Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-24
at i'm whenever he sees i'm"

| at I'm whenever he sees I'M.
That night when Alan reached home
he sent servant over to tell Mrs. Ba-
kcr that Pole was all right and that
he'd be home soon. He had eaten his
| supper and had gone upstairs to go to
bed when he heard his name called out
side. Going to window and looking
out. he recognized Pole Baker stand
ing at the gate in the clear moonlight.
"Alon." he said softly, "come down
heer minute. want to see YOU"
Alan went down and joined him. For
moment Pole stood leaning against
the fence, his eyes hidden by his broad
brimmed SLOUGH hat
"Did you want to see me, Pole:" Alan
asked.
YES. I did" the fellow swallowed.
He made a motion as If to reach out
his hand. but refrained Then he looked
straight into Alan's face.
81 couldn't go to sleep till I'd said
somc'n' to you.' he began. with an
other gulp. Il laid down an made a
| try at it. but it wasn't no go. I've got
to say IT, I'm heer to swear that Of
God or somen' else don't show me a
way to pay you back fer what you
done today I'll never draw a satisfied
breath. Alan Bishop. yo're mana
man from yore outside skin to the
marrow O yorc bones. an Of l don't
ind some way to prove what | think
about you I'll jest burn up. | got into
that trouble as thoughtless as I'd play
prank with my baby, an then they
all come down on me an begun to try
to drive me like n hog out'n field
with rocks an sticks. an the very old
Harry riz in me an deied en-. l
reckon thar wasn't anything Bill could
do but carry out the law, allk knowed
it. but | wasn't ready to admit it.
Then you come along an rendered
verdict in my favor when you needed
the money you did it with. Alan. eff l
don't show my appreciation it III be
bcca Sc don't live long enough. You
never axcd me but one thing. an that
was to quit drinkin whisky. I'm goin'
to make try at it, not beca'se think
that II pay you back, but beca'se with
a sober head kin be better friend to
You eff the chance ever comes my way
I'm glad to hear you say that,
Pole" replied Alan. greatly moved by
the fellows earnestness. 81 believe
you can do it. Then your wife and
children
Hang my wife an children" snort
ed Pole. It's you I'm goin to work
fer-you. say"
He suddenly turned through the open
gate and strobe lomeward across the
fields. Alan stood looking after him
till his tall form was lost in the hazy
moonlight. and then he went up to his
bed.
Pole entered the open door Of his
cabin and began to undress as he sat
on the side Of his crude bedstead made
of Embarked poles fastened to the bare
logs in one corner of the room. His
wife and children slept on two beds on
the other side of the room.
Did you soc i'm. Polc" piped up
Mrs. Baker from thc darkness.
Eyes. seed i'm. Sally. say. whars
that bottle o whisky | had the last
time | was at homer
Of il rose the soft breathing OF the chill
dren. Then the woman sighed. pole.
shorcly you amt a-goin' to begin
agin?"
"No; I want to bust it into smither
Gems. | don't want it about: | don't
want to know thar's n drap in the
house. I've sworc off, an this time she
sticks CT me that bottle"
Another silence. Suddenly the woman
spoke: pole. you've swore off as many
times as a dog has neas. often when
/ feel bad an sick when you are off, a
drap o whisky makes me feel better.
| don't want YOU to destroy the la st
bit in the house jest beca So you'v
tuck this turn, that may wear off be-
fore daylight. The last time you emp
tied that keg on the ground an sworc
Oft you got on spree an helt the baby
over the well an threatened 10 drap
'er in eff | didn't find bottle, an you d
"a done il too
Pole laughed softly. II reckon yo're
right. ole GAL" he said. BESIDES, ef
can't-ef | amt man enough to let
up with bottle in the house | won't
do it without. But the sight or smell
Of it is hell itse'f to a lover of the
truck. Ef l was to tell you what a
little thing started me on this last
spree. you'd laugh. l went to git a
shave in barber shop, an when the
barber finished he soaked my face in
bay rum, an II got in my mustache.
l kept smelin' it all mornn' an tried
to wipe it off, but she wouldn't wipe.
All the time kept walkin' up an
down in front O Luke Sellmores bar.
Finally said to myself, We'll, eff you
have TO have a barroom stuck under
yore nose all day like wet sponge,
old man, you mought MS well have one
whar it IL taste better, an l slid up to
the counter"
The woman sighed audibly, but she
made no reply.
as Billy awake" Pole suddenly
asked.
NO; you know he amt" said Mrs.
Baker.
"Well, l want to take i'm in my bed"
Pole stood out on the floor in the sheet
Of moonlight that fell through the open
door.
IL wouldn't Pole" said the woma II.
1.-THE pore little foller's been toddlin'
about after the others draggin' bresh
to the heap tell he's tired. He drapped
to sleep at the table with a piece o