The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-08-30

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 it. His eyes were
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" ~intieXibly. You
are getting thin from going without it
50 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 l smell l 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-
f~esSion, O'Neil," interposed n Of the
cowboys good naturally. You know
how It's 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"
Billy shot him a grateful look.
It's like this" he said, with a pa
thetic eagerness in his voice. "Six
months ago happened to be up in
the country, and l saved a girls life.
She was caught by a 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 a drop, and I've been
feelin' that mebbe l could make some
thing of myself some time. like l used
to think "a 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. l came down
toda- for q 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 c~owboys--if
'twan't for the whisky l believe I could
be a 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. Or
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.L
have your dance carnival. So we won'1
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 Il louder voice: Here, you fel
lers, see that stone over t'other side
the street? Well. every one who's go
Il bottle shy at that, and the II wht
breaks into the most pieces will 81
with Billy to see about the ring anC
license. Then wei, all club in for +;
present and
Billy's head went up suddenly. Hi
eyes We're moist.
No. no. he protested: II don't wan
no present. gentlemen. I've been work
Ing hard up there and have got soin
ahead. I'm MI right longs | can kee.
away from that stuff"
shut M. Rilly." O'Neil retorted un
g%raeiously. ""Tnin't you. it's n presen'
for the bride. And | reckon we'd bel
ter make II two or orr best ponies
They'll be nnndy's anything M amon'
them Mennonite farmers, Now, Tel
hers. one. two. three. and crash" AM
with the last word a half dazen o
mnre bottles delivered from ~ man,
merring hands crashed against IL
stone.