Evening star., 1923-09-04

-
November snow. The town was
cold and already dark when ne
faced its long, half-deserted streets
that barely separated snowed-in
houses and ended in trading center
dismal and dreary In the pale yellow
of street lights.
The frigid aspect of the night
meant little to Pete as he Leaned
against the wind and walked defiant
ly into it. His skin was stung with
cruel biting lashes and he wanted
it SO. Perhaps ii would deaden the
Internal gnawing of his conscience
It would punish him outwardly, any
how. and that would help. He
pressed on. Long into the night he
fought his way from one deserted
street to another, rotraclng his steps
a dozen times. Try as he would,
however. he could not shake his tor
mentor from him. In desperation he
challenged it to bear witness to his
self-intiicted punishment. 1t scoffed
a him NO use trying, he NUT
tered, and stopped short The warm
light of IA saloon flooded the frozen
sidewalk. With faltering step and
heavy heart he turned. faced the door
and let the wind hurl him into the
liquor. No use fighting when the
man within you turns enemy!
Pete looked about him and thank
ed God he knew no one in Moapa,
that he didn't have to smile, apol-
ogiZe or explain to any one. So far
as the two dozen or so loafers about
him knew, he had a perfect right to
be there. He sank into a three
legged, low seated chair and hoisted
his feet to the rail about the stove.
For a few moments he stared. as
Though fascinated. at the dull red
spots on the heater.
Hello there, young feller, have a
Pete looked into coarse. repul-
give face. He didn't like the man.
At any other time he would have re-
fused to drink with him. But now,
he had no Judgment. If he had. why
was he here? When had his judg-
ment ever guided him Alright?
Never! He would play 1t just the
opposite from now on. Anyhow, was
there a human too low for him to
drink with? If there was. he'd like
to meet him, He would drink with
this man. with any man, as long as
his money lasted. So declaring. he
rose from his seat and strobe toward
hat pushed back on his head and his
fingers beating an idle tattoo on the
heavy oak.
Thanks, stranger. I'll be glad
to-Pete's greetiog seemed trifle
mechanical ard he added. Rotten
night, isn't. il? ~
.'Oh, not so bad. not so bad Spec,
this here. va know. Stranger in
these partS?"
Pete hesitated. Well, rather. I'm
from farther west. Let's drink"
Knew you wasn't a scissor-bill,' '
the man apologized. You look good
enough to drink with me-
.'ete WINGED.
Whisky" they ordered together.
The first drink only aggravated
matters. More followed. Within an
hour Pete found himself in the cen
ter of a half dozen or so drunken
more he felt himself to be one OF
them. Raising his glass with bitter
sarcasm acCentuated by the dropping
corners cf his mouth. he proposed a
toast:
Here's to what 1 ought to be-" and
he poured half his liquor into the
gutter by the bar. and here s tc
what 1 am, the rottenest. one of you
all"' and he drained his glass
Whisky. drink after drink. from a
coarse. brown bottle. followed. As
he drank he talked. Something in
his manner and speech convinced the
man who first spoke to him that the
stranger from further west" might
he worth knowing better. Gently
but surely. he separated Pete from
the crowd and made for warm cor
ner behind the stove.
Stranger. you're gettin' drunk
he began. MY names Garret. Bulle,
Garret Some of 'em calls me Bull
but that's only because my from
names Butler. I amt so bad as
looks. l know YOU didn't sort o1
go crazy about me when I braceC
you here awhile back. But that:
all right. You're packin' lot o1
trouble round with you. I can tell
Now jes' suppose you unload it or
Butler. Why, darnme. I've had more
trouble than a NANCY coyote and
allus knows what to do. Now jes
talk about it and tell Bull. what say
hey, pardner?"
Pete needed no urging. For ovel
two weeks he had talked to no one
Buffers soft voice came like music
to his deadened senses and hs
plunged. hungrily into drunken
jabbef.
God" he began, "s'been a Ions
time since / got crv-cryin drunk
not drunk now, though. Thas ONT
thing I won't do. amt so sure
tho-Mebbe Tll-I'll-guess I'll ge
drunk. You drunk. Bull-Bull-
Bully? Ha Ha' Ha, Ha, Bully
tha's good one. Bully-tell me
Bull--'m I drunk"
"'Course not. You're les goin' t
=