Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-05-23
A MIDNIGHT ADyE

were ublh hNuNEo fH"NNtrr"
shelves juitsd ont intoNth4
and u~pon-snaNy OF the sheiTe
wero ranged two deep-and soch
Neror in my lie did ] feel so feloniol
inclined as upon the occasion OF my viaff
10 V~erbruggen.
off l were YOU, w." 1 said. Il should
search my visitors when babe them
good.hy."
He only laughed good naturally; and
then be calmly offered to lend me any
haok I might take o fancy TO. or course
] refuhsd. because IL I borrowed one Of
Verbruggen's books ! should certainly
never return It 10 him. There are cir
cumstances, you know, in which one
cannot trust ones self; and to read one
N Verbruggeo's books without iujuring
the volume, one would have to wear a
a surp.ice and q new pair Of white kid
gloves
Japanese paper, type which does not
make ones eyes water but does make
unc's mouth do so, margin, rough edges,
fooled bindings, etc. / glonted oyer al!
these thipgs, I Toasted my eyca upun
original etehings und inserted engrav-
logs on China paper, till light failed us;
aud then we sat on either side Of the
comfortable fireplace and talked about
che books till tile clock struck 6. /
dine at half past z, and 1 rose to go.
but V~erbruggen would not permit my
departure without something to keep
the cold out, and he gave me q glass o.
virgin sherry, which was particularly
delicious,
But he helped himself from another
decanter.
did not say anything. but somehow
or other / resented it, and, having fin
ished my sherry, 1 stretched out my
hand toward that special decanter ot
lis. He is a very old friend. SO / could
do it without o~ffense; but, to my aston
ishment, he calmly pushed it out Of my
reach.
"A visitor l had, Phmper, =" remarked
Verbruggen, ''once tried that special
tipple of mine-he had reason to re.
Yent It,"
/ was puzzled; curiosity is my master
passion. / looked at my watch; 1 had
got ten minutes to spare. ''Give me the
story. w." / said.
He helped himself to another glass,
drunk it oil, and srIacl;ed his lips.
"'Pbc fact is'' said V~erhrusgen. 1.-THE
stuff you sec in the decanter is lauda-
mum, made from the very best Turkey
opium
Shade of Thomas De Quincy! l stared
at Verbruggcn in horror.
"You needn't worry yourself, PUN
49, - ~. a,s1 ..~v nn1r,1~s ftr.,,. Willie.
Collins had To do it, and he attained a
good old age. I'm quite capable Of TAX
ing care Of myself. And now I'll tell you
the story, and I'll cut it IS short as pos
sible. Laudanum, my friend, as you're
probably aware, has a peculiarly nasty
taste. ThisstuH Of mine is STRONGLY flavor
ed with Seville orange peel and it's
sweetencd; to the palate it much re-
BemAles curacao. 1t YVES a year and a
half ago. | was sitting smoking hero.
about an hour after midnight; this
leeanter was on the table in front Of
me. had just received an carly copy
of the suppressed works OF certain Eliza
bethan poets. Tread every book, sir, be-
fore / place it on my shelves said Yer
bruggcn; 'and ut that moment l was
deeply interested in what | was about.
Suddenly heard the door OF the room
open. 1 looked ~, and / saw a power
full %rufian-a burglar evidently; n short
crowbar was in one hand. aud with the
raised forclinger Of the other he imposed
silence upon mo.
"'Guv'nor, said the man to me in a
hoarse whisper, if you kick up row,
I'll brain ye.'
Il am sixty.fve. / had 10 intention
whatever Of kicking mp u row.. | knew
perfectly well that l should have no
chance IN a struggle with an armed bur
giar. / determined TO grin and bear it.
won't you be seatedy / said to my
nocturnal visitor. mOtioning him to the
easy chair which you now adorn.
THE man grinned. 'Guv'nor, he said,
i wants yer watch, and yer money, and
yer plate and ~valyables. But fust, my
pippin. I'll rave a drink with sc, Just to
show there's no III feeling And then
he seized the decanter, poured himself
out q glass and swallowed il no a draught.
He smacked his lips, wiped his mouth
with the back Of his hand, and then he
made a wry face. III that's yer fayorite
poison, guv'nor, ! don't think mach o.
t.. lie said. And 10Y we'll get TO bust.
mass. Ill trouble ye for yer watch
Ny friend. / answered, ash placed
the watch upon the table, I'm very fono
~ that old watch Of mine. If You'll leave
sue an address l shall be glad 10 redeem
/ at more than It's value.
II don't seem up to much, replied
she man. as he slowed it away in hi'
packet but I'm always handsome e
ihcm o. treats me handsome; and II you
was 70 leave a Eve pun note with Blog-
gins, as keeps the Goat and Compass.
10 ~ street, ~hy you can hev il back.
I can't Say no fairer nor thar, can ],
smateyr
'lii make n note OF the nd6fess,
rcplied, and lni much obliged to you