Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-15

II
him decent, and when his wife came to
me about Il I helped her out little.
She's dead since. His record isn't just
right back there yet. There's some
thing about the shooting hanging over
him. never set eyes on the fellow
again till he struck me for job at
McCloud; then sent him up to you.
| He claimed he'd quit drinking Guess
he had. Long us he's behaving himself
I believe in giving him chance, h'mT
1t really wasn't any longer case OF
giving him chance; rather Of whether
they could get ON without him. When
the Colorado Pacific began racing Us
into Denver that summer it began to
crowd even Shockley to keep the yard
clean. He saw he would have to have
help.
"Chris, what do they give you for
tinkering up the ties?" asked Shockley
one day.
dollar an half"
"Why don't you take hold of switch
ing with lie and get $3f"
Chris was thunderstruck. First he
said Callahan wouldn't let him, but
Shockley guessed yes" Then Chris
figured. To save the last Of the hun
dred dollars necessary to get the woni-
an and the babies over-it could be
done in three months instead of six If
only Callahan would listen. But wheir
Shockley talked Callahan always Ii
tened, and when he asked for new
switchman he got him. And Chris g
his So, to him sum unspeakable.
BY the time the woman and the chill.
dren arrived in the fall Chris would
have died for Shockley.
The fall that saw the woman and the
stunted subjects of the car slowed
away under the bench in Little Russia
brought also the cowboys down from
Montana to bait the Russians.
One stormy night, when Chris thought
1t was perfectly safe to venture up to
Rubedo's after groceries, the cowboys
caught him and dragged him over to
Pat Barlie's.
1t was Z when they caught him and
by 8 they had put him through every
pace that civilization could suggest.
Peg Leg Reynolds, as always, master
of ceremonies, then ordered him tied to
the stove. When 1t was done the COW.
boys got into big circle for q dance.
The fur ON Chriss coat bad already be-
gun to sizzle, when the front door open
ed. Shockley walked in.
Straight, In his ambling, hurried way,
he walked past the deserted bar through
the ring Of cowboys at the rear to Chris
frying against the stove and began cut.
ting him loose. Through every knot
that bis knife slit he sent very loud
and very bad word, and no sooner had
he freed Chris than he jerked him by
the collar, as II Quarreling with him,
toward the back door, which was
handy, and before the cowboys got
wind he had showed him through 1t.
"Hold on therew cried Peg leg Reyn
olds when 1t was just too late. Chris
was out Of 1t, and Shockley turned
alone.
"All right. partner; what Is 1T" he
asked amiably.
you've got ripping nerve"
II know it,"
whats your nameY
"Shockley."
Can you dancer
mo"
1t was Peg Legs opportunity. He
drew his gun. Il reckon maybe you
can. Try It," he added, pointing the
suggestion with the pistol. Shockley |
looked foolish. He didn't begin trip |
ping soon enough and bullet from the
cowboys gun splintered the Dashboard
at his feet. Shockley attempted to
shuttle. To any one who didn't know
him 1t looked funny. But Peg Leg was
a rough dancing master and before he |
said Enough" an ordinary man would |
have dropped exhausted. Shockley,
breathing a good bit quicker, only |
steadied himself against the bar.
"Take off your hat before gentlemen"
cried the cowboy. Shockley hesitated, |
but he dill pull of his cap.
"That's more like 1t. What's your |
name"
"Shockley."
"shockleyT' echoed Reynolds with a
burst of range amenities. well,
Shockley. you can't help your name.
Drink for once in your life with a man
Of breeding-my names Reynolds. Pat,
set out the good bottle-this guy pays"
exclaimed Peg Leg. wheeling to the
bar.
"Whatll 1t be?" asked Pat BarlIe Of |
Shockley. as he deftly slid row Of
glasses IN front of the men Of breed
Ing.
"Ginger ale for me-" suggested
Shockley mildly. The cowboys put up
n single yell. Ginger ale! 1t was too
funny.
Reynolds. choking with contempt. |
pointed to the yardmaster's glass.
"Fill 1t with whiskyw he shouted. "Fill |
1t. Patw he repeated. rs Shockley lean
ed undecIdedly against the bar. The
yardmaster held out the glass and the
barkeeper began to pour. SnocKley
looked at the liquor n moment, then he
looked at Reynolds, who fronted him
with gun in one hand and red water In
the other.
Drink
Shockley paused. looked again at the
whisky and drew the glass toward him
with the curving hand Of drinker.
"You want me to drink this?' he half
l!ug.iel. turning on his batter.
81 didn't say so, did I? said drink"
roared Peg Leg.
Everybody looked at Shockley. He
stool lingering the glass quietly. Some
how cveg.body, drunk or sober, looked
at 81, yyllcy. lie glanced around ut the
crowI. Other guns were creeping from
ter Lois;crs. He pushed the glass
Lace. sm.l.hg
Spring Medicine
There Il no other season when good