Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-12-18

O'Neil stepped on the door of the
saloon holding his glass so he could
see the colors of the sunlight through
the liquor
Hike there. YOU fellers.' he yelled
suddenly "Yorder's Bill Patterpat
tunring the corner. Let's cover the
street and corral him and then make
him dance"
Huh drawled another cowboy,
who was leaning against the counter
emptying glasses and tlinging them al
whoever he thought might not be able
to dodge. and holding his revolver in
readiness to meet possible objection
to his playfulness, "Patterpat won't
dance He's Joined the little party
Of Mennonites M country and gone
plain. Amt You heard? Billy amt
frivolous any more
Were goin' to give him a drink
first significantly. There Won
be trouble then. You usel to know
Billy"
AS they filed out q new Gomez from
Texas looked discontentediy at O'Ne}i.
ANY special inducenent about that
Patterpat's feet?" he inquired I've
been pretty comfortable sitting on the
counter. We have dancing down to
Texas
Better so back there curtlv, "er
go sit on the counter if ycu Ike As
to inducement there amt only one
dancer and that's Patterpat I've been
to Frisco and to Kansas City and to
Chicago. and I've seen dancin -leest
ways what they call dancin But Eve
never seen bat one Patterpat. Only
he has to be limbered UP with great
iacs of VIII Sky first. Then his legs
are all wheels and parabolas and
ricoshays an scintillates. Now,
you stand right here an I'll saater out
t. the middle of the street. That's
him coming yOnder. beginning to
tc dodge already That's the way
he used to do, and we would have
to round him like we would wild
mustang and then fill him up
Billy Patternat was block and a
half away. coming on slowly and look
ing from side to side for some avenue
Of escape. The gradual spreading Of
the cowboys across the street brought
up memories of past experiences.
and his eyes began to grow troubled
and full of apprehension At length
he stopped and looked back: bit il
was too late nov. Several CT the
cowboys were near their mustangs.
and, as he turned, they swung into
their saddles and dashed up the
street. In a few moments he was in
their midst, struggling and protesting,
his eyes big With terror Of what he
felt was coming.
"Don't yeu aive It to ne. gentle
men, he pleaded. I'm plain now,
ard It wo'11dnt be RIGHT Amt dane
cd in six '1orths and amt tasted a
drop. Don't you make ne now
Look at that Billy" said O'Neil,
holding up a bottle between Billy's
eyes and the slll. .Dent that look
good? Just sec how it smiles, It's
the very best ir town. and We've got
more bottles in waiting. There's ten
whole glasses for yOn. Billy, Just for
vou Think how it'll feel running
down your throat, an remember how
it smells. Lordv do fell like drink
ing the whole thing myself But here,
Billy"
He reached out the bottle suddenly
and Rillys hands. both Of them, went
toward it. His eyes were
his lips trembling, his whole
form in a culver: but even then. with
a superhuman effort. he forced his
arms back to his sides.
Don't, O'Neil!' he implored;
don't, don't" his voice rising quayer-
ingly, "You know how It's with me.
Please don't. | don't want it"
It'll do you good infiexibly.
you're getting thin from going with
out it SO long and it's better to enjoy
the stuff tricllling down your throat
slow than to have it poured down in
bottlefuls. You know what we say
gees, Billy, and you must drink the
whole thing"
Billy dropped upon his knees.
Don't" he repeated duly, 81 don't |
want to- If l smell ii cant stop then
You and mes been good friends.
O'Neil, and I've danced and-and |
drunk a lot for you. Let me off this
time. And-and if you don't mind
I'd like to say why
ooh, let the poor devil make his
confession, O'Neil,' interposed one of