News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-06-03

Throw up yer 'ands" said Bunts,
and Lumpy instantly obeyed Then
the Texan gave him homily.
"Ye've insulted me an also the wo-
man as gave me the pup, an also the
dawg. | oughter shoot We. | don't
like yer face. But I'll give We yer
worthless life If ven ak me parding.
Do we apologize to mef
81 do" Lumpy fastened to say.
can do We apologize to the lady?
Speak up louder" d
YES" Lumpy responded, raising Us
voice.
"An' do ye apologize to the pd !?
LOUDER
81 do" answered Lumpy, and
voice was shout.
That's done, then. But no apok-
gies en- make a gent out of We, am
don't drink 'cept with gents. SO q
out. Get scramble on yerself,
keep yer 'ands up"
Lumpy, his hands held rigidly h.
anward, rose and passed out into II
street When ne had disappeared, II
Texan laid the two revolvers on Z.
table, one on either side of the dos
Then he addressed the company: .
"That dawg stays right there, We
bet! Name yer pizen, gents"
Outside Lumpy relieved his feelings
by some cultural oaths and set out for
the worst drinking hole in town,
where he knew he could find the as
sistance he wished. There he held
whispered conversation with Scratch
es, a burly desperate whose face had
been slashed by a bowie. His last
words to this rulfian We're:
"Take the Kid with We. He amt so
scary to look at as We be-"
In the saloon the chair vacated by
Lumpy had remained empty. The
crowd had superstition against that
seat, but as it 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 ta-
BILE beside it. One of these two was
Scratches; the other, 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 blinked heav-
lily.
"He is a cute one," said the Kid
pleasantly.
Scratches grinned evilly and put out
his hand to pat the pup. ricketts, show
ed his appreciation by snort and
snap that brought howl Of pain from
Scratches.
Playful. amt he?" Bunts exclaimed
and roared with laughter. Scratches
scowled, but controlled himself after a
moment and tried to smile.
But the Kid speedily ingratiated him
self with both Bunts and ricketts,, patti
ting the dog without hurt, to his mas9
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
of the third chair. At this juncture
the Kid insisted that the stranger
should drink at his expense.
"Three!" he called to the barkeeper
In q moment the drinks were on the
table The Kid seized one glass and
passed it to Bunts.
There's yer liquorv' he cried cor
daily. Drink hearty"
But the devoted Bunts could not for
get his duty to Ricketts,. He delayed a
moment to set his glass before the dog.
Take 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.
Nov, that's the most curtis thing
ever seed!' the Texan exclaimed
"Never knew i'm to turn up is nose
before at good liquor. He's sick, that's
what"
There was 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 trice both men were covered.
Put up yer 'andsw 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:
"Yere NICE pair of galoots! 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 IA work
ed it if it hadn't been for ricketts,, bless
lis 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 regained his nerve
and now burst forth in protestations.
It's n lie! There amt 10 knockout
4.