The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-01-11
Normal Column
THE LITTLE SLAYER WINS
By Hurston H. Morris


his thin lips and applied the match
with trembling fingers.
The young man looked all about
him with wide-open eyes.
Did somebody say something9"
he asked.
"Yes, somebody said something"
answered the cigaret, land IL was
|, your friend, no your enemy, the
Little White SLAYER here between
your fingers"
What? Your" he exclaimed, in
astonishment, as. his eye came to
rest upon the cigaret between his
slender fingers.
YES, me-"
"Oh, come Off. You're tryin' TO kid
me, amt your"
Not a bit Of it,"
"a cigaret actually talking
BY George, that's kinder curious !.
Go on and say your say, Mister"
II simply say, I've got you goin'."
The youth drew a deep inhalation;
blew the smoke out and then held
the Little SLAYER" between his
yellow fingers, regarding il thought
fully.
$50, you think you've got me
goin', do your" he said.
quite sure Of it," returned the
cigaret with an air of one who
knows what he is talking about.
NO, you havn't" replied the
young man CURLY, somewhat vexed
at the positiveness Of the cigaret. 81
can cut il out any time | want TO. !
havnt got the habit. just smoke
because the other fellows do"
"Oh yes. you're just like thou
sands of others. That's what they
all say. They havn't got the habit
and can quit any time they want to-
but very few of them ever quit, be-
cause they never want TO strong
enough young fellow, | don't like to
dispute your word; but | say you
can't quit, or at least, you won't;
because you won't want 10. You'll
go on sayin' you're going 10 quit;
but you'll never think about doing
it now"
What? You say can't quits"
That's what I said"
| can do il, and I will I'll quit
now tool I'll show your
We'll now, don't go up in the air
about il Just go on and quit, and
then boast"
"Yes, I'll cut you out to show you
Mr.. Cigaret, that | can. When ]
smoke this package, I'll never
smoke another one while I live"
See now? You don't want TO quit
very much or you wouldn't smoke
this package. Probably by the time
you smoke ii, you'll be out Of the
notion"
That's so. I'll not smoke it. I'll
quit now"
He took the package, with the
pleasing brand, from his pocket,
crushed it in his hands and tossed
il away.
We'll, you havn't quit yet" said
the cigaret. You're still smoking
me-"
Then, I'll not finish you," the
youth retorted. "I'll cut you now
this very moment"
But he took one last long inhal-
alton before he Tipped it.
you'll never quit" said the
Little SLAYER" from the ground.
III you had really meant it, you
wouldn't have taken that last pun.
I'll see you again before long"
To stop further annoyance the
young man walked TO where he had
tipped the little pest, and crushed
il with his heel. Then lifting his
head proudly, he said, 1--WE quit for
ever. Never again will another
cigaret go between my lips"
He was deadly in earnest about IL,
and all went we'll with him until
after he had eaten his noon meal.
Then, the old longing came back;
but he took command Of himself and
said, II won't"
After his evening meal the crav-
ing came back worse than ever.
He bravely fought il down and de-
clared, II simply will not"
All next day the cigaret longing
seemed TO gnaw the very life out
of him. At last in tile evening,
driven half mad by the sickening
craving and the taunts OF his cigar
et-nend friends he accepted an
Egypt" his favorite, and lighted ii.
"Ha! hal chuckled the cigaret, II
told you you wouldn't quit. | said
I'd see you again, didn't II"
"Yes. Won did" the youth admit