The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-08-31


Think how It'll feel running down your
throat and remember how 1t smells,"
He reached out the bottle suddenly,
and Billy's hands-both Of them-went
hungrily toward 1t. His eyes were
shining, his lips trembling.
Don't, O'Neilw he implored. Don't,
don't, don'tv' his voice rising quaver-
ingly. you know how It's with me-"
It'll do you good" inflexibly. You
are getting thin from going without 1t
so long, and it's better to enjoy the
stuff trickling down your throat slow
than to have 1t poured down in bot
| ties full You know what we say
goes, Billy, and you must drink the
whole thing"
| Billy dropped upon his knees. 20
Don't" he repeated duly. 81 don't
want to. If smell 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, Id
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. II 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 him a grateful look.
Its like this" he said. with q pa
thetic eagerness in his voice "SiS
months ago | happened to be up in
the country, and saved girls life.
She was caught by bear, and-and
suppose 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
feelin' that mebbe IIcbuld make some
thing Of myself some time. like used
to think IA long while ago" There
was little catch In his voice; then he
went on In lower tones: me and the
girl was to be married. l came down
today for a ring and license. 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
'twan't for the whisky l believe could
be good man again-a better one than
you could ever be, Danny. But, of
course"-his voice again dropping and
his hand reaching mechanically toward
the bottle-'this will finish It all. Up
there they don't have anything strong
to drink, and-and they never suspect
ed was hat way. When they find
this out It'll be over with us. I'll run
through myself soon's can, and-and
the girl and they'll feel sorry, but you'k
have your dance carnival. So we won't
all lose. Now you can give me the bot
tie, ONeil."
But O'Neil was holding the bottle
up between his own eyes and the sun.
Seems pity to spill such good stuff,"
he said regretfully. but it's got to be-"
Then in louder voice: Here, you fel.
lers, 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
mo. no." he protested; II don't want
no present, gentlemen. I've been work.
ing hard up there and have got some
ahead. I'm all right longs I can keep
away from that stuff.
"Shut up. Billyr' O'Neil retorted uu-
graciously. "'Taint you; it's present
for the bride And l reckon we'd bet
ter make II two Of our best ponies.
They'll be handy's anything up among
them Mennonite farmers. Now, fell
lers. one. two. three. and crashw And
with the last word half dozen or
unerring hands crashed against tho
stone,