The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-07-04
RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY. FRIDAY 4,

and the attendant drew up little table,
so that it stood between Drane and his
more fortunate fellowbather. In fact
it was as near to one as the other
''If he eats right under my nose, this
way" said Drane to himself, Il shall
become a raving maniac" q 70
A luxurious repast was ordered, and
then the stranger lay down upon the
divan and won't to sleep. He did not
awake when the attendant laid the
cloth nor even when the lunch was
brought. Some gentle shaking brought
him partly to his senses, so that he was
able to sit up and pretend to be awake,
but when the attendant went away he
fell back upon the pillow and was asleep
again in q twiniling.
Then Drane's stomach arose and read
the declaration of independence. 1t
would hear no excuses; no reproaches of
conscience. Life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness" was its text, and it
argued in manner not to be answered
by the precepts of nero honesty.
Drane stretched forth his right hand,
and secured roll. Almost Immediately
thereafter, as nobody was looking, he
possessed himself of the leg of
chicken. Being honest by nature he
returned the bone to the strangers
table. Other portions of the bird fol-
lowed, together with sundry fried po-
tatoes, and such like embellishments of
the feast. Then he washed down his
scruples with the strangers coffee, and
went back to his room better man.
But then came the rags again, and
not even the sustaining power of a
stolen meal could keep him from temp
tation. He put on his underclothing,
and then stood by the half-open door,
looking in at the detestcd garments.
They moclsed him; they said: you've
got TO como down to our level; you've
stolen q breakfast on our account, and
nobody knows what you'll do before we
get through with you"
He shuddcrcd and turned away his
eyes. 1t wasn't that his conscience
troubled him. No, indeed. He had
left his conscience in the pocket of his
other clothes, the ones tho thieves
had taken, and he wondered, by the
way, whether the follow had been able
to make any moral use of it. But his
shudder was caused by his disinclina-
tion to put on the suit which had no
conscience in it's pockets - in other
words, no dollars.
So when he turned his head away the
ragged clothes were responsible for it.
Then they must also have been respon-
sible for his noting that the door of No
-,
which came of that knowledge. The
first sin recorded against man led to
clothing, and Drane now felt the weight
OF fearful heredluy. Ho. TOO, would
sin and be clothed.
81 wonder if his garments would fit
me outwardly as we'll as his breakfast
fitted me inwardly," he muttered, and
then laughed recklessly.
Nobody was watching. He pushed
the strangers door open little. Yes;
they were excellent clothes, to Judge by
the little he could see through the crack
of the door. Dressed in that way Drane
could establish his identity in no time;
and no doubt pass the whole affair off as
joke. Thus he thought, for the poor
fellow was really half crazed by the per-
picking experiences of the last few days.
He pushed the door still further; he
was conquered. 1t seemed that he
could hear derisive chuckle from the
rags in the next room. He scarcely
looked at the clothes, but hustled them
on, all but the coat. which he carried
into the hall because strange feeling
came over him that he had seen it be-
fore. Under an electric light he turned