Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-10
NUMBER %

Prewitt. in my regiment durin' the
late unpleasantness. and he was cured
Just that way. sub. Sam Fossbrooke
made a point of campin' on Bob's trail
ever time Bob got to naggfn any
the other fellows, and Sand thrash
Bob till his own mother wouldn't ha'
known him. sub. And. sub. before the
war was over I'll be double hamstrune
If Bob Prewitt wasn't Il tcetota'er. sub
and he never got 1ghtln' 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 OH Tom Strickland. Sim"
Colonel" answered Sim solemnly.
"it's a sort O curse on the Stricsands
that fierce temper O their'n when they
get under the influence or Ticker. sub.
You mustn't forget that Toms own un.
Gle killed his best friend. Lawrence
Tolliver, durin a spree and then drank
himself to death afterwards tryin' to
forget II, sub. It's curse. sub. that's
what 1t isr
1T amt no curse that can't be lifted
easy as raisin' your little finger Sin
Birdsong." said the colonel. "All IN
the world Tom Strickland's got to do
IL to leave whisky alOne-he amt
hard drinker now. and maybe he never
will be. but he's got to leave it alone
altogether II don't agree With Lin
The Todhunters has got that sa.le Lid
Of n curse in their family. only it's Gu.
cumbers stead Of whisky Tn amt
none Of us TOdhunters can eat cucum'
bers without bein doubled up with
cramp cole. Well, sub. | lifted that
curse by cuttin' cucumbers out o my
list of vittles same as II such Il thing
never growed. and Tom Strickland oI
any ether man can do the same thing
with whisky, sub"
Then the colonel tapped Sim on the
shoulder "And let me tell you one
thing. my boy" he continued. "AIl
this here talk about the turrible hard
fight necessary to break of from II bad
habit makes me tired, sub. \ man
don't never have to fight but one days
fight at a time. and there's always q
nights rest comm In between II he
don't lay awake pityin' himself. sub
| know what I'm a-talkiu' about. II
mint but n twelve hours fight no time,
and man who can't fight that long is
a mighty measly specimen Of man
suhr"
That's all very well, colonel" spoke
Sim uneusily, but Tom has egged
STAN Tucker on till STAINS hurried OIL
O. the barroom. white in the face. hol
lerin' over his shoulder that he'll BE-
back In 4 minute-ani you know just
what that means. suh!"
Colonel Todhunter's face grew ia
stantly grave. Hes gone to get his
shootin iron-the ID little foOl!"
he exclaimed Tell me. Sim. is Tom
Strickland armcd?"
II don't think he is, sub. hut he's
a-waitin' for STAN Tucker In tlIat 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 blazcs AID Sam
Hill didn't you tell me all this ut the
start, suh?''
Swiftly they crossed the town
square and entered the barroom OF the
Nineyeh hotel Tom Strickland. alone
now but for the bartender. stood with
one elbow resting on the bar
"Howdy. colonelr' he cried You
and Sim are Just In time to join me In
a drink, STR. What'll you have"
"Tom." replied the colonel. ''Ordinari-
ly I'd be glad to accept your invita-
ton, but not today. my boy. want
you to go home. Tom"
Young Strickland smiled. I'm sor-
~ to disoblige you. colonel" lie fe
piled, "but ! don't feel like going
home right away"
you've got to 90. Tom" replied tns
colonel.
"Well, now, sir" suggested the 9TH
er, that's fairly open to argument In
spite of your being so positive about
II. I've got special reason for stay
ing. colonel"
ayes, I know, Tom. You're waidn'
to have personal difficulty with
STAN Tucker suh."
Tom Strickland laughed. You've
called the turn. sir. and under the cir
cumstances you'll have to agree your
self that I can't go now-not for a few
minutes anyway"
~ don't agree to no such thing. you
blamed young fool" calculated Colo
mel Todhnnter. do you reckon I'm
a-goin' to let you and STAN Tucker
shoot ea. other full o. holes or let
you wait. unarmed. for him to get q
crack at you just h'".'.':," .''r'rc seen
6t to come into town ana ncgin drink-
In, suhr
Were both free white and twenty
one. colonel" said Tom Strickland.
How are you guin' 10 prevent ity'
At this Colonel Todhunter lost his
temper. "I'll prevent II by thrashin'
you within an inch of your life. sub,
II you don't turn right around and ges
out O. this here DarrOom. that's how"
he announced resolutely Il amt
q -goin' to stand no foolishness. Tom"
THAT amt fair. Colonel rodhunter."
protested Tom Strickland. You're
Miss Mary's father. and you're my ia.
theirs oldest and best friend. sir. l
wouldn't lift my hand agninst you for
the world-but I've got to walt here
till STAN Tucker gets back"
"Tom." said Colonel Todhunter.
you've either got to 20 home right
now, sub. or thrash me. or take the
best thrashin' from me you ever got In
all your life. sub"
Tom Strickland looked into Colonel
Todhunter's eyes. They shone with
the light Of righteous battle. It was
preposterous situation. The humor
Of 1t suddenly struck the younger man.
and he laughed outright. Then. sud.
denly. looking beyond Colonel Todhun.
ter. his own eyes hardened into q ian.
gerous anger
"It's too late. colonelT'' he exclaimed
exultantiy Here comes the very man
we're talking about"
As he spoke Stamford Tucker enter
I'd the barrOOm. advancing directly to-
ward him.
"t reckon rou still insist on n perSon.