The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-06-25
Tho float which bore the freight cars


was pushed against pier. Drane stood
up and stretched his cramped limbs
This isn't exactly vestibuled palace
car he thought, ''but I have at least
come through to New York without
change, as the timetables say" and he
thrust his hands into his empty pockets.
Travel by freight-car without hand
bag has its disadvantages, and among
them is the lack of water, soap and a
out through the hole in the side of the
car and wondered whether, out of re-
spect to cleanliness, he ought to jump
into the dock. Then he noted the color
of the water and decided that he ought
not. However, he resolved to give an
imitation OF a good citizen making his
toilet, so he picked up piece of broken
glass from the floor Of the car, and prop
ping it against daub of black paint on
a box he combed his hair with his hands.
after which he decided that he was ready
for breakfast. But the rolls and coffee
didn't come.
By the exercise Of discretion he es.
capped from the car and from the pier,
and stood again in the streets of New
York. Then came more wandering,
more hunger, more perplexity. At
noon he found himself in park which
looked familiar. He dropped upon a
bench and tried to decide whether it
was the one where he had sat with her.
Then he asked himself frankly whether
he would rather see her at that minute
or sirloin steak with fried potatoes
and cup of coffee.
Il don't know" he muttered, burying
his face in his hands. 'It's hard qucs-
ton. must be in love-"
He fixed his eyes on the ground and
wondered why he didn't find half dol
lar there. No doubt there were coins
enough buried in the dust of New York
streets to pay his way to Kansas City.
Why couldn't he find one? He began
to accuse his guardian angel Of serious
neglect Of duty. She ought at least to
throw enough in his way to get him a
breakfast. He poled around in the
little heaps of rubbish at the ends of
the bench with the toes of his delapi-
dated shoes; but his guardian angel ap-
parently had no change to spare. He
didn't find a penny.
The only article which differed from
the general collection was a piece of
pasteboard which looked like theater
check. 1t had evidently been dropped
very recently, for it was scarcely soiled
at all. He remembered, with sudden
start, that restaurants sometimes sold
tickets that were good for meal. With
a hasty hand he snatched the piece of
pasteboard from the ground and read:
This ticket entities the bearer to one
Turkish bath at Hubbard's, No. % West
Twenty-seventh street. An extra
charge for alcohol or electricity"
This is tho way that Fate takes advan-
tage of a mans position to insult him. 1t
was not Drane's fault that he had not
washed his face, and it was aggravating
to have hint like this thrown out by
fate to embitter the results Of her own
doings. Drane was on the point Of tear
ing the ticket in rage and disdain when
his better judgment checked him. A
Turkish bath-houSe was a nice, quiet
place to rest. 1t offers the greatest Of
Injuries on hot day. True, a severely
thorough bath is not a good thing to take
on an too empty stomach, but still he
was sure that it could not make him feel
any more hollow than he did without it.
He arose and began his search for West
Twenty-seventh street. 1t was not far
away, and in less than half an hour he
,fn in - h,~
building it was; perhaps little too Or
nate, but eminently suggestive Of lux
ury. Drane entered and presented his
ticket at the desk. The attendant
stared at him.
''How the dickens did you get this
ticket?" he asked.
Then Drane saw that he would have
to lie. He was determined to got inside
the bath now, and a small matter Of
falsehood should not stand in his way.
His moral sense had been gradually
weakened by the evil companionship of
his clothes and he was in condition to
stretch the fabric Of truths spotless
robc till he split it up the back.
Look here" he said, II am quite reg
ular patron of this place. You don't recog-
nize mo because-well, to tell the truth,
I've been on a hard spree for week
and have got pretty we'll torn up, as
you see. I'd like to sober up here in
the bath and then I'll send out for
suit Of clothes in which I can begin an
era Of reform by going home to dinner"
What's your name?" asked the at
tendant heSitatinclv
Drane looked over his shoulder as if
to make sure that nobody could hear
him declare his real identity, and then
bending over the desk he whispered:
John II. Smyth. You remember the
name, don't you:"
well. I've heard it BEFORE" the clerk
admitted, but can't place you"
Am so changed by single week
Of debauchery?" said Drane, sadly; then,
in a still more confidential tone: "You
must recall my name. l spell it with a
Y"
The clerk smiled.
Il guess it's all right, Mr. Smyth.
Shall take care Of your valuablcs?"
You're too late, my young friend"
said Drane. Somebody else is taking
care of them in way that beats the |
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