Spears, Raymond S. (Raymond Smiley) 1876-1950 creator Pyles, V. E. (Virgil Evans) 1891-1965 text utu 2024 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Empty Bottles" by Raymond S. Spears is a short story published in the late 1920s, likely as part of a pulp magazine. This narrative centers on the humor and misunderstandings surrounding a simple request for an empty bottle, highlighting the quirks of small-town life and the interactions among its inhabitants. The story follows Frank Hesbern, an awkward and large man who enters the One Way Thru Saloon to request an empty bottle, which he needs to help a sick baby by providing warmth to its stomach. The bartender, Cock Eye Baer, and other patrons find the situation amusing, which leads to a mixture of humor and tension in the town as word spreads. Hesbern's quest for the bottle spirals into misunderstandings and ultimately culminates in a tragic confrontation involving Cock Eye. His death leaves the community reflecting on his character and the laughter he brought, showcasing the themes of camaraderie and the fleeting nature of life in a close-knit society. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Release date is 2024-06-29 Roger Frank and Sue Clark Originally published: United States: The Butterick Publishing Company, 1928 Short stories Western stories Bars (Drinking establishments) -- Fiction PS United States: The Butterick Publishing Company, 1928 https://archive.org/details/adv_1928_07_01 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73941 https://archive.org/details/adv_1928_07_01 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73941 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134718.0 73941