Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-08

had no natural business interests, and |
shared at least one feeling-that of |
deep-seated antipatby to writing let |
tiers.
The night reached De Leon 1t was |
too late to call ON Ben and his wife, |
but, as early as possible after break
fast next morning, fastened to their
house. 1t looked strangely unfamiliar.
The yard was neglected.; pan of ashes
stood just at the end of the portico; a
small boy was digging in the dirt under
the bay window; a frowsy- looking
woman. with mouth full of clothes
pins, was hanging out washing on
lines stretched where the croquet
grounds had once been. She looked
up as I approached, and seemed sur
prised to see stranger.
Scan you tell me where I will find
Mr.. and Mrs. Corliss?" inquired.
The woman looked puzzled. and
twisted one finger in lock Of hair
back of her ear.
A'sCorliss? CoriissP WY, seems t.
me they usetuh be folks lived in this
house b. that name, but hain't shore.
Stranger. bean't YEP"
saw l could get no information
from the woman, so I returned down
street.
AS passed a saloon dilapidated,
hollow-eyed, unshaven, seedy man
came out of the door, cursing between
his teeth. glanced at him and passed
on. Presently voice called: 'Billy!"
L looked around. The seedy man
was approaching me with his hand ex-
tended, weak smile Of recognition on
his face. 1t was Ben Corliss, and we
had hardly passed greeting. and had
had no time to ask question, when he
asked, pleadingly:
'Faber. for Gods sake won't you
buy me drink and some breakfast? I
haven't had me al for three days, but
| 1 must have drink first"
Poor DEVIL An hour later, fed,
| bathed, shaved and new clothed, with
| just enough whisky in him to
! straighten him out. Ben sat in my
room at the Eagle hotel and told me
the whole pitiful story, stopping only
now and then to give way to the grief
| that not'even a stronger man than he
| had ever been could contain. And here
| it is:
sit wasn't-her-fault. 1t was all
| mine-all-and 1 am only suffering for
\
| she deserves. 1t isn't long story
only the story of what whisky and
hard luck-mostly whisky-will bring
| man to.
cit began just after you left. First
it was one thing, then another, that let
me down and I dropped nearly all the
money I had left in that scheme.
Hank Fillmore and I set on foot over
in the San Juan country. ALI this time
was drinking-not hard, but just
enough to keep my nerve up. Then
come more losses-I failed and every
thing 1 had went in the smash, except
the house and few thousand had in
the bank. I see, now, if I had only
been man and had kept stiff upper
lip, that I could have fixed myself in
good shape again, but it was too late.
''Then the baby came and for awhile
let whisky and cards alone and tried
to be man, but pretty soon / was at
it again. The baby died, and my
Florence nearly followed her, but I
kept on going to the devil.
''One day / found myself sober-and
pauper. went no me. hadn't been
there for week, but Florence greeted
me with her usual kiss, and asked no
questions.
'sAfter that, went to work, and be-
haved myself little while. Then the
devil got hold of me again, and when
came to myself it was worse than be-
fore. We were notified to vacate our
house-tfe house I had built-because
we were behind with our rent.
1.-TWO weeks after this I came to the
place we had known as 'home'-I had
found the money for the rent-to find
posted beside the door placard stat
ing that Furnished Rooms and Board
were to be had within. I burst into
the house and asked Florence to tell
me the meaning of the sign. A stormy
! scene followed-the storm coming all
| from my side-which ended in my leav-
ing the house in search of work, tear
J ing down the placard as 1 left. Down
town I met a man who paid me a few
dollars on an old debt. / took the
money and went in to sit a few hands
in game of poker. 1 won, and kept
on winning. OF course / wouldn't
: leave the table. AT the end of twenty
four hours was two thousand ahead
and left the game to get something te
eat and go home.
''After had eaten, I resolved to &c
back and see if 1 couldn't win some
more with an extra fifty l had. went
in again-and lost all l had. Then, Of
course, got drunk.
sit was week from the time l lef
home before.I returned The placart
was in it's former place, and white
S 4HInfti n
y Id|A EA<1