El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-14
Mild and Bitter
u shorf story.

the stretch of meadow beyond and
beyond that again at the line Of viii
lows which marked the stream He
took from his pocket a large white
[ handkerchief, upon which a crop Of
J red spots had broken out very much
( as though it had had the measles, and
wiped his forehead with it, careless
/ of infection. The morning was hot
and he had Just been engaged in Sc
Z we're physical eXertlon nothing less Ilah
3 the conveyance, with the nelp OF the
brewers men, Of a SO gallon DaTEel
I of ale into the cellar The teaJ naQ
/ been safely accomplished, and he nad
cause for satisfaction. Yet al was not
well with himE There was slight
frOWn upon his forehead and a thought
I fuI expression in his Watery blue eyes
( as they rOved across the meadows 10
/ a spot by the stream, where stood a
] figure of a man clad in Norfolk jacket
} and knee breeches and carrying FISH
I ing rod. Mr.. Pollock eyed him thought
/ fully, and scratched the stuooIe on
his chin-Of which he had two
Been here three weeks he muir
INJURED, and I amt seen the color OF
his money yet. PrOmises-yes Set
tie when he goes. But then he ain
agoing-and living on the fat Of the
z land too. Not OvermuCh baggage TO
/ speak of. Of course, he may be a gen
/ tleman. Very likely he is But then,
! again, he mayut be- No It's no 60
I'll have it out with him this very
morning"
He stiffeued in his determination as
/ he saw the fisherman turn from the
stream and come towards him across
the meadows. 1t was evident that the
mornings sport had not proved very
Y satisfactory As he came nearer ne
! revealed himself as slightly punt
man with dark hair. narrow black ey eSs
and a humorous twist about the cor
ners of his mouth. He greeted Mr.
I Pollock Cheerfully, but the landlord,
/ having made up his mind to an IN
/ pleasant duty, was not TO be put or
/ by Establishments
Morning, Mr.. Twigg." he said
abruptly, in response to the fisherman
/ greetings. No luck, 1 SUPPOSE one
can't do much when the s6y's as bright
/ as it is. There's a small matter was
I wanting to speak to you about-thau
/ little account of mine
/ He cOughed and drew his stout form
a little more upright Mr. IWlgg s
/ dark eyes rested upon him moment
1 and then wandered away to the right
: to where the little country station
| stood neat and trim among its flower
4 think I told you" he said. that
I I proposed to settle when I left2'
/ Exactly" answered Mr.. Pollock
/ eagerly. seeing an opening for e11ec-
3 tive argument And what l want 10
/ know is when that's going to be, for
I YOU see, SuppOsing you was TO stay
I here forever. then you wouldn't ever
2
I yOu2"
/ Mr.. Twigg laughed.
/ well. no" he admitted pleasantly
/ since you put il that way, I shouldn't T.
! But YOU needn't be afraid Very nice
/ place this-pIeasant, and quiet, and all
| that, but not quite the spot Tor per
[ Tanent residence As a matter Of fact
/ I was thinking Of leaving this morning.
/ There's a train in about half an hour,
/ isn't there2 And I've sent my trunks
I up TO the station"
/ oh you have, have your said Nh
! Pollock with mOmentary suspicion
/ Then you and me can settle up before
: you gO-COmfOTtaole and pleasantllke-
! Certainly" answered Mr. TwiSS
, promptly. 1--WE just got to go upstairs
! and pack the small handbag. and then
/ III come down and settle up
{ Very well. sir" said Mr.. o'clock. be-
/ coming more respectful at the prospect
Z of approaching payment. You can
/ say no fairer than that"
! He went into the bar to add up the
details Of his account, putting on a
/ few dollars for luck. When Air- TWigg
/ descended he presented him with the
Z bill The fisherman put down his hand
! bag and thrust his hands into his
I trOuser pockets, as though to produce
! the necessary coin In the midst Of the
I process he paused and looked abstract
I eddy at the landlord
1 You've treated me very Well" he
: said. "and I shall recommend this place
I to nv friends. And in return, I can
=
( to a man in your line Of business If
{ you'd like to know il / can show YOU
{ way TO get two kinds Of beer out
{ of one barrel"
Two kinds of beer out OF one bar
I rel?' said Mr.. Pollock, staring. Why,
: it can't be done
Two kinds of beer" repeated Mr..
/ TwiSg Mild and bitter"
wen, if you can do that" said Mr..
/ Pollock. scratching his head, you're
[ a marvel"
sIts perfectly easy when you know
! how to do it, answered Twigg non
I YOU You've got a barrel of beer In
/ the cellar, I SUPPOSE
Just got a new one this morning.
I answered Pollock Thirty six gal
''Then that's the very thing" an
{ Swered his guest IF you've got such
/ a thing as q large auEer about the
1 place III show YOU how TO no II now
I In the excitement of watching this
( curious experiment Mr.. Pollock forgot
/ about the unsettled account he rum
I mayed in the bar and found an auEer
[ Of the requisite size. Mr.. IW1gg IN
/ Spected it with particular care Armed
] with il. and accompanied by his most
] he descended to the cellar where the
/ mighty barrel stood upon its trestles-
I He eyed it carefully, and ruggeC at
{ his uSraChe-pOssibl to hide smile.
NO use knocking the spigot out
/ he said. You need two holeS-One for
! each kind or peer Inc ulLAQ CoLLrS ot-L
at one hole. the bitter at the other.
/ You'll find this tip so useful that you'll
remember it all your life. So here
/ goes"
He attacked the barrel with the au-
ger making a hole in the lower part
lust stick your thumb in acre. while
! 7 make the other" Mr.. Pollock com
I piled and ne went on. The beer which
I comes out of that hole will be mild,
he explained as he bored. "and the
| beer which comes out of this one when
I've finished it, will be bitter-very
{ bitter" he added inaudibly. "Ah, there,
I it's done aust site K yt ar lnumS "a
/ this ore. then I'll show YOU
Mr.. Pollock hastily inserted his thumb
/ into the second hole, and with both
1 hands fully occupied, waited for the
/ miracle.
And now" said Twigg. allowing his
I smile to broaden. III just go along
/ and catch my train. I've five minutes
I and 1 can just do it. As I said. you've
| done me well while I've been here;
/ and I think you'u admit that I've done
: YOU well in return Good morning.
] Mild and bitter. remember. out Of the
s same barrel Don't forget"
! He ran lightly up the cellar stairs
/ and vanished into the streak of sun
[ light beyond them. Mr. Pollock. with
. f--