Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-01-20

fession, ONeil." interposed one OF the
cowboys good nnturedly. You know
how it's with Patterpat If he smells.
as he says, he won't stop easy. Itll
be two months before he sobers up.
Let him start in right"
Billy shot the speaker Il grateful look.
It's like this" he said, with a pa
:hetic eagcrness in his voice. "SiI
months ago | happened to be up In the
country, and | saved Il girls life. She
was caught by II bear, and-and | sup
pose acted some brave. Anyhow.
she and her folks thought so and took
me in. Since then I've been up there.
and l amt tasted n 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 4 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 n giggle from one of
the cowboys, III I want for the whis-
Ky | believe | could be 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 he 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, 50
we won't all lose. Now you can give
me the bottle. O'Ncil."
But O'Neil was holding the bottle up
between his own eyes and the sun.
Seems n pity TO spill such good
stuff" he said regretfully. hut it's
got to be" Then III a louder voice:
Here, you fellerS. see that stone over
t'other side the street? We'll, every
one who's got bottle shy ut that, and
the one who breaks into the most
pieces will so with Billy to see about
the ring and license Then Wen all
club in for II present. and
Billy's head went up suddenly. His
eyes were moist.
mo. no." he 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 pres
ent for the bride. And reckon we'd
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 20 take meas
ures for the procurement of wedding
present O'Neil was appointed col
lector. One Clipped in n ten dollar
note. another q bag of gold dust. an
other a gold watch chain Ito be melted
DOWN, fourth a United States gold
double eagle, and so on to the last.
who said:
"Felers. hain't got no dust no
bills or no coin. But tell you what
| have got. and think you'll all allow
it's appropriate for weddin'."
We'll, 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. l mean his baby
carriage He don't need it no more"
"Oh, that wouldn't do" said O'Neil.
at wouldn't be polite to give that at
weldln' slong's there hain't no chill
dren. 1t 'ud be ali 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 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 In
the boot. so 1t was laid across the top
Of the stage. Consequently at the first
rut 1t 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 II was collected O'Seil gave
It to BILLY that there might be no
more accidents.
Arrived ar their destination. they all
entered the house. A parson was
called and the couple made one. Then
every one of the groom's attendants
saluted the bride with smack.
Never again did Billy touch the
rqUid which he could not touch with
out wreckilg not only himself. but
everybody connected with him. For
several years his wife kept a careful
watch over him, and after that he was
strong enough 20 60 It alone
Four Useful Senses.
The naturalist of Wobrook- the
Hills had pointed out Il rabbit squat.
ting close under a bush. and the Ia.
dies had declared In chorus that they
could not see the little animal
How do you manage to see every
thingr' asked one of the party. with