The Redemption of David Corson

ittle rift w

y will make t

ening slowly

nny

ung mystic to his supper, a promiscuous crowd of loafers with cha

ection of this unusual sound, saw a team of splendid coal-black horses

ormous moustache whose shape, size and color suggested a crow with outstretched wings. As if to emphasize the ferocious aspect lent him by this hairy canopy which completely concealed his mouth, Nature had duplicated i

r smile nor thanks, and dropped to the ground with a light flutter like a bird. Turning instantly toward the tavern, she ascended the steps of the porch under a fusillade of glances of astonishment and admiration. Young and beautiful, dressed in a picturesq

was satisfied at eight o'clock in the evening, for at that hour Doctor Paracelsus Aesculapius, as he fantastically called himself, opened the doors of his traveling apothecary shop and exposed his "universal

llowed by a curious and admiring crowd. He was in a happy and expansive frame of mind, for he had d

to the bar with a deprecatory and automatic movement. They took their glasses, clinked them, nodded to their entertainer, muttered incoherent toasts and drank his health. T

s in too complacent a mood to take of

y to s-s-stop it, do y

d-d-disease. Get along all right when I go slow like this; but when I open the throttle, get all b-b-balled up. Bad thing for my busine

s that; but wouldn't mind a hu-hu-hund

s troubles in the Mexican war?" asked on

e responded

t each other and exchanged significan

ranks, because when he was drilling the boys one day they all mar

ned him out of courtesy, for the stor

ng on picket duty,"

," said the first speaker, "and he r

?' says t

easer should c-c-come along, he'd run me through the g-g

y laughte

uence of the liquor and the fellowship, "if it wasn't for this b-b-blankety-blanketed

asked someon

I could make a fortune 'side of which old John Jacob

cou

ellow to help me. For 'f I can find a man that can do the t-talking (I mean real talk, you k

llage wag from the rear of the crowd,

e Corson?" ask

Young feller 'bout

e t-t-

e into a trottin' hoss i

d the doctor, at which

savagely, his loud voice and threatening manner frightening those wh

id one of them; "but

im! Why couldn'

s pi

What do

fer yourself 'bout his talkin', fer there's goin' ter be an appinted Quaker me

! Never saw anything I couldn't buy if I had a little of the p-p

gurglings, smothered swallows, and loud smacking of

en it comes to telling fortunes," ventured a young d

, turning sharply upon him; "she'

't say?" exclaimed t

f-fellers that if I catch you trying to p-p-plow with

round the circle as he spok

t. Every member of the bibulous party was as happy as he knew how to be. The landlord's till was full o