Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-11-17

and send the mosquitoes whining and
eddying back from the malignant puffs
Of twenty-three reeking pipes. Thus
socially banded against the foe. they
wrenched out Of the hour few well
smoked drops from the cup Of Joy.
Each week Burney grew deeper in
debt. COrrigan kept a small stock Of
goods OH the boat. which he sold to the
men ut prices that brought him no loss.
Burney was good customer at the to.
bacco counter and was not discon-
tented. He had plenty to eat, plenty Of
tobacco and tyrant to curse. so why
should not he. an Irishman. be well
satisfied?
One morning rs he was starting with
the others for work he stopped at the
pine counter for his usual sack Of to-
bacco.
There's no more for ye," said Corri-
gan. "Your accounts closed. Ye are
losing investment. No. not even to-
baccy. my son. No more tobaccy on
account. II ye want to work on and
eat do so. but the smoke Of ye has all
ascended. 'Tis my advice that We hunt
new job"
II have no tobaccy to smoke in my
pipe this day. Mr.. Corrigan." said Bur
ney. not quite understanding that such
a thing could happen to him.
Earn It," said Corrlgan. "and then
buy It."
Burney stayed on. He knew Of no
other Job. At first he did not realize
that tobacco had got to be his father
and mother. his confessor and sweet
heart and wife and child.
For three days he managed to fill his
pipe from the other mems sacks. and
then they shut him Off. one and all.
They told him. rough but friendly. that
Of all things in the world tobacco must
be quickest forthcoming to a fellow
man desiring 1t. but that beyond the
immediate temporary need requisition
upon the store of comrade is pressed
with great danger to friendship.
Then the blackness Of the pit arose
and filled the heart of Burney. Suck
ing the corpse Of his deceased dudeen.
he staggered through his duties with
his barrowfuI Of stones and dirt, feel
ing for the first time that the curse OF
Adam was upon him. Other men be-
reft Of n pleasure might have recourse
to other delights, but Burney had only
two comforts In life. One wns his pipe.
the other was an ecstatic hope that
there would be no speedways to build
on the other side Of Jordan.
Once Burney sneaked down the riv-
er bank and filed his pipe with dead
willow leaves. At the first Whit Of the
smoke he spat in the direction of the
boat and put the finest curse be knew
on Corrigan. one that began with the
nrst Corrignns born on earth and end
ed with the Corrigans that shall hear
the trumpet Of Gabriel blow. He be-
gan to hate Corrigan with all his shak.
Ing nerves and soul Even murder oc-
CURED to him In a vague sort Of way.
Five days he went without the taste OF
tobacco. he who had smoked all day
and thought the night misspent In
which he had not awakened for pipe
full or two under the bedclOthes.>
One day q man stopped ut the boat
10 say that there was work to be had
In the Bronx park, where large num-
Der Of laborers were required in max
Ing some Improvements.
After dinner Burney walked thirty
yards down the river bank away from
the maddening smell Of the others
pipes. He sat down upon a stone. He
was thinking he would set out for the
Bronx. At least he could earn tobacco
there.
Softly stepping among the clods
came Tony. he Of the race OF Goths,
who worked In the kitchen. he grin
ned at Burney's elbow and that un-
happy man. full Of race animoslty
and holding urbanity In contempt.
growled at him. What dye want. ye
- dago?"
Tony also contained a grievance
and a plot. He, too. was q Corrigan
hater and had been primed to see 1t
In others.
"HOw you Ikea Mr.. CorriganY he
asked. You think-a him a nice-a
manT
ITO b. with M" said Burney. May
bis LIVER turn to water and the bones Of