his faculties, demand
! ed that they drink his health and that
of Rickets. He waved his hand in in
PRODUCTION toward the pup, which now
showed signs of excess, for he swayed
little, and his red eyes blinked heav-
lily.
He is a cute one" said the kid
pleasantly.
Scratches grinncd evilly and put out
his hand to pat the pup. Rickets show
ed his appreciation by q snort and
snap that brought q howl Of pain from
Scratches.
PLAYFUL, amt he?' Bunts exclaimed
and roared with laughter. Scratches
scowed, but controlled himself after
moment and tried to smile.
But the Kid speedily ingratiated him
self with both Bunts and Rickets, pat
ting the dog without hurt, to his mas
ter's delight.
Interest In the stranger was now
waning. Some Of the men left the sa-
loon and in the course of half az hour
Scratches was able to possess himself
Of the third chair. At this juncture
the Kid insisted that the stranger
should drink at bis expense.
e'Threer' be called to the barkeeper.
In moment the drinks were on the
table. The Kid seized one glass and
passed it to Bunts.
"Theres yer liqUor.,' he cried cor
daily. Drink hearty.
But the devoted Bunts could not for
get his duty to Rickets. He delayed q
ncncnt to set his glass before the dog.
'Take pull, Ricketts," he urged.
TIE swaving dog picked up his ears
at the smell Of the spirits and dropped
his nose into the glass. His greedy
tongue darted once into the whisky
and was withdrawn into his mouth.
Once and only once-that taste was
enough. Rickets stopped swaying, and
his eyes opened wide. Then he turned
and stared reproachfully at Bunts and
Whiced.
Now, that's the most curtis thing l
ever secdr' the Texan exclaimed.
sNe7er knew i'm to turn up is nose
before at good liquor. Hes sick, that's
what"
There was q minutes silence, while
Bunts sat eying the dog solicitously.
Then suddenly an idea came to him,
and lie laughed Pleasantly. The next
instant his hands Ill on the revolvers,
and in trice both men were covered.
"Put up yer 'ands!.' he cried for the
second time that night.
The crowd, startled, looked up and
saw Scratches and the Kid, their hands
aloft, staring fearfully into the deadly
tubes. Then Bunts, now almost sober
under the stimulus of his idea, ad-
dressed the Two:
"Ye're nice pair Of galoots! Strolled
in ere with the plan Of dosin' me with
knockout drops an then walkin' out
with me an ther goin' through me!
Ell? Huh. Well, guess ye'd a work
cd it if it hadn't been for Rickets, bless
'is little heart! ! didn't tumble to ger
skin game. an I'd "a swallowed yer
dope. but Rickets amt no such fool!
One taste Of them knockout drops was
enough fer i'm
Tut Scratches had regained his nerve
and now burst forth in protestations.
Its a lie. There amt 10 knockout
drops in that whisky Of yers. swear
it."
BE ye sure?" questioned Bunts sar-
castically.
Its gospel truth I'm tellin' ye."
"Well," Bunts retorted, "I'll believe
the dawg quicker n III believe any
ugly faced horse thief sech as ye be.
But ii give ye chance to prove yer
words, blast We. Take yer right and
down slow to this glass Of mine an
drink it,
Then as Scratches made no move
rent to obey he exclaimed sharply:
do as l say or I'll put bullet
through ye! Drink that whisky, an if
ye spill a drop I'll bore ye. Hurry"
Scratches face grew white, but he
had no choice. Slowly he lowered one
hand; mere slowly still he raised the
glass to his lips. There, once again he
hcsitated until Bunts' command came
harshly:
Drink
At one gulp Scratches swallowed the
draft.
"Now let me co." he said meekly.
~lIe see it amt hurt me none"
:'Ye jist sit right these an keep yer
'ands up, an that other sneakin' little
cherub too. Why, gents" be contin-
uad to the crowd, ''it was that there
brat chucked the drops in my whisky.
Eel be a nice one when he gets Is
growth, I don't think! But now We'll
list watch that there hyena that drunk
what my hairless pup turned up is
nose at"
There was silence. The crowd had
drawn close, waiting expectant for the
issue Scratches sat not1onless. his
hands aloft. blinking at the revolver.
Little by little his eyes blinked oftener
and the lids lay shut longer. 4 sudden
trembling seized the man, and his arms
shook like aspens. 4 few seconds more
and the wretched creature began sway
ing in his place. To and fro he swung
dizzily; then at last his form collapsed.
FIe fell heavily to the floor and lay
there inert, unconscious.
A hum of approval greeted the event
Rickets barked joyfully. Bunts ad-
dressed the Kid:
'Now, ye miserble infant, ye en-
6.rag of that pardner Of yers! Jist
6rag i'm outside, an be quick about it.
Veil be hanged some day, all right.
Drag i'm out. He'll come round some
time, I s'pose-worse luck!'
When the Kid, unassisted, had drag
rod his conpaniOn across the saloon