The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-03-03

nls arms back TO his side.
Don't. O'Neilv' he implored. Don't.
don't. don't.'' His voice rose quaver.
ingly. You know how tits with me.
Please don't. | don't want it,"
It'll do you good" infexibly. You're
getting thin from going without it so
long, and it's better to enjoy the stun
trickling down your throat slow than
to have it poured down in bottles full.
You know what we say goes. Billy,
ana you must drink the whole thing"
Billy dropped upon his knees.
Don't" he repeated DULY; 81 don't
want it, II I smell l can't stop then.
You and mes been good friends.
O'Neil, and I've danced and-and
drunk lot for you Let me off this
time. And-and If you don't mind, ia
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. IT he smells,
as he says, he won't stop easy. It'll
be two months before he sobers up.
Let him start in right"
Billy shot the speaker grateful look.
ITS like this he said, with a pa
thetfc eagerness in his voice. six
months ago | happened to be up in the
country, and | saved girls life. She
was caught by bear, and-and I sup
pose l acted some brave. Anyhow,
she and her folks thought so and took
me in. Since then I've been up there.
and amt tasted drop and I've been
feeling that mebbe could make some
thing Of myself sometime, like
used to think IA long while ago."
There was a little catch in his voice.
then he went on in lower tones: me
and the girl was to be married.
came down today for ring and IL
cense. They believe in me up there,
and I've joined in with them. and"
his eyes suddenly becoming steady
and aggressive at a giggle from one OF
the cowboys, IF t want for the whis-
ky | believe | could be a 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 to
drink. and--and they never suspected
| 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. ONeil."
But ONeil 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 q 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 Well all
club in for present, and
Billy's head went up suddenly. His
eyes were moist.
"No, nor be protested. Il 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 un-
graciously "'Tain't YOU It's a pres
ent for the bride. And l reckon we'd
better make it two Of our best ponies.
They'll be handy's anything up among
them Mennonite farmers. Now, fel
lers, one, two. three and crash" And
with the last word 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 wedding
present. O'Neil was appointed COL
Iector. One Clipped in ten dollar
note. another bag OF gold dust, an
other gold watch chain to be melted
DOWN. fourth United States gold
double eagle. and so on to the last,
who said:
''Fellers. | hain't got no dust, no
bills or no coin. But tell you what
I have got and | think you'll all allow
it's appropriate for 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"
II don't mean Jim. / mean his baby
carriage. He don't need it no more"
''Oh, that wouldn't do" said O'Neil.
eft wouldn't be polite to give that at
weddin' s'long's there hain't no chill
dren. 1t 'ud be an insult
The rest of the party having been
convinced that baby carriage was
not only out of order at wedding and
could not be utilized. the collection
was closed. and O'Neil was comm1s-
stoned to go to the city and purchase
the largest and handsomest article that
could be got for the money He re-
turned with au enormous clock.
s When the stage came along the we'd
ding gift was loaded on it. and the
wedding party. consisting Of the groom
exDectant ONeil and the Others got