The Bartender's Remedy

A pale man pushes through the tavern doors, his chest shuddering violently. He approaches the counter and gasps out a request for a glass of water. In response, the bartender calmly reaches below the heavy mahogany rail, draws a loaded revolver, and presses the cold muzzle directly against the man's forehead. A dead silence falls over the room. The man's shuddering abruptly stops. A relieved smile spreads across his face as he softly says, 'Thank you,' turns on his heel, and walks back out into the night.