Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-29

cense They believe in me up there
and I've Joined in with them. and
his eyes suddenly becoming steady
and aggressive at giggle from one of
the cowboys. eff t want for the whis-
ky believe / could be q good man
again-a better man. than you could
ever be, Danny But, OF course" his
voice again dropping and his hand
reaching mechanically toward the bot
tie, ''this will finish it up. Over there
they don't have anything strong 20
drink. and-and they never suspected
1 was that way. When they find this
out it'll be over with us. I'll run
through myself soon's as / can. and
and the girl and they'll feel sorry. But
you'll have your dance carnival. so
we won't all lose. Now you can give
me the bottle. O'NeiI."
But O'Neil was holding the bottle up
between his own eyes and the sun.
Seems a pity to spill such good
stuff" he said regretfully, but it's
got to be-" Then in a louder voice:
Here. you fellers. see that stone over
t'other side the street? Well, every
one who's got bottle shy at that, and
the one who breaks into the most
pieces will go with Billy to see about
the ring and license. Then Wen all
club in for a present. and
Billy's head went up suddenly His
eyes were moist
"No, no"' he protested. 81 don't
want no present. gentlemen. I've been
working hard up there and have got
some ahead. I'm all right longs | can
keep away from that stuff"
"Shut up, Billy O'Neil retorted IN
graciously. "'Tain't you. It's pres
ent for the bride. And | reckon we'd
better make it two of our best ponies.
They'll be handy's anything up among
them Mennonite farmers. Now, fell
Iers, one. two. three and crash" And
with the last word a half dozen or
more bottles. delivered from as many
unerring hands. crashed on the stone.
AS soon as the bottles had been
smashed the boys began to take meas
ures for the procurement of a wedding
present. O'Neil was appointed col
Iector. One Clipped in a ten dollar
note. another a bag of gold dust. an
other a gold watch chain Ito be melted
DOWN. a fourth a United States gold
double eagle, and so on to the last.
who said:
"Felle-s, l hain't got no dust. no
bills or no coin. But / tell you what
I have got. and l think you'll all allow
it's appropriate for a weddin'."
"Well. what is it?" asked O'Neil.
MY boy Jim has larned to walk"
Your boy Jim wouldn't do for no
weddin' present"
Il don't mean Jim. mean his baby
carriage. He don't need it no more"
"Oh, that wouldn't do" said O'Neu.
at wouldn't be polite to give that at
weddin' s'longs there hain't no chill
dren. 1t 'ud be an insult"
The rest of the party having been
convinced that a baby carriage was
not only out of order at a wedding and
could not be utilized. the collection
was closed. and O'Neil was commits
stoned to go to the city and purchase
the largest and handsomest article that
could be got for the money. He re-
turned with an enormous clock.
When the stage came along the we'd
ding gift was loaded on it, and the
wedding party, consisting of the groom
expectant. O'Neil and the others, got
aboard and started for the brides
home. The clock was too big to go III
the boot, so it was laid across the top
of the stage. Consequently at the first
rut it was precipitated in the road and
smashed.
The party. however. agreed that
there should be wedding present. and
every man doubled his subscription.
AS soon as it was collected O'Neil gave
it to Billy that there might be no
more accidents.
Arrived at their destination. they all
entered the house. \ parson was
called and the couple made one. Then
every one Of the groom's attendants
saluted the bride with a smack.
Never again did Billy touch the
liquid which he could not touch with
out wrecking not only himself. but
everybody connected with him. For
several years his wife kept a careful
watch over him, and after that he was