Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-21
"Woll, I've hoard It before," tho clerk

"wcll, I've heard 1t before" tho clerk
admitted, ''but can't place you"
"Am SO changed by q single week
OF debauchery?' said Drane, sadly; then,
in still moro ,confldential tone: "You
must recall my name. spell 1t with
Y"
The clerk smiled.
~ guess it's oil right, Mr.. Smyth.
Shall take care Of your valuables?"
"You'rc too late, my young FRIEND"
said Drane. Somebody else is taking
care of thcm in q way that beats the
safe-deposit vault out Of sight"
The clerk laughed and gave Drane .
little key strung on a rubber band de-
signed to 60 about the latter's wrist.
Number forty-one," he called to an
attendant, who Immediately conducted
Drane to his dressing-room.
What delight it was to lay aside the
rags OF poverty! When Drane emerged
from the littlo room clothed only in
sheet, he felt rs good as his neighbor.
Even his hunger relented for time,
and he enjoyed his bath thoroughly.
It was two o'clock by the magnificent
time-piece which stood among artificial
flowers in the great hall Of tho bath,
when he returned to his room and his
rags. His soul and body rebelled
against them more strongly than ever
before. They contrasted painfully with
the luxury by which he had been sur
rounded. Ho sat in his chair with his head
in his hands and groaned aloud. Faint
ness had followed the bath, and had
been aggravated by the sight of men
enjoying rolls and coffee, while they re-
clined upon the divans in the hall. He
almost made up his mind to order
breakfast, and trust to luck to get away
alive without paying for it.
'Hcrc you arc, sir, number forty-two,"
said voice; and Drane heard an ut
tendant usher q. man into the next
drcssing-room.
THANK you, sir;" he heard the fell
low say minute later. Then he knew
that tho man in the next stall had
tipped tho attendant. They talked
together q minute, while the visitor
inquired about the bath and tho
restaurant which was connected with
it. Then no tipped the fellow again,
and got moro thanks.
HE has plenty Of money" of course,
groaned Dranc, "why shouldn't he give
some of itaway? Why shouldn't no lend
me some? Why shouldn't climb over the
partition and negotiate tho loan myself
while he's out of tho way?"
The rags were corrupting him. They
seemed actually to talk, to suggest
envy, malice, and theft.
Get thee behind me-, garments of
Satan" no said, smiling bitterly; and
he arose and walked out again into the
hall. An obliging attendant prepared
q divan for him; and he had no sooner
stretched himself upon it than he fell
asleep.
Drane was awakened by the voice Of
the man who had occupied the dressing
room next to his. He looked up, and
saw wcll-built young man-so far as
the sheet in which he was wrapped al
lowed his proportions to be seen-pre-
pairing to take the next divan. The
stranger was about Drane's weight and
height, and they resembled each other
not little, despite the fact that while
Drane was handsome man, the other
would never have been accused Of any
thing more serious than tho possession
OF o good figure. Ono face was almost
caricaturc of the other. Drane could
not help thinking how much he should
have resembled his neighbor If his own
life throughout had been like tho last
few days.
Tho stranger ordered some breakfast,
and the attendant drew up little table,
so that it stood between Drane and his
moro fortunate fellow-bather. In fact
it was as near to ono as the other.
"If he cats right under my nose, this
way" said Dranc to himself, II shall
become raving maniac"
A luxurious repas: was ordered, and
then the stranger lay down upon the
divan and went 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
ablc to sit up and pretend to be awake,