Johnny Diamond's Sober-Up Fast Sauce

Strop had stopped stirring the mixture in his shaving mug. 

"What's in it" Annie asked. 

Who from the other side of the barber shop could smell the fumes even from there."

"Just Cayenne pepper," 

Strop began. 

"Mustard--the hot kind, ipecac, asafetida, and oil of cloves... or was it?" 

He stopped looking doubtful. 

"No, it was croton oil always get them mixed up...oh and gunpowder."

"You sure this will work?" 

O'Boyle asked while holding the unconscious Tru down in the barber's chair.

Strop smelt the mixture and winced.

"Johnny Diamond's Sober-Up Fast Sauce. Never had any complaints 90 percent success rate." 

"What about the other ten percent?" O'Boyle had to ask.

"Died." 

Strop replied.

"Like I said no complaints."

"Pinch his nose and hold his mouth open he has to drink it all."

O'Boyle did and Strop started pouring. 

Every last black drop.

Nothing happened.

"Is he dead?" Annie eventually asked.

The body convulsed.

All three jumped."

Not yet!" O'Boyle answered.

"Hold him down!" Strop roared. 

Both men grabbed the body as it twisted and convulsed in the chair.

Strop looked desperate at Annie.

"Annie grab his legs!"

"Me??" She asked in disbelief.

"DO IT!!"

To Annie's surprise she found herself by the two men holding Tru's legs down.

The more they held the worst the convulsions got. 

Annie was convinced Tru was gonna fly out of the chair and through the ceiling.

Then suddenly it stopped.

All three stared at each other then at Tru's face. 

To their complete surprise Tru stared back with a look of bewilderment. 

"Tru you ok?" O'Boyle asked letting his grip loosen.

"Don't rightly know?? Stomach feels-" 

Tru began. 

"Kinda Strange?? like I swallowed a live snake?"

"You don't feel like you been drinking?" Annie asked.

"It's gone been drunk.. It's gone." 

Tru said getting up off the chair.

What did you all do to me?"

"What do you know?" Strop half smiled.

"It worked."

"You sound surprised." O'Boyle said.

"Last two died." Strop replied. 

"Normally comes in threes."

"You okay to play tonight?" 

O'Boyle asked Tru.

"I feel lousy. I must be sober."

"You'll be fine!" Strop told Tru looking him up and down.

"Annie can you escort our patient back to the hotel need to parlay with my brother for a second."

"Sure will!" Annie wrapped herself around Tru's arm.

"Say can you sing a song just for me?"

Tru smiled as they walked to the door. 

"I've got just the tune for a might pretty lady as herself."

"Tru no drinking." Ordered Strop.

"Got you Barber man!" 

Tru smiled and winked.

"Any drink will react with the gunpowder and blow your stomach out." 

Strop added.

 "Oh and don't smoke either. In fact just don't stand to close to any fires for at least three days.

"Tru went pale as the door closed behind him.

"Brother your a miracle worker. I owe you" 

O'Boyle smiled. 

"But I gotta go promised the boss I will escort her at six I have a new suit and all."

"That's what I want to talk to you about." 

Strop said concerned.

"Your Suit? I'll pay you back." 

O'Boyle said.

"Not that! I don't care about the suit!"

Strop looked his brother dead in the eye.

"You know there can't be nothing between you two. You can't have a relationship. You can't do that to her!"

"I know!" 

Anger flashed in O'Boyles eyes. 

"I ain't forgotten. Besides it's not like that. We are just friends. She's my boss tonight. I know it's just business."

"Does she know it's.. just business."

Strop asked sternly.

"Of course... besides she's got Billy." 

O'Boyle shifted uneasy.

"You never told her!" 

Strop anger rose. 

"You let her think she has a chance with you!!!"

"Relax I told you it's not like that!" O'Boyle screamed. 

"Look if I go over knock on Rue's door and tell her nothing can happen between us. She's gonna laugh right in my face maybe even fire me for over stepping the mark." 

O'Boyle smiled."

Oh your gonna tell her!" 

Warned Strop. 

"If you don't. I will!"