The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-11
cHAPTER X.
MT. Sanders in His Cups.

posite her. Some were laughing, while, others had seriosis faces. Among them s,le noticed Francis Bethune, and she also saw Gabriel. who was standing apart from the rest with a very gloomy coun- tenance. Arriving near the crowd, she paused to discover what had excited their curiosity; and there before her eyes seat ed on the court house steps. was MT, Billy Sanders relating tos'affs imaginary audience some choice .incideHs' ins his family history His hat was off and his face was very red.
 MT. Sanders, was not regarded as dan- gerous man in his cups, but on one well remembered. occasion he had fired into a, crowd of men who were inclined to be too familiar. and since that day he had been given wide berth when he took a seat on the, court house steps and ber. gan to recife Nlis family" history. While Nan stood there. Mir. Sanders drew a pistol from his pocket, and, smiling biand- ly, began to flourish 1t around. As he did so, Gabriel Tolliyerf sprang into the street and ran rapidly toward him. Some on@ in the crowd uttesed cry .4of warningk Seized by some blind impulse Nan ran after Gabriel Francis Bethune caught her arm as she ran by him, but she wrenched herself from his grasp and ran faster than ever.
 stand back there!' exclaimed MT. Eandets, in ap angry voice. raising his pistol. For one hrief moment. the spec tators thought Gabriel was doomed. for he went on without wavering. But wren MT. Sanders saw who 1t was, he re- placed the pistol. nemarlxing, You ought to hang out your sign, Gabe. Fl hadn't "a had on my furseein. specks, I'm afear'd I'd plugged you" 7 At that moment Nan arrived on 9the scene, her anger at white heat. She caught her breath, and then stood look ling at Mir Sanders, with eyes that fairly blazed with scorn and anger. Ef looks d burn, honey, they wouldn't be a cinder left of me- said Mir Sanders, moving uneasily. 9Arter she's through VI me. Gabriel plant me in shady place. an make old Tar-Baby thar" indicating -tTasmi Tid, who had followed Nan-'make old Tar-Baby thar set on my grave. an warm it up once in Awhiles An have a piece put in the Malvern papers statin' that I was one of the most populous and public-spereted citizens of the county"
 What Nan mad intended to say, she left unsaid. Her feelings reacted while MT. Sanders was talking, and she turned her back on him and began to cry. Un-. der the circumstances it was the very thing to do. MT. sanders tace fefi IF IeU you the uOnSSI VI uhAh 1d1iA .AAS'SA know'd that anybody in the rotn' world keer'd a continental whether I was drunk or sober, alive or dead:fan' I'd lots ruther some un'd stick a knife through my gig gard than to see that child cryin'."
 He rose and went to NAn-he was not too tipsy to walk-and tried to lay his hand on her arm, but she whirled away. from him. Honey. he said, .what must do? I'll do anything in the world you say"
 answered.
 T will, honey, eff you an Gabriel will 20 wi me. need some un for to keep the boogers of. Now. hitch on here he held out both elbows, So that each could take him by an arn-"an' when you're ready to start, give the word.
 Nan dried her eyes as quickly as she could, but before she would consent to % with MT, Sanders, insisted on search ing him. She found a flask of apple brandy, and hurled 1t against the side of the court house.
 Man he said. ruefully, that's twice you've broke my heart in a quarter of an hour sAin't there some way you can break GabFiel's?'.
 II just know my eyes are sight," she, said in reply. Are they red and swollen,
 sThey are somewhat red. but"
 But what?' she asked, as Gabriel paused.
 'aThey are just as pretty as ever."'
 MT. Sanders. thatbis the first compli- ment he ever paid me In his life" tYou'n remember it kionger on that ac- count" said MT. Sanders.
 Well. sir" said Nan. addressing Ga briel with a pretty formality, since you
 kr. vraa a 1ralt I'll be bold enough to ask you to take tea with me this, evening" and I'll. have
 Gabriel found himself in an awkward predicament.. He felt bound to discover what part the Union League was playing. He had read of It's sinister influences in other parts of the South. and he judged that the hour of its organization at Shady Dale was the aptest time for such dis coyery. He couldn' tell Nan what his plans 'were--and he hardly knew what to say. He was silent so long that MT. Sanders had ap opportunity to ask Nan If she hadn't made remark to Gabriel. ''Yes; I asked him to tea she replied in a low voice; ''he has forgotten 1t by this time" But Nan well knew why Ga- briel was silent.
 I'm sorry I.can't come. Nan, but I ean't,'' 4 ...
 well, you are going to do something very unnecessary and improper said Nan, with the air and tone of a mature woman. You are sure to get Into trou- ble. Why don't you ask your MT. Be- thune tostake your place, or at least go with yop." 8 l...
 why, you talk as if you knew what I'm going to do." remarked Gabriel.
 At this point MT. Sanders tried to stop in order to deliver an address, T bet vou-It, bet ,yoh seven-pence agin- a speckIed hen that Nan knows precisely whatsyou're up to-"
 But Nan and Gabriel pulled him along fin spite of his frequently expressed de- sire to "lay down in the road an' take A nap It's a shame" he said, flor a great big gal aud great big boy to be hurryIr a man as old as me. He receivtd no reply to this and continued: I'm glad I took too much, Cabrse!. e only for one thing. You know what I told you about Mans temper-wel!, you've seed it for yourself. She's frailed Frank; shed a'fraIled me jest now ef you hadn't "a heen on hand, an shell frail you out be- fore long.
 MT. Sanders kept up his good humor ali the way home. and when he had been niaced in charge of Uncle Plato. who knew how to deal with him, he said: Now, felIers, had 0 mighty good req son for restin nay mind. You cried be- kase old Billy Sanders was drunk. didn't you, Nan? We'll, I'm mighty glad you did. I never kn0wfd before that sob or two would make Son of Temperance of a man; but that's what they'll do for me Nobody in ih.s world VIII ever see me drunk ag'in."