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Show western i..crntuy for Snake Bite By J. D. ELLSWORTH j (O.pyrlBht.) AS A Western, r. I was amused 1 ; the decree! sinfulness of Boston, bm when business culled me to Maine. . our down-East sister, whose temper- ! ate example Is always held before our : eyes. I felt that I was about to set j foot on the stepping-stone of heaven. ; To provide against the serpent that must Inevitably haunt such an Eden. I filled my pocket t!a--k with the standard stand-ard western remedy for snake bites. The train left the Union station at nine in the morning, and anticipating a stupid ride I went Into the smoking-car to enjoy a cigar and read my newspaper. The car was fitted up w:ii mahogany card tables, and stationary crihbagc boards. In the S'-ats in fron. of me were three traveling men. "Play euchre?" said one of them, looking toward a lean, lanky stranger "Does It cost anything?" "Not a cent." "Well, then, I guess 111 come In.' and he opened himself like a jack-knife jack-knife and strolled to his place. As the train rushed over bridges and through suburban cities the novelty of my surroundings so engrossed my attention that I did not notice the card players again until I iieard the lean stranger say: "I guess I'm going to be real sick -1 never had such a fearful pain before In nil my life." He put his hand on the pit of his stomach, and there were sharp lines in his face that indicated Intense agony. The dealer looked up sympathetically, and his partner said : "I've got a little something with me from Kentucky. Perhaps it might do you good." "I come from Maine," said the stranger, "and we don't drink rum down there. But, as a medicine, I might take a few drops, If you don't think It would go to my head." Lounging back In my seat and watching watch-ing the dissolving panorama of snowbound snow-bound villages, I ruminated on the Incident. At Lynn I was reminded of the euchre players as one of the drummers drum-mers got out and another passenger took his place. The last comer carried a gun case and was dressed for a hunting trip. When we reached Salem at 9:35 the two remaining drummers left. The lean stranger and the sports man found two new partners and continued con-tinued playing. As I had finished my cigar and exhausted ex-hausted my newspaper, I tried to amuse myself by watching the game. When the cards were passed to the lean stranger he shook his head and pushed them over to his partner. "Peal for nie," he groaned; "I've got an awful pain In my side. It seems like pneumonia, but It may pass in a minute." The group looked solicitous, and the sportsman, taking a blnck bottle from the pocket of his hunting-bag, said: "Take some of this, man ; you musn't fool with a pain like that." "I come from the state of Maine," said the sufferer, "and I'm opposed to strong drink. But, rather than delay tho game, gentlemen, I'll take a little as medicine." At the town of Newburyport the lanky representative of the Pine Tree state was left alone at the card table. I was becoming Interested In him. As we crossed the bridge over the Mer-rlmac Mer-rlmac I lost sight of him for a moment, mo-ment, but when the train had passed the state line I walked forward In the car. My invalid friend was playing play-ing seven-up with a swarthy stranger. Dropping Into a seat, I patiently waited for developments. We wwe due to reach Portsmouth at 10:40. I looked at my watch from time to time and then at the man from Maine. I saw that he began to get uneasy. His face showed signs of suffering and he coughed violently. The brakeman brought some water in a tin cup. The suffering man motioned mo-tioned him nwny. gasping, "I wouldn't dare (cough) to take water (cough) ; It makes it worse." The swurthy stranger drew from his grip a pocket flask and handed it to the sufferer. The spasmodic cough ceased for a moment, and a familiar voice said: "My friend. I hall from the slate of Maine nnd believe in total abstinence. absti-nence. I can't take a drink, but I'll .lust swallow a few drops as medicine." The car was almost deserted after we left Blddeford. and another change came over the unfortunate represent a tlve of prohibition. In a very low tone he asked a question of the conductor who replied by shaking his head decidedly. de-cidedly. Then the man from Maine went forward Into the baggage car and returned with a pale, haggard face Bringing out the flask I had tilled at Boston, nnd unscrewing the top, I said. "Stranger, will yon join me?" "Thanks, very much," he replied : "I am a Maine man " As the train slowed up at Portland, the remainder of his sentence was drowned In the gurgling sound that flowed gently and smoothly as In a familiar channel. |