The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-06-25

almost made up his mind to order
breakfast, and trust to luck to get away
alive without paying for it.
Here you are. sir. number forty-two,
said voice; and Drane heard an at
tendant usher man into tho next
drcssing-room.
Thank you, sir" he heard the fell
low say minute later. Then he knew
that the man in the next stall had
tipped the attendant. They talked
together a minute, while the visitor
inquired about the bath and the
restaurant which was connected with
it. Then he tipped the fellow again.
and got more thanks.
''He has plenty of money Of course.
groaned Drane, why shouldn't he give
some of it away? Why shouldn't he lend
me some? Why shouldn't climb over the
partition and negotiate the loan myself
while he's out of the way?"
The rags were corrupting him. They
seemed actually to talk, to suggest
envy, malice, and theft.
Get thee behind me-, garments OF
Satan he said, smiling bitterly; and
he arose and walked out again into the
hall. An ob1iging attendant prepared
diyan for him; and he had no sooner
stretched himself upon it than he foil
asleep.
Drane was awakened by the voice of
the man who had occupied the dressing
room next to his. He looked up, and
saw well-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 resenbled 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 the possession
of good figure. One face was almost a
not help thinking how much he should
have rescmbled his neighbor if his own
life throughout had been like the last
few days.
The stranger ordered some breakfast,
and the attendant drew up little table,
so that it stood between Drane and his
more fortunate fellow-bather. In fact
it was as near to one as the other.
IF he eats right under my nose, this
way" said Drane to himself, 81 shall
become i raving maniac"
A luxurious repaSt 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 tho 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 a twinkling.
Then Drane'S stomach arose and read
tho 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 mere honesty.
Dranc stretched forth his right hand,
and secured roll. Almost Immediately
thereafter, as nobody was looking, he
possessed himself of the leg of a
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
tho feast. Then he washed down his
scruples with the strangers coffee, and
went back to his room a better man.
But then came the rags again, and
not even the sustaining power of
stolen meal could keep him from temp
tation. He put on his underclothing,
and then stood by the half-open door,
looking in ct the detested garments.
They Knocked him; they said: you've
got to come down to our level; you've
stolen breakfast on Our account, and
nobody knows what you'll do before we
get through with you"
He shuddered and turned away his
eyes. 1t wasn't that his conscience
troubled him. No, indeed. He had
left his conscience in tho pocket Of his
other clothes, the ones the thieves
had taken, and he wondered, by tho
way, whether the fellow had been able
to make any moral use of it. But his
shudder was caused by his disinclina-
ton to put on the suit which had no
conscience in its 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.
~ was ajar, and for the temptation
which came Of that knowledge. Tho
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