The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-07
A WET" TRICK in ARIZONA.

Stewart Edward White, in Harper's
Magazine: Bill led me at once past
| two or three, lounging cow-persons to
| the cubby-hole, where arose a typical
old timer.
Meet Mr.. Billings" he said to me.
The old-timer grasped me firmly
by the right hand and held tight
while he demanded, as usual, What
name?" We informed him together.
He allowed he was pleased. ! allow.
ed the same.
Il want to bury a yard of calico.
said Bill.
The old-timer reached beneath tho
| counter and produced strip of cloth.
1t was already cut, and looked to be
about a yard long. Also it showed
| the marks of loving but brutal and
soiled hands.
| Wrap it up" inquired Mr.. Billings.
Nope" said Bill and handed out
three silver dollars. Evidently calico
was high in these parts. We turned
| away.
by the way, BILL" Mr. Billings call
ed after us, II got little present
here for you. Some friends sent her
| in to me the other day. Let me know
what you think of it."
We turned. Mr.. Billings held in
his hand sealed quart bottle with
familiar and famous label.
why that's kind of you," said
Bill, gravely. He took the proffered
bottle, turned it upside down, glanced
at the bottom, and handed it back
But / don't believe I'd wish for none
of that particular breed. 1t never
did agree with my stummick."
Without a flicker of the eye the
storekeeper produced second seal
ed bottle, identical in appearance
and label with the first.
"Try it," he urged. Here's one
from different case. Some of these
we're yintages is better than others"
so I've noticed" replied Bill,
dryly. He glanced at the bottom and
slipped it into his pocket.
We went out. AS we passed the
door Bill, unobserUed, dropped into
the heretofore unexplained waste
basket the yard of calico he had just
purchased.
Don't believe 1 like the pattern
for my boudoir," he told me gravely.
We clamored aboard and shout
our derisiye exhaust at the dimin-
ishing town.
Il thought Arizona was a dry
state,'' I ventured.
she is. You can't sell a drop. But
you can keep stuff for personal use.
There amt nothing more personal
than givin' it away to your friends
"The price Of calico is high down
here"
And goin' up" agreed Bill. gloom
lily.
He drove ten miles in silence while
III, knowing my type, waited.
THAT old Billings ought to be
tod h rty q
last. I'VE rode together on the CHR
ichaue range. He ought to know
better than to try to put it onto me-
How so?" said l.
You saw that first bottle? Just
plain, forty-rod dog poison-and me
Ipayin' three good round dollars!"
For Calico" / reminded.
shore. That's why he done It.
He had me-if hadn't called him.
But that first bottle was identi-
cally the same as the one you have
in your pocket" / stated.
"Shore2"
why, yes-at least-That is. the
bottle and label were the same, and
II particularly noticed the cork seal
looked intact
| ut was agreed Bill. THAT cap
hadn't never been disturbed. You're
right"
Then what objection"
cts one of them wonders Of mod
ern science that spoils the simple
life next to natures heart" said
Bill, unexpectedly. You hitch a big
hollow needle onto an electric-light
current. When she gets hot enough
you punch hole with her in the bot
tom of the bottle. Then you throw
the switch and let the needle cool
off. When she's cool you pour out
the real thing for your own use
mebbe. Then you stick in your
forty-cent-a gallon squirrel poison.
Heat up your needle again. Dray her
out very slow SO the glass will close
u2 behind her. Simple, neat, effec-
tive, honest enough for down here.
Cork still there, seal still there, label
still there. Bottle still there, except
for a little bit of wart-lookin bub-
III to-, no hrff