The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-24
COCKEYED STRANGER
SOBSTREPEROUS
But shows Judgment After lie
Is Induced TO Sit In at the
Poker Game.
GLAD TO GET AWAY ALIVE
Nv DAVID \. CIRTIs.

Tets liquor" siid the StiaH|eI'
Ordinarily the uttcrancc Of the cstah-
fshed formula in old man Greenlaw
saloon In Arkansas city was "A su'ii-
Glen, introduction Of the person utter
ing II to the favorable consideration
or tho old man himself and Of the little
.roup Of steady customers who were
usually to be found of an evening sit
ting in the saloon: but on this occa-
sion there was a slight hesitancy 10
be observed in them all
If tho stranger noticed ii he gave
M sign. Placing his own elbow on the
lar he cooked his chin IN the air and
twisted one leg s,nuously around the
other one. assuming a devil may care
EXPRESSION the while which failed to
commend him to the company.
Observing this unfavOrably, the com
many remained seated II was as II
they awaited some further speech. hold
ing the invitation in allegiance pending
n. But none came. and for brief IN
,erval they looked AZ him Curiously
There was no accepted standard OF
appearancc by which strangers were
measured mp in the place. So long as
a visitor was not Of the colorcd race
his porsor he was reasonably sure or
heinz welcomed: but this man fell short
Of even the scanty requirements that
n, ght have entitled him to liberation
81 not to goodfelowship.
IIe Was CoCkeyed for one thing, and
therefore an object Of suspicion to the
supe-stitious Tho attitude he had
taken made II clearly manifest that ne
was howlegEed to a degree. And they
cav that he had six fingers on each
hand
Had he looked prosperous these pc
culiarities might have been regarded
as negligible. hut his appearance in
yicated Indulgence. Not even the old
man would have been likely TO oiter
10 sell him chips. and there was room
for doubt AZ to his possession Of a sur
ficiont amount To defray the expense
% liquoring.
on the other hand. however. II was
nossihlc that he might have So much
as that. and after some consideration
the old man arose and went behind
the bar. the others following 90 the
front Of it, Placing six tumblers and
q bottle on the counter, the old man
kept his hand on the bottle and said
"Six drinks. six bits
"I reckoned It d be somepn' like that
said the stranger calmly. 1t might nave
hcen noticed that one of his eyes
tvlnkled slightly as II suggesting a
sense Of humor, but the other one wa
gazing seriously toward the door. and
he made no move toward his pocket.
.'Mcbbc yo' ali d best 70 to put W
fr-t OF" said the old man sternly.
Does yo' stuff kill that suddint?'
a-kod the stranger with u trace OF
anxiety
Chem that's used to good liquor dom
never find no fault with it, retorted Inc
old man. but | dunno what IT mough
do to a man what never drinked nothin
but rotgut afo! Mebbc yo' all hadn'
better take no chanst.' And he kept HI
hand on the bottle.
"Ive drlnked all kyinds.' said III
stranger thoughtfully, IAN reckon
yo'n amt no wuss n the average. IN
even II It's don't keer much. Pears iik
the main thing Is 10 git away I'm r"un'
hyab somehow. II they Is anythin
ouckern waitin' 70 a boat I'll try II
'Slong : a mans in Arkansas city pear
like he mought as we'll make good 10
Of IL right away an go daid. can't
no wuSs n bein' alive
six bits" said the old man as on
who will brook no further discussion.
For answer the stranger produced
yvad. and peeling bill from it he threN
Il on the bar with an air OF lOrdly in
difference.
start the pcession." ne said. IAN
they Is any flowers in the festivities W
mought keep in mind what piers dog
wood | reckon mebbe they is mo
that lSyind round Arkansas City no
they is anythin' else. / amt pticla
bout a brass band nor no funeral 'ra
ton. Just put the remains in skin al
shove her of on the river.
I'm nachully some lively an I'd hat
u think o. stayin' into place Ike TN
ia ruthcr be sOmc'res where they'd be
Chanst O hearin' Gabriel when he toot
his horn. 'Taint likely he en- foot
loud enough 70 TO be herd in Arkansa
City"
There could be no doubt of the eN
IRENE recklessness Of the man aftC
that, even II his tone had been less II
sOlent. The violence with which /
rocked the boat proved his utter care
lessnesS Of any and all consequence
Local pride was perhaps the last thin
TO be expected in the character Of an
one who was willing to remain pei
manently in Arkansas city, but So hi
ter gibe as that could hardly fail
arouse resentment in the most indife
ent citizen.
Old man Green,aw was not indifferen
Il was plain that he was badly torn l
conflicting emotions, II was necessar
however. for him to loosen his gra'
on tho bottle before he could grab 1
his blngstarter and he fashioned IA
course Of action in a logical sequenc
recognizing the undenahle fact TIT
considerations Of thrift took precedenC
violence being always possible as fin
resort.
Letting 20 Of the bottle nc took Il
bin, made change, joined in the hquo
ing and spoke mildly.
Them that amt acquainted in
ARKANSAS city finds II some slow som
tines but them that knows 1t en- ara
ind somcpin diddn'," was what
said
AS what" asked the stranger vi
Ia,