Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-05
Then he addressed the company:

sistance he wished. There he held a
whispered conversation with Scratch.
es, a burly desperate whose face had
been slashed by q bowie. His last
words to this ruffian were:
take the Kid with ye. He amt so
scary to look at as ye be-"
In the saloon the chair vacated by
Lumpy had remained empty. The
crowd had u superstition against that
seat, but as 1t was the only empty
chair in the room it was natural that
when two late Corners entered one
should seat himself there, while the
other half leaned, half sat on the ia
BILE beside II. One of these two was
Scratches; the other, a young, rather
winsome faced man, was the Kid.
Bunts, now jovially drunk, but in
possession of all his faculties, demand
ed that they drink his health and that
OF Ricketts,. He waved his hand in in.
PRODUCTION toward the pup, which now
showed signs Of excess. for he swayed
a little, and his red eyes bllnked heav.
lily.
"He is q cute one" said the Kid
pleasantly.
Scratches g%rinned evilly and put out
his hand to pat the pup. Ricketts, show
ed his appreciation by a snort and a
snap that brought a howl Of pain from
Scratches.
Playful, amt heT" Bunts exclaimed
and roared with laughter. Scratches
scowled. but controlled himself after a
moment aud tried to smile.
But the Kid speedily ingratiated him
self with both B,ints and Ricketts,, 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 an hour
Scratches was able to possess himself
the Kid insisted that the stranger
should drink at his expense.
Three" he called to the barkecper.
In a moment the drinks were on the
table. The Kid seized one glass and
passed it TO Bunts.
There's Yer liquor he cried cor
daily. Drink hearty"
But the devoted Bunts could not for
get his duty TO Ricketts,. He delayed q
moment to set his glass before the dog.
Take a pull, Ricketts," he urged.
The swaying 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and was withdrawn into his mouth.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. ricketts, stopped swaying, and
his eyes opened wide. Then he turned
and stared reproachfully at Bunts and
whined.
Now, that's the most curtis thing I
ever seed" the Texan exclaimed.
Never knew i'm to turn up is nose
before ut good liquor. He's sick, that's
what"
There was a minutes silence, while
Bunts sat eying the dog solicitously.
Then suddenly an idea came to him,
and he laughed pleasantly. The next
instant his hands fell on the revolvers,
and in n 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:
"Yc'rc n nice pair Of g~aloots. Strolled
in ere with the plan of dosin' me with
knockout drops an then walkin' out
with me an then goin' through ME.
Eth? Huh. Well, | guess ye'd "a work
ed ii If it hadn't been for ricketts,. bless
Is little heart. ! didn't tumble to yer
skin game. an I'd a swallowed yer
dope. but Ricketts, amt no such fool.
One taste Of them knockout drops was
enough fer i'm"
But Scratches had reCained his nerve
and now burst forth in pr%otestations.
Its a lie, There amt no knockout
drops in that whisky of yers. ] swear
It,"
BE We 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 IdCcu horse lllltl Nttu as We ne.
But III give We Il 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
ment to obey he exclaimed sharply:
do as | say or III put Il bullet
through We. Drink that whisky, IN If
ye spill Il drop III bore We. Hurry
Scratches face grew white, hut he
had no choice. Slowly he lowered one
hand; more slowly still he raised the
glass to his lips. There ono again he
hesitatcd until Bunts' command came
harshly:
Drink
At one gulp Scratches swallowed the
draft.
"Now let me 60" he said meekly'
eye see it amt hurt me none"
"Ye jist sit right there an keep yer
lands up, an that other sneakin' little
chcrub too. Why, gents he contin
ued to the crowd, lit was that there
brat chucked the drops in my whisky
He'll be a nice one when he gets is
growth, | don't think. But now Wei
jist watch that there hyena that drunk
what my hairless pup turned up is
nose at"