The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-04-27
BILLY GREGG.

tropolis of London. There is no harm In
that, 6,r many good and estimable people
live within sight of the great glass house
the proximity of which seems to make them
chary about throwing stones. Consequent
ly Tompkins was 10th to tell Billy Gregg
Just what he thought of him.
Billy looked upon the wine when it was
red Tin a Burgundy bottle) and white Tin a
bottle of c~hampagne). The color did. not
matter to. Billy SO long as the wine was
sounda and old. Youth and age never get
along SO h~ilariously as when the young
man about town and old wine from the eel
lar meet.
So the wicked Billy Gregg went on his
way rejoicing, aided by the lampposts and
cautioned by the police, until one night
a new world burst upon him. The new
world was peopled principally by animated
nature-monkeys and balloons such as new
er were harbored by the Zoo; but the chief
inhabitants, besides Billy himself, were
snakes.
When Billy emerged from this geological
horror. he determined to reform. He re-
solved to proceed with caution. He did
not go SO far as to ALLURE liquor altogether
he felt that was asking too much of his
system-but he resolved to drink method
ically, and he began to drink secretly. which
is a dangerous thing for a man.
Tompkins called upon him in his cham
bers one day and saw at a glance how
things were going. So he invited Billy to
come down andvisit him from Saturday. to
Monday in the virtuous precincts of the
Crystal palace.
Tompkins was wise and said nothing Of
reform to Gregg, but he prepared a little
surprise for him.
Billy said that his nerves had somehow
gone wrong, and that he would be glad OF
a day or two of quiet with the grateful and
comforting sight of the Crystal palace be-
fore his eyes.
Now, it happens that in the grounds OF
the Crystal palace and in an u~nfrequented
part of them, for the crowd as a general
thing haunts The immediate vicinity Of the
huge building itself, there is a lake with
numerous islands and a quiet shady walk
around it's borders. This lake is situated
in a wooded dell in the low grounds as far
as possible from the big building. It is a
quiet spot of soothing natural beauty, but
art has added a peculiar horror toit.
On the islands, and by the margin of the
lake, and here and there in the water lave
oeen placed huge reproductions in some
waterproof material of the antediluvian
animals which scientists, doubtless suffer
ing from the strong drinks of former days,
have imagined the earth to have been pop
ulated with. No sane man believes that such
creatures ever existed on any planet called
into being by an allwise Providence.
The punishment fits the crime, and the
names are as horrible as the animals them
selves. There is the anoplotherium, the
~iguanadon, the palaeotherium and other
uncanny appellations.
Long, giraffelike necks project up into
the air from great bloated bodies. Winged
sea serpents stand erect in the water. Huge
elephantlike creatures, with bodies like bal
looms and ears like wings of satan, Chamber
up over the islands. CHASTITY Nightmares
meet n at every turn along the walk that
fringes the margin of the lake. A ghost
haunted graveyard at midnight is a cheer
full, e%nlivening spot compared with that
lake at any time in the "a hours.
On Saturday afternoon Tompkins warm
ly welcomed his friend Gregg and took
him down the shady paths that led to the
margin of the lake.
Gregg did not care much for country
walks. They were not in his line, but he
accompanied his friend uncomplainingly.
what 1 like about this said Temp
kins, lis the refreshing quiet and rest.
Five days out of the SIX in these parts OF
the grounds you meet nobody; nothing
meets the eye but the SYLVAN
Gregg ~nervously clutched his arm.
For mercy's sake" he cried, what's
that?'
whats WHAT" asked Tompkins, look
ing calmly at his friend.
"What is that coming out of the water?'
Tompkins gazed s~erenely around, anG
looked at his friend with a certain surprise
upon his brow.
II see nothing" he said. What was it,
A rat perhaps"
mo, no." gasped Gregg, drawing his
hand across his eyes. 1T was not a rat.
It was nothing. My imagination perhaps"
Your nerves are overstrained," said the
innocent Tompkins. You have been
working too hard"
That's it; that's it," assented Gregg.
with a tremor in his voice.
well, as l was saying" continued
Tompains, "the sylvan beauty of this spo.
uldhCS ~ q O1lO u VI l1llS, tSpS
cially in the evening. 1t has a soothing and
calming effect, especially after a man has
put in a hard days work. A restful scene
like this, the smooth water in the evening
light, the twitter of the birds, the sight Of
some gentle hare or pretty squirrel on
the'-
Billy Gregg suddenly put his hands on
the shoulders of his friend, and his body
swayed to and fro.
For heavens sake" he cried, look at
that island and tell mewhat you see. What
is that creature with a body like Somerset
House and ears like Battersea park, climb
ing up out of the water? You dom mean
to tell me there is nothing there?"
Tompkins looked at his friend with well
assumed amazement on his face.
Gregg" he said, there is something
the matter with you. You are not in the
usual state of health. Does not your own
good sense show you that there can be no
such animal as you describe?"
Il know it, l know it. Tompkins," he
cried suddenly. clinging to his friend, Il
have lied to you. l admit it. I've had 'em
before. but never in this shape. Tompkins,
I have been drinking too much. Take me
home with you and write out a cast iron
pledge, and I'll sign it 16 times. Calm all