Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-22

heard them across the room, he added,
with savage deliberation, IF any man
lays q finger on me- I'll-I'll eat his
liver cold"
He stood for a few moments glaring
round upon the company and then
strobe toward the bar, followed by the
crowd. wildly yelling. The ball was
forthwith broken up. looked around
for Billy, but he was nowhere to be
seen. Graeme touched my arm
There's going to be something of
time, so just keep your eyes skinned"
he said
What are you going to do?' asked.
do? Keep myself beautifully out of
trouble he replied.
In few moments the crowd came
surging back, headed by Nixon, who
was waving whisky bottle over his
head and yelling as one possessed.
"Hellow exclaimed Graeme softly.
81 begin to see. Look there!"
What's up?" asked.
"You see Idaho and Slavin and their
pets" he replied. They've got poor
Nixon in tow. Idaho is rather nasty"
he added. but think I'll take hand
in this game. I've seen some of Idaho's
work before
The scene was one quite strange to
me and was wild beyond description.
A hundred men filled the room. Bottles
were passed from hand to hand and
men drank their fill. Behind the re-
freshment tables stood the hotel man
ho,
and sleeves rolled up to the shoulder,
passing out bottles and drawing beer
and whisky from two kegs hoisted up
for that purpose. Nixon was in his glo-
ry. 1t was his night. Every man was
to get drunk at his expense, he pro-
claimed, fiinging down bills upon the
table. Near him were some league men
he was treating literally, and never far
away We're Idaho and Slavin passing
bottles, but evidently drinking little.
l followed Graeme, not feeling too
comfortable for this sort of thing was
new to me, but admiring the cool as
surance with which he made his way
through the crowd that swayed and
yelled and swore and laughed in a
most disconcerting manner.
"Hello!' shouted Nixon as he caught
sight Of Graeme. Here you are:"
passing him bottle. you're a
knocker, double handed front door
knocker. You polished off old whisky
soak here, old demijohn," pointing to
Slavin, "and I'll lay five to one we
can lick any blankety blank thieves in
the crowd And he held up a roll of
bills.
But Graeme proposed that he should
give the hornpipe again, and the floor
was cleared at once, for Nixon's horn
pipe was very popular and tonight, of
course, was in high favor. In the midst
of his dance Nixon stopped short; his
arms dropped to his sides; his face
had look Of fear, of horror.
There, before him, in his riding cloak
and boots, with his whip in his hand
as he had come. from his ride, stood
Mr.. Craig. His face was pallid, and
his dark eyes We're blazing with fierce
light. AS Nixon stopped, Craig step
ped forward to him, and, sweeping
his eyes round upon the circle, he said
in tones intense with scorn:
.You towards! You get man
where he's weak! Cowards You'd
damn his soul for his money!
There was dead silence and Craig,
lifting his hat, said solemnly:
MAY God forgive you this nights
workv'
Then, turning to Nixon and throwing
his arm over his shoulder, he said in
voice broken and husky:
"Come on, Nixon! Well gow
Idaho made motion as if to stop
him, but Graeme stepped quickly for
ward and said Sharply, Make way
there can't you?" and the crowd fell
back, and we four passed through,
Nixon walking as in a dream, with
Craig's arm about him. Down the
street we went in silence and on to
Craig's shack, where we found old
man Nelson, with the fire blazing and
strong coffee steaming on the stove. It
was he that had told Craig, on his ar
rival from the Landing, of Nixon's
fall.
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity. in tone and touch as
Craig placed the half drunk, dazed
man in his easy chair, took off his
boots, brought him his own slippers
and gave him coffee. Then, as his stu
por began to overcome him, Craig put
him in his own bed and came forth
with face written over with grief.
"Don't mind, old chap" said Graeme
| '-inHlv
fro BE Continued
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