Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-05
OLD RYE AND THE GOSPEL.
Strange Combination That Put a Tex
as Colonel to Sleep,

oS SS'oiiSl 10 Sleep.
He wore big black hat-wore it first
on one side Of his head then on the other,
according to the way he had last pushed
he was weather beaten. but my, how tough
he was, and even now Mt the age of 40.
how capable and ready either for rough
riding or heavy drinking!
This man was Robert LefIingwell. of San
Antonio. if the Brown hotel register told
the truth, and its veracity could hardly
be doubted, as Mr.. Leffingwel made the
entry himself He was very quiet while
being assigned to a room. and beyond pull
Ing mt his crimped gray mustachc bit
he made no motion till he had been duly
chartered In high UP but comfortable
room.
Now Bill I'm booked" he said. turn
Ing to an old friend who waited for him.
its up to you to show me the town"
And the two started out
But they had no more than stepped out
Of the hotel when Mr. LetIlngwell's gaze
encountered 4 brilliant row of electric
lights.
What's the 'Nav-er?" he asked.
That's the Navarro" replied his friend.
We'll, don't keer what you call 1t: 1t
looks good Les go there
And there they went and they found
material which seemed to generate good
i"itioi IL iI'lhhSNtli cuuStu Ills
ank checks to corrugate with cheerful
ness.
I've always been pretty fond of Kicker.
said the tall Texan, land | never keered
who knowed it. | never found it done me
no harm S longs | didn't try to dreen the
entire town-thoueh l did that once OIL
twice-yes, maybe more'n that"
Mr.. Letiingwell stayed his speech and
leaned affectionately against the bar.
.'Ihprp was -One fpllnr thnuoh ha 70
sumed. as If he were addressing the vel
low-glowing, appreciatve tankard of rye"
that stood waiting beyond the man III
white, ''one Teller that did me up proper
at my own game-wcll. | won't just say
'game'-but beat me lushin' and ut that
time ! was fool enough to be mortified
over it. I reckon, though. it was more
the way 1t come up.
Il was down to Lehi. That's n littt
place that has just sprung up. | was with
a small Bar-Tee-Cross outfit roundup up
But we put in Sunday there and there was
some sort of Il young mems PRAYER meetin
and, we bein' camped so clost, we went II
it.
well. kind of set there and let 'en
talk and pray and go on. but l didn't TAX,
much interest / was pretty dry and
knowed I had a jug of good Ticker up a,
the camp, and l wanted to git at 1t. On,
of the loudest of these here young hell
whoopcrs come around and begin to tall
religion to me. told him that was nj
| right, but 1t wasn't my game ! told hin
that what l hankered for more'n anythin.
else was about three inches of old rye.
thought that would settle him. He salt
| that he didn't see nothing wrong in takin,
Ticker in moderation for the stomach
sake, for that was according to scripter
| And when got up to go to camp he said
| he'd like to go along with me and talk N
I up lot more If didn't mind.
II told him he could do as he please,
about it and he was welcome to talk q
| long as he durn pleased. And say-that'
what he done. reckon YOU never heer,
no SIGH talker in all your born days. H
lust KEEP up reg'ler streak of talk, onl.
breakin' into it for one thing, and tina
camp l got out the jug and told him t.
| help hissef. which he done. good and plen
| tiful. sayin' ag'in 1t was for his stomach
sake and right in line with scripter.
We'll. sir, don't know how much W
drunk that night, me and him: for
| couldn't say exactly how much was in TIL
| jug at the start. | started to count on
drinks, but l lost track and finally fel
! over back'ards and couldn't get up. Til
| last l heard this here religious friend o
mine eXpoundin something about the wa
Of the transgressor. or some stuff er moth
er like that and then-well jest nacherl
| winked out.
| When l had slep' it off the jug wa
empty and me friend had gone But h
had done his duty He had fit the goo
| fight and finished his rk."-Denver Post