Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-04-25

ToGhuntcr emerged from the
law office of Judge Boiling he
heard sudden hurrying Of
footsteps, and Sim Bird.,oug Joined
him, GREATNESS and much perturbed.
"What's on your mind now, Sim|
asked the colonel. "'Tain't often you
20 gallopin' aroun' with your tongue
hangin' out O your mouth like young
dogs in his first rabbit chase. What's
the trouble?"
II was jes' startin' out to look you
mp. colonel" replied Sim. There's
trouble enough sub. Tom Strickand's
got to drinkin' and picked quarrel
with STAN Tucker in the hotel bar
room, and you better come quick. sub,
and prevent It's bein' mighty serious
difficulty"
81 amt got no patience with you
young fellows here In Nineveh, Sim
Birdsong," commented the colonel.
"When Tom Strickland gets two or
three drinks under his belt and wants
to picl; fuss why don't some Of you
turn IN and lick the stuffin' out'n him
That's one Of the best cures for the
whisky quarrelin habit that ever was
invented. sub"
The colonel chuckled as he spoke.
''The most Quarrelsome man In his
cups l ever knew. Sim. was old Bob
Prewitt. in my regiment durin' the
late unpleasantncss, and he was cured
Just that way. sub. Sam Fossbrooke
made point of campin' on Bob's trail
ever time Bob got to naggin' any O
the other fellows. and Sand thrash
Bob till his own mother wouldn't ha'
known him. sub. And. sub, before the
war was over III be double hamstrung
Il Bob Prewitt wasn't teetotaler. sub.
and he never got f1ghtin' drunk after
the war neither till he'd put two whole
counties between him and Sam Foss.
brooke. Some Of you boys ought to try
that plan on Tom Strickland. SIM"
Colonel" answered Sim solemnly.
ssit's sort O. curse on the Stricklands,
that fierce temper O their'n when they
get under the influence Of licker sub.
You mustn't forget that Toms own un-
Gle killed his best friend. Lawrence
TOlliver. durin' spree and then drank
himself to death afterwards tryin' to
forget 1t, sub. It's curse. sub, that's
what It Isl"
1T amt no curse that can't be lifted
easy as raisin' your little finger, Sim
Birdsong," said the colonel "All in
the world Tom Strickland's got to do
Is to leave whisky alone-he amt a
hard drinker now, and maybe he never
will be, but he's got to leave it alone
altogether. 1t don't agree with him.
The Todhunters has got that same kind
OF curse In their family, only it's Gu.
cumbers stead OF whisky. TIL amt
none Of us Todhunters can eat cucum.
bers without bein' doubled up with
cramp collie. Well. sub, l lifted that
curse by cuttin' cucumbers out o. my
list of vittles same as If such thing
never growed. and Tom Strickland OF
any other man can do the same thing
with whisky, subj"
Then the colonel tapped Sim on the
shoulder. And let me tell you one
thing, my boy he continued. "Al
this here talk about the turrible hard
fight necessary to break off from bad
habit makes me tired, sub. A man
don't never have to fight but one days
fight at time. and there's always a
nights rest comm in between If he
don't lay awake pityin' himself, sub
l know what I'm a-talkin' about. II
amt but twelve hours fight no time
and man who can't fight that long is
a mighty measly specimen Of man
subj
THAT'S all very well, colonel" spoke
Sim uneasily. but Tom has egged
STAN Tucker on till STAINS hurried out
O. the barroom, white in the face, hol
lerin' over his shoulder that he'll be
back in a minute-and you know just
what that means. suhv'
Colonel Todhunter's face grew In
stantly grave. Hes gone to get his
shootin' iron-the id little foolv
he exclaimed. TELL me. Sim, is Tom
Strickland armedy
Il don't think he is. sub. but he's
a-waitin' for STAN Tucker in that there
barroom, and he's just feelin' reckless
enough to give STAN every chance in
the world for shootin' him after he
himself picked the fuss and forced the
personal difficulty. colonel"
You come along with me, Sim," said
the colonel. "Why the blazes and Sam
Hill didn't you tell me all this at the
start, subj"
Swiftly they crossed the town
square and entered the barroom of the
Nineveh hotel Tom Strickland, alone
now but for the bartender stood with
one elbow resting on the bar.
'Howdy. coionel1' he cried. "You
and Sim are just in time TO join me in
drink. sir. Whatll you haver'
Tom" replied the colonel, "ordinari-
ly I'd he glad to accept your invita-
fiOn hllf No