The Jasper weekly courier., 1921-09-02
THE DRINK
BY FRANCES &. GOODRICH.

reason was perfectly obvious when
| one looked at the great muscles swell
ing beneath the sleeves of his uni
| form.
When he went away 10 France he
| carried with him the treasure of
girls love, and the sweetness of real
ization came 10 him when he returned
and made Margaret his wife.
They found modest little fiat near
the station and settled down TO what
seemed a life of quiet happiness, but
always in Margaret's heart was
the shadow of coming evil.
At times John noticed her abstrac-
| tion and when he asked the reason
she would tell him of her feeling, and
he would laugh and kiss her. and tell
her she needed more of the outdoor
world and sunshine.
You must take long walk each
day. dear. and while you are out just
think of all the nice things you can,
preferably of all the many virtues of
man called Big Arm John" and he
winked at her slyly and swung her up
TO the ceiling as though she were a
baby.
Then ensued a scene that would
have done credit TO nursery, and
finally when John went away he left
flushed and laughing wife.
For some weeks that part of the
city had been the center of operations
of party of bootleggers, and the po-
lice had been baffled for the time.
That memorable afternoon John
hurried home to let her know that he
would be away all night.
The police had received news that q
few miles from the city there was a
case worth inve stigating. and John
was one of those designated for the
work. He and Herndon, in plain
clothes, started out in their speedy
! little car. just as it began to grow
dusk. They had been pals in France.
II tell you, John, I'm getting sick
of this business. This crime stuff is
getting on my nerves. Two years Of
scrapping in France and now chasing
bOOtleggers here. Bah, laugh if you
want to. but I'm thinking seriously
of taking the wife and kiddies and set
tling down on a little farm some
where"
clapped a. hand on his companions
shoulder.
Don't know but you're right, old
scout. Sometimes l get fed up on
this stuff myself, but the pays good,
and | have to save some thing. Mar
garet wants me to give it up. She
seems afraid all the time something
will happen to me. Funny they worry
so much, isn't it,"
Mine is that way, too. Imagine
I'm killed about forty times a day.
Well. it's pretty nice to know they
think so much of us, I'll say"
"Say, HerndOn," he broke out sud-
denly. Pull up on that car ahead.
Looks rather suspicious somehow"
Herndon pushed on speed and the
little car pulled up close beside the
/ larger one. There were two men in
! ii. a chauffeur In livery, and a man
about thirty years of age, evidently
we'll to do.
As the car with the officers came
abreast the stranger rose in his seat,
and drawing small black bottle
from his pocket raised it TO his lips.
Then looking towards them he made
mock flourish with the flask, and
} said in clear, ringing tones, ave who
are about to die. salute you"
stop shouted the officer, and
springing clear from his own car land
ed on the running board Of the other.
! HerndOn, meanwhile, by a Skilful
maneuver, brought his car directly
across the road. John was now in
the seat with the stranger, and grasp
ing the hand with the flask demanded
to know its contents, showing his
badge of authority meanwhile.
My dear fellow, why should you
Wish to know what my precious bottle
holds? If but this glass We're clear
YOU would see the wonderful golden
light OF the liquid within. Surely you
would not deny me the privilege Of
losing myself In its hidden wonders.
Don't you remember Omars words:
"'Why. be this juice the growth OF
God who dare
Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a
snare?
A blessing. we should use 1t, should
we not?
And If curse why. then. who set 1t
there?'"
Il don't know who Omar is, and !
don't care but l dc want 10 know
what is In that bottle and If you won't
tell me III find out"
1T smells like liquor. but its a
queer smell. too. Guess I'll have TO
take a taste aud make certain" John
had turned To Herndon as he spoke
and raising the flask 10 his lips tasted
of il.
We'll. YOU would do il, You know"
groaned the man In the car. ''You
have taken my golden release and
iwhiie you 20 free my body must still
wear its fetters."
While he spoke Join looked at him
with "a queer. dazed expression in hts