Interrupting the old man’s merriment, William firmly asks, “What happened to my brother, friend? What did you see?”
The stranger alters his mood, looking somewhat dumbfounded. Distorting his meaty face, he now coolly, almost sternly, speaks, “two men one morn, one being Mr. Henry Bennett. The other must be the one you’re looking for. This Jack.” William nods, prodding him to continue. “They were standing a mere twenty paces apart, I reckon,” he laughs without warning, “Henry was a frightened one, yes!”
“Liar!” William yells, slamming his fist on the table.
“He wants to know but refuses to listen, is it?” The old man retorts, taking in another taste of the drink and gently taps his belly with satisfaction.
William has half a mind to walk out. There is no doubt in him that the man before him is somewhat a fool, and as fools do, speaks foolishly- devoid of any ability to speak the truth straightly. But there is a feeling that the old drunkard is somewhat telling the truth, looming over him.
Needing to know more, William settles himself. Keeping his patients, he asks, “Do you know why they were having it out friend?”
“Maybe it was about some money Henry stole now was it?” inquires the jaundiced man, speaking askance.
Wise enough not to respond to such an obvious falsehood, William says nothing, reacting in no way. Seeing this, the old man yells out for everyone to hear, “Ha! I’m a liar I am. Prove me wrong! Hee hee. Barkeep! Will ye do an old man a favor and to him get a little more to drink! Hee hee” In a matter of seconds the barkeep fills his mug with a large wooden pitcher showing a weary eye to William. The old man sees this saying, “no worries Mr. Daniels. We are just having a good time. No need to spoil it.” After a good swig the old drunkard continues, “Well then, let me mind the true circumstances of a most unfortunate event. I need to drink, I mean think! In recalling, you know, one can misconstrue events, muddle up details… can be dangerous as anything else, yes. I don't want to lead ye in the wrong direction.”
William thanks him.
“Hmm… eh, by and by, where did you happen to hear about this Jack Clemet?” ask the old drunkard, scraping at his dirty scalp, making a sound liken to scratching the coarsest of sandpaper.
“From a wretched old man not unlike yourself. Do you remember why friend? Why were they having it out in a duel?”
“Yes,” says the drunkard narrowing his eyes. “It was about a woman, like anything else,” says the stranger simply.
“So then he shot him. In the back. That’s how he got it. That’s what I was told,” insists William.
“Did you ever see the body by chance? Well… No, friend. It wasn't just like that.”
“How was it damn you!?” implores William.
Wise enough not to respond to such an obvious falsehood, William says nothing, reacting in no way. Seeing this, the old man yells out for everyone to hear, “Ha! I’m a liar I am. Prove me wrong! Hee hee. Barkeep! Will ye do an old man a favor and to him get a little more to drink! Hee hee” In a matter of seconds the barkeep fills his mug with a large wooden pitcher showing a weary eye to William. The old man sees this saying, “no worries Mr. Daniels. We are just having a good time. No need to spoil it.” After a good swig the old drunkard continues, “Well then, let me mind the true circumstances of a most unfortunate event. I need to drink, I mean think! In recalling, you know, one can misconstrue events, muddle up details… can be dangerous as anything else, yes. I don't want to lead ye in the wrong direction.”
William thanks him.
“Hmm… eh, by and by, where did you happen to hear about this Jack Clemet?” ask the old drunkard, scraping at his dirty scalp, making a sound liken to scratching the coarsest of sandpaper.
“From a wretched old man not unlike yourself. Do you remember why friend? Why were they having it out in a duel?”
“Yes,” says the drunkard narrowing his eyes. “It was about a woman, like anything else,” says the stranger simply.
“So then he shot him. In the back. That’s how he got it. That’s what I was told,” insists William.
“Did you ever see the body by chance? Well… No, friend. It wasn't just like that.”
“How was it damn you!?” implores William.
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