The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-02-08
The PALE DICE THR0WER

Hunger is most poignant when il has
forced physical suffering to the highest
point without impairment of the mental
functions. Thus hungry happened Joseph
Carringer, young man OF uncommonly
high spirit, who found himself total
stranger in San Francisco upon rainy
evening in November. There remained
in his possession not thing that he
might have pawned for morsel to eat;
and even as it was he had stripped his
body OF all articles of clothing except those
which a remaining sense OF decency CON-
PEELED him to retain. Hence il was that
cold assailed him and conspired with
hunger to complete his misery. Hsv-
ing been brought into the world
and reared q gentleman he lacked the
courage to beg and the knowledge to steal.
This means to say that be had finely
constituted organization, sensitive and
proud to the last degree, and accordingly
altogether out of place in the world. Had
not an extraordinary thing occurred TO
him, he either would have drowned him
or died of pneumonia in three days. For
he had been seventy hours without food,
and his mental desperation had driven
him far in its race with his physical needs
TO consume the strength within him; so
that now, pale. weak and lettering, he
took what comfort he could find in the
savory odors which came steaming up
from the basement kitchens of the res
taurants in Market-st, caring more
to gain them than to avoid the rain.
His teeth chartered; his ewes had
dark circles under them; he shambled,
stopped add gasped. He was too desperate
to curse bis fate-he could only long for
food. He could not reason; he could not
reflect; he could not understand that TO-
600 hands might gladly have fed him; he
could think only ofthe hunger which con-
sumed him and OF food which would give
him warmth and happiness.
When he had arrived at Mason-st. he
saw restaurant little way up the tho
roughfare, and for that he headed. crossing
the street diagonally. He stopped before
the window and oged the steaks, thick
and lined with fat; big oysters lying on
ice; slices OF ham as large as his hat;
whole roasted chickens, brown and juicy:
anu many OtDef Things. lie ground his
teeth, groaned, and staggered on.
A few steps beyond was a drinkiug-sa-
loon, which had a private door at one
side, with the words Family Entrance"
painted thereon. In the recess of the
door (which was closedl stood man. In
spite of his agony, Carringer saw some
thing in this mans face that appalled, and
fascinated HIM. Night was on, and the
light in the vicinity was dim; but it was
clear that the stranger had an appear
ance OF whose character he himself must
have been ignorant. Perhaps it was the
unspeaka able anguish OF il that struck
through Carringer's sympathies. The
young man came 10 an uncertain halt aud
stared at the stranger. At first he was
unseen, for the stranger looked straight
out into the street with singular tXitv,
and the death-like pal.or of his face added
a werdness to the itnmObility of his gaze.
Then he took notice OF the Young man.
All" said he. slowly and with pecu liar
disiinctness, ''the rain has caught you.
too. without overcoat or umbrella. Stand
in this doorway-there is room for two"
The voice was not unkind. though it
had an alarming hardness. 1t was the first
word that had been addressed to the suf-
ferer since hunger had made him a
victim. and TO be spoken to at all. and
have his comfort considered in the slight
est way gave him cheer. He entered the
embrasure and stood beside the stranger,
who at once relapsed into his fixed gaze al
nothing across the street. But presently
the stranger stirred himself again
1T may rain long time" said he. al
am cold, and | observe that YOU tremble.
Let us step inside and get drink"
He opened the door and Csrringer fol-
lowed. hope beginning to get a warm hand
upon his heart. The pale stranger led the
way into one of the little private booths
with which tho place wss provided. Be-
fore sitting down he put his hand into his
pocket and drew forth a roll of bank bills.
"You are younger than I, he said
won't you 90 to the bar and buy a bottle
of absinthe aud bring a pitcher OF water
and some glas5es9 dom; like for the
walters to come around. Here is O twenty
dollar bill. :"
Carringer took the bill and started
down through the corridor toward the bar.
He clutched the money tightly in his
palm; it felt warm and comfortable aud
sent delicious. tingling through his arm.
How many gloriously hot meals did that
bill represent? He clutched it tighter
and hesitated. He thought he smeiled a
broiled steak with fat little mushrooms
and melted butter in the steaming dish.
He stopped and looked back toward the
door OF the booth. He saw that the
stranger had closed il. He could pass it,
slip out the door and buy something to
eat He turned and started but the
coward in him there ara other names for
this tripped his resolution; so he went
straight to the bar and m AIDE the desired
purchase. This was so unusual that the
man who served HIM looked sharply at
him.
"Ain't goin' TO drink ali O. that, are
your" be asked.
Il have friends in the box" replied
Carringer, land we want to drink quietly
and without interruption. We are in
Number z"
"Oh beg pardon. That's all right" said
the man.
Carringers step was very much stronger
and steadier rs he returned with the
liquor. He opened the door of the booth.
The stranger sat on the side of the little
table, staring at the opposite wall. just as
he had stared across the street. He wore
a wide-brimmed, SLOUGH hat, drawn well
down. 1t was only after Darlington had
get the bottle. pitcher and glasses on the
table, aud seated himself opposite the
stranger and within his range of vision,
| that the pale man noticed him.
''Oh you have broulh hit it? How kind
! OF you Now please lock the door"
Carringer had slipped the change into
his pocket and was IN the act of bringing