Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-10

rubbing MS ear again and nuQglnt
Charley. He amt no fool, eh?"
HopaIong took the liquor and tossed
it off and, considering moment, shov.
ed the glass back: 1T is good-fin hel
again." The third was even better and
by the time the fourth and fifth join.
ed their predecessors he began to fee
g little more cheerful. But even the
liquor and an exceptionally well-cook.
ed supper could not separate him from
his persistent and set crouch. And OF
liquor he had already had more thar
his limit. He had always boasted, with
truth, that he had never been drunk
and that was one doubtful luxury he
could not afford for the reason that
more than one man would like to see
him for five seconds when liquor had
| dulled his brain and slowed his speed
| Of hand.
He dropped into a chair by a card
table and, battling all attempts to en-
gage him in conversation, reviewed
his troubles in q mumbled soliloquy
the liquor gradually making him care
less, but Of all the jumbled sounds his
companions heard they recognized and
retained only the term winchester"
Better go to bed, stranger" the pro-
prietor was saying. Were tn last up
It's after twelve an you look sleepy
an tired"
Said his wife was sick-oh, what
you sayin'?"
You'll find a bed better'n this table
stranger-it's after twelve, an want
to close up an get some sleep. I'm tir-
ed myself"
"Oh, that's all? Shore I'll go to bed
just like to see anybody stop me!
Amt no rocks in it. hey?"
Mary a rock" laughed the host
picking up Hopalongs saddle and
leading the way to a room off the of
fice," his guest stumbling after inim
and growding about the rocks that liv-
ed in Winchester When Stevenson
had dropped the saddle by the win
dow and departed, Hopalong sat on
the edge of the bed to close his eyes for
just a moment before taking the labor
Of removing his clothes. A crash and
a jar awakened him to find himself on
the floor with his back to the bed. He
was hot and his head ached q little
and how close and hot and choking the
room had become! He thought he had
blown out the lamp. but 1t still burned
and three quarters of the chimney was
black with soot It was unbearable,
and after three attempts he blew out
the light, stumbled against his saddle
and leaned out Of the window to
breathe. AS his lungs took in the fresh
air he chuckled wisely and, picking up
the saddle, managed to get 1t and
himself through the window and on
the ground without mishap. He would
ride for an hour and come back all
right, and give the room time to fresh
en-. Not a star could be seen as he
groped his way unsteadily towards the
rear Of the building where he vaguely
remembered having seen the corral.
Huh! Said he lived in Winchester.
ans name was Ben Ferris" he NUT
tered, stumbling toward a noise he
knew was caused by horse rubbing
against the corral fence. Lord, it's
darker'n cats in-oof!" he grunted, re-
coiling from forcible contact with the
fence he sought. Growing words un-
holy he felt his way along 1t and final
ly his arm slipped through an opening
and he bumped his head solidly on the
top bar Of the gate. AS he righted
himself his hand struck the nose Of a
horse and closed mechanically over 1t.
Cowponies look alike in the dark and
he grinned as he complimented him
self upon finding his so unerringly.
Cant fool me, Of cayuse," he beam
ed, fumbling at the bars with his free
hand and getting them down with q
fools luck You can't do It'll got
you, frs las an always, an got you
good. Quit -earin', you Of fool! Stan
still, can't you!" The pony sidled as
the saddle hit it's back and evoked pro-
fame abuse from the puncher as he
picked it up to try again. this time sue
cessfully. He began to fasten the
girth and then paused to reflect, for
the pin Of the buckle would slide to
no hole but the first. "Gettin' fat, amt
you, piebald?" he asked, sarcastically
you blow yoreself up any more an
I'll bust you open!" heaving on the
strap with all his might. The fat
disappeared and Hopalong laughed
Been learnin' new tricks, amt you?
Got smart since you been travelin'
hey?" He fumbled with the bars again
and got two back in place and, throw
| ing himself across the saddle as the
horse started as hard as it could &c
slipped but saved himself by hopping
along the ground. When he had se-
cured the grip he wished he mounted
| with the ease of habit. "Gwan, now
an easy-it's dark an my heads bus
tim"
| While he saddled his mount at the
corral he was not aware that two Of
the three remaining animals had taker
advantage of their opportunity and hat
walked out and made off in the dark
ness before he replaced the bars, ant
he was too drunk to care II he hat
known 1t.
| 1t did not take his mount long tt
learn that something was wrong, ant
when it finally realized that the maj
astride 1t was asleep and that 1t could
go where it pleased the surprised ami
NAL quickened pace and headed fo
Winchester, where 1t belonged. AS da!
began to break along the horizon ant
tempered the blackness the hors'
broke into a canter, which developed
signs of irritation in its rider. FINAL!
Hopalong opened his drowsy eyes ant
looked around like one dazed. No
knowing where he was and too tiret
and sleepy to waste much thought OF
a matter of such slight Importance, h
looked around for a place to finish hi
sleep. A tree some distance ahea'
looked inviting and toward 1t he rode
Habit made him picket the horse be
fore he lay down and as he fell asleel