The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-03-28
LOOK AT THAT. BILLY

for Patterpat's feet. 1 did used to
know Billy. The only trouble with
him was that all his brains and fun
and everything was jest in his feet,
and with them gone plain there
couldn't be no Patterpat any more.
Well oil 'em with Billy's special linn
berer"
AS they filed out newcomer from
Texas looked discontentedly at O'Neil.
ANY special inducement bout that
Patterpat's feet?" he inquired. 1--WE
been pretty comfortable sitting on the
counter. We have dancing down to
Texas"
Better go back there" CURLY, "or
go sit on the counter If you like 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'-least-
ways what they called dancin'-but
I've never seen but one Patterpat,
only he has to be limbered up with
great jugs Of whisky first Then his
legs are all wheels and parabolas and
ricOshays and scintillates. Now, you
stand right here and I'll canter out to
the middle of the street. That's him
comm yonder and beginnin' to dodge
already. That's the way he used to
do, and we had to round him like we
would wild mustang and then fill
hiR up"
Billy Patterpat was block and q
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 had begun to grow troubled
and full Of apprehension. At length he
stopped and looked back, but it was toe
late now. Several Of 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, strug-
Cling and protesting, his eyes big with
terror of what he felt was coming.
Don't you give it to me, gentlemen, -
he pleaded. Pm plain now, and ii
wouldn't be right Amt danced In six
months and amt tasted a drop. Don't
you make me now
Look at that, Billy" said O'Neil,
holding up 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, and we've got
more bottles In waiting. There's ten
whole glasses for you, Billy-just for
you. Think how it'll feel running
down your throat and remember how
it smells! Lordy, 1 do feel almost like
drinking 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
shining, his lips trembling, his whole
form in culver, but even then, with
an almost superhuman effort, he forced
his arms back to his sides.
"Don't, O'NeilP' he implored. Don't.
don't, don'tP' his voice rising quaver'
ingly. you know how It's with me
Please don't 1 don't want It."
It'll do you good" inhexibly. "You
are getting thin from going without ii
so long, and It's better to enjoy the
stuff trickling down your throat slow
than to have 1t poured down In bot
ties full. You know what we say
goes, Billy, and you must drink the
whole thing"
Billy dropped upon his knees.
Don't" he repeated duly. 'T dom
want to. If 1 smell 1 can't 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"
"Oh, let the poor devil make his con
fession, -O'Neil,' interposed one of the
cowboys good naturally. you know
how it's with Patterpat. If he smells
as he says, he won't stop easy. It'll be
two months before he sobers up. Lei
him start in right"
Billy shot him a grateful look.
TITS like this" he said, with a pa
thetic eagerness in his voice. 'Six
months ago 1 happened to be up IN
the country, and I saved girls life
She was caught by bear, and-and
suppose acted some brave. Anyhow
she and her folks thought so and took
me in. Since then I've been up there
and amt tasted a drop, and I've beer
feelin' that mebbe l could make some
thing of myself some time, like used
tn think Ga long while ago" There
was little catch in his voice; then he
went on in lower tones: me and the
girl was to be married. came down
today for a ring and license. They
believe in me up there, and I've Joined
In with them, and.,S-his eyes suddenly