The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-04-08
THE DRINK
Bv FRANCES e. GOODRICH.

ing beneath the sleeves Of his uni
| form.
When he went away to France he
carried with him the treasure OF a
girls love, and the sweetness OF real
ization came to him when he returned
apa made Margaret his wife.
They found a 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-
ton 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 eacn
day, dear, and while you are out just
think of all the nice things you can,
preferably of all the many virtues OF
I a man called Big Arm john" and he
! wipked at her slyly and swung her up
to the ceiling as though she were
baby.
Then ensued a scene that would
have done credit to nursery, ana
finally when John went away ne lett
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 baff1ed 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
few miles from the city there was
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.
81 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 Riddles and set
Ting down on 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 I get fed up on
this stuff myself, but the pays good,
and have to save something. Mar
garet wants me to give it up. She
seems afraid all the time something
will happen to me. Funny they worry
30 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
1t, 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 a small black bottle
from his pocket raised it to his lips
Then looking towards them he made
, q mock flourish with the flask, an(
said in clear, ringing tones, eve WHIT
are about to die, salute you"
"Stop!" shouted the officer, ant
;. springing clear from his own car land
Il ed on the running board of the other
: Herndon, meanwhile, by a skilfu
+ Maneuver, brought his car directl!
> across the road. John was now II
the seat with the stranger, and grasp
ing the hand with the flask demanded
badge of authority meanwhile.
my dear fellow, why should yo'
wish to know what my precious bottl'
holds? If but this glass were clea
you would see the wonderful COLDER
light of the liquid within. Surely yo'
would not deny me the privilege o
bsing myself In its hidden wonders
Don't you remember Omar's words
"'Why. De this Juice the growth o
:. God, who dare
:; Blaspheme the twisted tendrl as
e snare?
; A blessing, we should use it. shoul
l. we not?
E. And if a curse, why, then, who set
d there?"
a II don't know who Omar is, and
~ don't care, but 1 do want to knov
70 what is in that bottle, and If you won
in tell me I'll find out"
I'd 1T smells like liquor, but it's
queer smell, too. Guess I'll have t
lake a taste and make certain" job
had turned to HerndOn as he spok,
"a and raising the flask to his lips taste
of it.
- "Well, you would do it, you know
:. groaned the man in the car. "Yo
:. have taken my golden release an
A. s,b,lo x,o,, uo froo my hodv rnuct OF;