Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-08-31


Think how it'll feel running down your
throat and remember how it sme1lsl''
He reached out the bottle suddenly,
and Billy's hands-both of them-went
hungrily toward it. His eyes were
shining, his lips trembling.
Don't, O'NeilY' he implored Don't,
don't, don'tr' his voice rising quaver-
ingly. "You know how tbs with me-"
It'll do you good,'' infiedbly. you
are getting thin from going without it
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. at don't
want to. If 1 smell 1 can't stop then
You and mes been good friends,
O'Neil, and I've danced and-and
! drunk a lot for you. Let me off 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'Nen," tnterposed 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'n be
him start in right"
Billy shot him grateful look.
Its like this" he said with a pa
thet1c eagerness In his voice. 'S1x
months ago I happened to be up in
the country, and I saved a girls Hfe.l
She was caught by bear, and-and I
suppose acted some brave Anyhow,
she and her folks thought so and took
me in. Since then I've been up there,
and 1 amt tasted drop, and I've been
feelin' that mebbe could make some
thing Of myself some time, like used
to think IA long while ago." There
was q little catch In his voice; then he
went on in lower tones: Me and the
girl was to be married. I 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 cowboyst-.1f
'twan't 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 viii finish it all Up
there they don't have anything strong
to drink, and-and they never suspect
ed I was hat way. When they find
this out it'll be over with u.s. I'll run
through myself soon's I can, and-and
the girl and they'll feel sorry, but you'M
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
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 fell
lers, see that stone over t'other side
the street? Well, every one who's got
a bottle shy at that, and the one who
breaks into the most pieces VIII go
with Billy to see about the ring and
license. Teen well all club In for q.
present and
Billy's head went up suddenly. His,
eyes were moist
mo. no." he protested; 81 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. Billyp' O'Neil retorted IN
graciously- "'Tain't you: it's present
for the bride. And 1 reckon we'd bet
ter make it two of our best ponies.
They'll be handy's anything up among
them Mennonite farmers. Now, fei-
lers, one, two. three, and crashr' And
with the last word a half dozen or
more bottles delivered from as many
unerring hapds crashed against the
stone