Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-06-02
THE DRINK
By FaANcEs E. GOODRICH.

r.N A1INi.aAr liz AlltLAH OA AAE A0ANC AC
way lloMn as Big Arm John. and the
reason was perfectly obvious wDei
oise looked at the great muscles swell
~ heneath the sleeves Of his uni
form.
Wien he went away to France he
cniqied with HIM ase TREASURE OF a
love. siiP the sweetness DC real
fsaIibn canie TO him when he returned
add made Margaret his wife.
They found a modest little fiat near
tie 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-
ti0n and when he asked the reason
Size would tell him of her feeling, and
lie would laugh and kiss her, and tell
her she needed more of the outdoor
world aud sunshine.
"You must take a 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
a man called Big Arm john and he
winked at her slyiy and swung her up
10 the ceiling as though she We're a
baby.
Then ensued a scene that would
have done credit to a nursery, and
finally when John went away he left
a flushed and laughing wife.
For some weeks that part of the
city had been the center Of operations
OF a party Of bootleggers, and the po-
lice had been baffied 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 a
few miles from the city there was a
case worth Investigating, 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.
Il tell you, John, I'm getting sick
of this business. This crime stuff Is
getting on my neryes.N 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 Riddles and set
Ting down on a little farm some
where"
John didn't laugh. Instead, he
clapped a hand on his companions
shoulder.
Don't know but you're right, old
scout. Sometimes / get fed up IN
this stuff myself, but the pays good,
and l have to save something. Mar
garet wants me to give 1t up. She
seems afraid all the time something
will happen to me. Funny they worry
80 much, Isn't It'll"
mime 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 a pulled up close beside the
larger one. There were two men In
it, a chauffeur In livery, and a mar
about thirty years Of age, evidently
well to do.
AS the car with the officers came
abreast the stranger rose In his seat,
and drawing a small black bottle
from his pocket raised 1t to his lips.
Then looking towards them he made
q mock flourish with the flask, and
said In clear, ringing tones, "We 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 nov 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
holdsP If but this glass were clear
you would see the wonderful golden
light Of the liquid within. Surely you
would not deny me the privilege of
losing myself in it's hidden wonders.
Don't you remember Omar's words /:
why. be this juice the growth OF
God, who dare
Blaspheme the twisted tendril as a
snare7s
A blessing, we should use 1t, should
we mott
And If a curse, why, then, who set II
theref"
Il don't know who Omar is, and I
don't care, but I do want to know
what Is in that bottle. and II you won't
tell me I'll find out"
1T smells like liquor, but its O
queer smell, too. Guess I'll have to
take q taste and make certain" John
had turned TO Hefndon as he spoke,
and raising the flask to his lips tasted
of 1t. II
well, you would do 1t, you know
groaned the man in the car. HYou
have taken my golden release and
while you 90 free my body must still
wear Its letters"
While he spoke Jehn looked at hin
with a queer, dazed expression III his
eyes. A strange sagging appeared Ii
his limbs and a slight t~witching III
his muscles.
4What was it7' he gasped.
sPois0n," came the one word, ant
! as he spoke the officer crumpled i,
|, the strangers feet. his great bulk