Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-16

half away, coming on slowly and look
ing from side to side for some avenue
Of escape. The gradual spreading oil
the cowboys across the street brought
up memories of past experience. and his
eyes had begun to grow troubled and
full OF apprehension. At length he
stopped and looked back: but it was too
late now. Several Of the COW boys were
near their mustangs; and. az he turned
they swung into their saddles and dashed
up the street. In few moments he was
in their midst. struggling and protest
ing. his eyes big with terror Of what he
felt was coming.
Don't We give 1t to me. gentlemen"
DE pleaded. Pm plain now, an
'twouldn't be right. l amt danced in
six months, an amt tasted drop.
Don't We make me now"
Look at that, Billy" said Bronco.
holding up a bottle between Billy's
eyes and the sun. Don't that look good?
Just see how it smiles! It's the very
best in town, an we've got more bot
ties in waitin'. There's ten whole
glasses for We, Billy, jest for you. Think
an remember how it smells. LordyI I
do feel almost like drinkin' the whole
thing myself. But here, Billy.
He reached out the bottle suddenly,
and Billy's hands-both of them-went
hungrily toward it His eyes were shin
ing, his lips trembling, his whole form
In culver; but eveE then with an al
most superhuman effort he forced his
arms back to his side
Don't, Bronco" he implored. Don't,
don't, don't" his voice rising quavering-
ly. You know how't Is with me-.
Please don't l don't want to-"
It'll do you good" inflexibly. YOU'RE
gettin thin from goin' without so long,
an it's better TO enjoy the stuff trick
lin down your throat slow than to have
1t poured down in bottles full. You
know what we say goes, Billy. an you
must drink the whole thing.
Billy dropped upon his knees.
Don t.. he repeated. DULY. 81 don't
want to. If I smell l can't stop then.
You an mes been good friends. Bron-
co, an I've danced an'-an' drunk a lot
for you. Let me off this time An'-an'
II you don't mind, I'd like to say why"
oh, let the poor devil make his con-
fession, Bronc," interposed one of the
cowboys, good naturally. "You know
how't is with Patterpat. If he smells.
as he says. he won't stop easy. It'll be
two months fore he sobers up. Let him
start in right"
P'"y shot him grateful look.
It's like this he said, with a pa
thctic eaCerness iii his voice. six
monDns ago l happened to be UP in the
country, an 1 saved a girls life. She
was caught by bear, an'-an' L s'pose
l acted some brave. At any rate. she
an her folks thought SO, an took me in.
Since then I've been up there, an amt
tasted drop, an I've been feelin' that
mebbe l could make something of my
self some time, like l used to think a
long time ago." There was a catch in
his voice, then he went on in lower
tones: Me an the girl was to be mar
ried. l came down to-day for a ring
and license. They believe in me up
there. an I've Joined in with them. an
his eyes suddenly becoming steady and
aggressive at giggle from one of the
cowboys-'ift wasn't for the whisky
believe | could be good man again. a
better one than you could ever be.
Danny But, of course" his voice again
dropping and his hand reaching me-
chemically toward the bottle. this will
finish II all. Up there they don't have
anything strong TO drink. an'-an' they
never suspected | was that way. When
they find this out, it'll be over with us.
III run through myself soon's can. an
an the girl an they'll feel sorry: but
you'll have your dance carnival So we
won't all lose. Now you can give me the
bottle. Bronco
But Bronco was now holding the bot
tie UP between his own eyes and the
sun.
Seems a pity TO Spite such good
stuff, he said regretfu!ly, but it's got
TO be did" Then. in a louder voice:
Here. you fellows. see that stone over
'tother side the street Well, everyone
who's got bottle shy at that. an the
one who breaks into the most pieces will |
go with Billy to see bout the ring an
license. Then We'll all club in for a |
present, an"
Bil!y's head went up suddenly. His
eyes were moist
NO, no." he repeated. II don't want
no present, gentlemen. I've been work. |
in hard up there. an have got some
ahead. I'm all right longs can keep
away from that stuff"
"Shet up, Billy" Bronco retorted. I'M
'Tain't you; it's present |
Tor the bride. An reckon we'd better |
make it two OF our best ponies. They'll |
be handy's anything up 'mong them
Mennonite farmers. Now. fellows, one,
two, three, an crash!" And with the |
last word, a half dozen or more bottles, |
delivered from as many hands, crashed |
against the stone