en down the stairs came the guest, clattering, slipping, and
falling the last few steps as he clung to the rail. His eyes were
shut tight, his face was dripping, and he was plaintively bleating
over and over: "I'm poisoned! I'm blind!"

Hiram ran to him and picked him up from where he had fallen. His coat
and vest were off, and his suspenders trailed behind him. One sniff
at his frowsled hair told Hiram the story. The little man's topknot
was soppy with whiskey; his face was running with it; his eyes were
full of it. And the next moment the doubtful aroma had spread to the
nostrils of all. And the one-eyed hostler and liquor depository,
standing on the outskirts of the throng that he had solicitously
followed in, slapped palm against thigh and cried: "By Peter, that's
the gallon I poured in the water-pitcher and forgot where I left it!"

"Didn't I tell you and command you and order you to throw away all
the liquor round this place, you one-eyed sandpipe?" demanded Hiram,
furiously.

"There was a lot of hidin' done in a hurry when they come down on
Ferd," pleaded the hostler, "and I forgot where I hid that gallon!"

The little man had his smarting eyes open. "Whiskey?" he mumbled,
dragging his hand over his hair and sniffing at his fingers.

"You heard what that renegade owned up to," shouted Hiram, facing
the women. "I gave him his orders. I give him his orders now. You
jest appoint your delegation, wimmen! Don't you hold me to blame for
rum bein' here. You foller that man! And if he don't show you where
every drop is hid and give it into your hands to spill, I'll--I'll--"
He paused for a threat, cast his eyes about him, and tore down the
alligator from the ceiling, seized it by the stiff tail and poised
it like a cudgel. "I'll meller him within an inch of his life."

"That sounds fair and reasonable, ladies," said the clergyman,
"though, of course, we don't want any violence."

"I'm always fair and reasonable," protested Hiram, "when folks come
at me in a fair and reasonable way. You talk to them wimmen, elder,
about bein' fair and reasonable themselves, and then lead 'em back
here, and you'll find me ready to pull with 'em for the good of this
place, without tryin' to run cross-legged or turn a yoke or twist
the hames."

When the reformers had departed on the heels of the cowed hostler,
Hiram surveyed with interest the little man who was left alone with
them.

"I--I--reckon I've got a little business to tal