The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1922-01-13
THE DRINK
BY FRANCES (. GOODRICH.


( rIu.
When he went away to France he
cnIried with him the treasure Of a
@rS love. and the sweetness OF real
radon came to him when he returned
g 4 made Margaret his wife.
they found modest little flat near
-. station and settled down to what
seemed life of quiet happiness, but
al ays in Margaret's heart was
the shadow of coming evil.
At times John noticed her abstrac-
ten and when he asked the reason
Sno would tell him of her feeling. and
be- would laugh and kiss her, and tell
her she needed more of the outdoor
world aud sunshine.
You must take long walk each
day. dear. aad while you are out just
think o. all the nice things you can.
preferably OF all the many virtues Of
uian called Big Arm john" and he
winked at her slyly and swung her up
10 tine ceiling as though she were
baby.
Then ensued a scene that would
have done credit 10 q 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 party of bootleggers. and the po-
lice had been baffied for the time.
That memorable afternoon John
Lot fhs4f h.
would be away all night.
The police had received news that q
few miles from the city there was n
case worth Investigating. and John
WAS one OF those designated FOR the
work, He and ierndon. in plain
clothes. started out in their speedy
little car. just as i; began to grow
dusk. They had been pals in France
al tell you. John. Tm getting sick
of this business. This crime stuff is
getting on my nerves. Two years of
scrapping in France and now chasing
bootleggers yhere. Bah. laugh IT, 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. Ire
clapped hand on his companions
shoulder. -. -
Don't know hut you're right. old
scout Sometimes l get fed up OH
this stuff myself. but the pays good
and l 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
so much, isn't it,"
mine is that way, too. Imagine
I'm killed about forty times 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"
IIerndon pushed on speed and the
li'tle car pulled UP close beside the
kirger one. There were two men i'm
a. out oihirty years OF age. evidently
Y ell to 60.
As the car with the officers came
4 reast the stranger rose in his seat.
nd drawing small black bottle
f"om his pocket raised il 10 his lips.
i then looking towards them he made
- mock flourish with the flask. and
said in clear ringing tones. ~, who
are about To die. salute YOU.
stop" shouted the officer. and
spr;nging clear fr"m his own eur land
eel on the runnn" board Of the other.
lIerrdon. meanwhile. by skilful
narrower. brought his car directly
acrr>s the road John was now I'm
the seat with the stranger. and grasp
ms The hand with the flask demanded
10 know its contents. showing his
haG@e of authority meanwhile.
My dear fellow. why should you
N'sh to know what my precious bottle
hol's? If but this glass Were clear
Won 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.
why. be this juice the growth Of
God. who dare
BlaSpheme the twisted tendril as
snare?
\ blessing. we should use il. should
we not?
And If curse. why. then. who set II
there"
u don't know who Omar is. and
GonI care. but / do want tn know
what IS in that bottle and If you won't
tell me I'll find out
u, smells like liquor. hut it's
queer smell. too. Guess I'll have 70
take taste and make certain" John
had turned 10 HerndOn as he spoke
rnd raising the flask to his lips tasted
of it.
Well. You would do IL. you know"
groancd tie man in the car. "You
have taken my golden release and
Will" you go free my holy must still
wear it's letters"
Willie he spoke y~sln looked at Him
with queer. dazed expression In his
eyes \ strange sagging appeared in
his lEihS and slight twitching In
Ms muscles.
What was iti" he gasped
Poison" came the one word. and