The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-20
NUMBER %

tne hlu insisted that the stranger
should drink at his expense.
Three he called TO the barkeeper
In a moment the drinks were on the
table. The Kid seized one glass and
passed it to Bunts.
There's yer liquorr he cried cor
daily. Drink hearty
But the devoted Bunts could not for
get his duty to Rickets. 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and was withdrawn into his mouth.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 Rickets stopped swaying. and
his eyes opened wide. Then he turned
and stared reproachfully at Bunts and
whined.
Now, that's the most curi's thing 1
ever seedr' the Texan exclaimed
Never knew i'm to turn up is nose
before at 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 a 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:
'Ye're a nice pair of galootsi Strolled
in ere with the plan of dosin' me with
knockout drops an then walkin' out
with me an then goin' through me!
Eh? Huh, Well, guess ye'd "a work
ed 1t if it hadn't been for Rickets, bless
lis little heart, l didn't tumble to yer
skin game an I'd "a swallowed yer
dope, but Rickets amt no such fooli
One taste of them knockout drops was
enough fer i'm
But Scratches had regained his nerve
| and now burst forth in protestations.
ITS a lie, There amt no knockout
drops in that whisky of yers. swear
| it,
BE We sureY' questioned Bunts sar-
castically
Its gospel truth I'm tellin' ye."
WELL Bunts retorted, III believe
| the dawg quicker n I'll believe any
] ugly faced horse thief sech as We be.
| But I'll give ye a 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 l say or I'll put a bullet
through ye, Drink that whisky, an II
We spill a drop I'll bore We. Hurryw
Scratches face grew white, but he
had no choice. Slowly he lowered one
hand; more slowly still he raised the
glass to his lips. There once again he
hesitated until Bunts' command came
harshly:
Drink
At one gulp Scratches swallowed the
draft.
Now let me CO." he said meekly.
"Ye see it amt hurt me none"
"Ye jist sit right there an keep yer
'ands up, an that other sneakin' little
cherub 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 well
jist watch that there hyena that drunk
what my hairless pup turned up Ii
nose at"
There was silence. The crowd had
drawn close, waiting expectant for the
issue. Scratches sat motionless, his
hands aloft, blinking at the revolver.
Little by little his eyes blinked oftener
and the lids lay shut longer. A sudden
trembling seized the man, and his arms
shook like aspens- A few seconds more
and the wretched creature began sway
ing in his place. To and fro he swung
dizzily; then at last his form collapsed.
He fell heavily to the floor and lay
there inert, unconscious.
A hum of approval greeted the event
Rickets barked joyfully. Bunts ad'
dressed the Kid:
Now, We miser'ble infant, We en-
drag off that pardner of yers. Jist
drag i'm outside, an be quick about 1t
Yell be hanged some day, all right
Drag i'm out. He'll come round some
time. / s'pose-worse luck."
When the Kid. unassisted, had drag
ged his companion across the saloon
and out of the door. Bunts again ad
dressed the crowd:
"Strikes me ye're got some curi'f
characters in yer village But Ricketi
usu'ly comes out on top in dawgfight
specially with me to back i'm. An
/ now name Vnr rliypra panfs''