Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-26
The Water Wagon
Continued trow page 4

ana lneN guess Clce can Dt dS ID
tional as the rest Of the gang if they only
settle their minds to it Yep. they feel now
they say. that they've deliberately decap
itated all joy from their lives under the stress
of a fool remorse.
LAS matter of fact" petulantly observes
a passenger holding down an extreme rear
outside seat. while l m willing to be sticker
and all like that. why. I've got a sneaking
kind of notion that We made Sucker Play.
| was licking up few crooks. it IS true: but
| wasn't alone in that. and didn' have to
cure it by mooching off on 4 year long trip
like this All had to do was to string along
with the game and exercise little self con-
troll. and I'd have been all right without any
OF this dull monotonous gag OF creeping
along on a creaky Water Wagon. At best
when you come to peek it over. Teller dOesn
get much fun out of life. It's Jarry, Jolty
old journey. and if man feels like stopping
by the way once in awhile and sort of mellow
ing it up a little and chucking little action
Understand. I'm not crawishing- I'm not
reneging. I'm willing to stick around on this
fool old Gig and all like that; but
Just here the Wagon. turning sharp bend
in the darkening road. hits protruding
rock. and. when the Wagon tits slightly the
passenger who is in the act of expressing
himself tumbles backward into the road He
picks himself up instantly, takes one fleeing
look at the Wagon. and then gallops IN the
opposite direction. taking up one-forty clip
to the mile. The others turn round and gaze
after the tumbled passenger who is disappear
ing in the dimness; and they grin at each
other They have no words of vituperation
or scorn for the lost one. They just grin.
And Another
THE Water Wagon blunders on in the dark
ness. giving forth grooming sound as OF
increasing dilapidatiOn.
Presently the Wagon rattles by large.
highly ornamental roadhouse. through the
4 - 10
blazing and sending up merry showers OF
sparks. Chattering throngs can be seen seated
round the tables. with white aproned waters,
bearing trays on which rubyish and amberino
bottles piled, hustling around. AS the
Wagon creaks by. the roadhouse door IS swung
open by departing guests. and the appealing
Groom of violins and violoncellos floats out
upon the chill air.
Whereupon. suddenly. the passenger who
had announced that he was going back to the
tracking the Demon Rum. stands up in his
place.
Hey, wait minute" he calls out. MY
hat has blown off
The Wagon pulls up. and he climbs down
to pick up his hat. which he had furtively
ficked into the road on passing the roadhouse
He picks it up. Then he scampers into the
roadhouse. never once looking back. Several
of the other passengers excitedly stand up as if
to Chamber down after him: but think better
Ol IL, dHu SIT uoWu dSdiii HCii dA hduuS vi
the Wagon grin at each other some more.
Going. Going
THE Water Wagon has list to starboard.
and is almost on its beam ends. At the
next roadside spring. when the derisive I'M
regenerates tender their Jars of Tartarus
Juice. several of the vacillating outside pas
sengers slide down in the darkness and take
mighty swigs for themselves amid the cheers
of the unreclaimed ones.-thereby forfeitng
their seats on the Wagon.