Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-08-29

Think how it'll feel running down your
throat and remember how it smells!'
He reached out the bottle suddenly,
and Billy's hands-both Of them-went
hungrily toward 1t. His eyes We're
shining, his lips trembling.
Don't, O'Neil!' he implored. Don't,
don't, don't" 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 it 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.
Don't: he repeated DULY. II 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 OF this
time. And--and, If you don't mind, I'd
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 tits with Patterpat. If he smells,
as he says, he won't stop easy. It'll be
two months before he sobers up. Let
him start In right" Il
Billy shot him a grateful look.
Its like this" he said, with pa-
thetic eagerness in his voice. NSix
months ago 1 happened to be up In.
1 the country, and saved a girls life.
She was caught by bear, and-and IS
suppose acted some brave. Anyhow,
/ she and her folks thought SO and took
me In Since then I've been up there
and I amt tasted drop, and I've been
faelin' that mebbe I could make some
thing Of myself some time, 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 license. They.
believe in me up there, and I've Joined
in with them, and"-his eyes suddenly
becoming steady and aggressive ct q
giggle from one Of the cowboyS-tstf
'twant for the whisky 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. Eli run
J. through myself soon's can, and-and
the girl and they'll feel sorry, but you \
have your dance carnival So we won,t
all lose. Now you can give me the bot
+ tie, O'Neil. =
But O'Neil was holding the bottle
t up between his own eyes and the sun.
Seems pity to spill such good stun 4
q he said regretfully. but it's got to be. 4
!, Then in q louder voice: Here, you fell
lers. see that stone over t'other side
n the street? Well. every one who's sol
!. bottle shy at that, and the one who
a breaks into the most pieces will &c
with Billy to see about the ring and
% license. Then Wen all club In for q
d present and
: Billy's head went up suddenly. al.
al eyes We're moist.
mo, no." lie protested; Il don't wan
nopresent. gentlemen. I've been work
ing hard up there and have got SOM
ahead, I'm all right longs 4 can keel
away from that STUFF. Z 81
..shnt up. Billyr O.Neil retorted uu
graciouslv I. T;ain.t you: It's presen
]. for the bride. And reckon we'd hel
ter mike it two OF onr best pou1e1
They'll be hand 's any thing no afnOn
II 81, v,s..fi ~ I'm hi ~