Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-16
ebriety by no means pleasant.

eDr1eEy Dy no means pleastint-
 Come" I said, while we were all three slipping our beer in presence of great, blond, moon faced barkeeper and watched by group of shabby loungers, tits very plain. Bradford, that this whole scheme has been idiotic."
 "Ahap' giggled Alec, you're back ing outl I thought you wouldf' He called for three more glasses of beer, having drank his own, and the bar keeper, with great alacrity, whisked all the glasses away and supplied us with fresh ones.
 Hathaway slipped in between Brad- ford and myself. "Yes, Alec," he anx- iously whispered, Frank is backing out, and very sensibly. The idea of three sane men like ourselves attempt ing this bravado game of stiffness in five different places! We might regret it all our lives. Come, now, let's go up town and call the bet off. ''
 But Bradford tossed his head stub- bornly. He was the best fellow in the world at ordinary times, but drink, even in limited supply. had the ugly trick of demoralizing him.
 ''Not a bit of it, |" he muttered. "The bet isn't of at alL Frank Amberley's got to begin. - Then he loudened his voice so it could be heard ill every cor ner of the big, vulgar gilded tavern. How much money, Frank, did you say you had about you tonight:"
 "Alcc,'' pleaded Hathaway's low voice, look at that gang of rowdies over there. Wed best all concede that we've behaved like fools. Do pull your self together, old fellow, and''-
 How much, Frank?'' cried Bradford, with an obstinate smile and a saucy shoulder shrug.
 Something i'll his tones challenged my reckless anger. I spoke as loudly as he , did and at once began to act out my prearranged part.
 Five thousand dollars" I said. Then from one pocket drew one roll of sham bank notes and from another the second. Twenty-Five hundred dollars in each of those little packages"' Here I lifted them both and gave to each a little ostentatious flourish. Then re- placed them. adding, still in tones clear and high, Ut makes me feel kind of nervous, but still I don't doubt I'll get home all right.
 "Oh, Jack and I will see you safely ubllt. CIltb bEahIOIus Mltu a acruSs his shoulder at the listening group of loafcrs.
 Just then something touched my arm. \ young woman, who must have en- tered the place but few minutes ago. stood at my side. Some trick of the gariSh light left her face in partial shadow, but I could sec that it was very pale and hollow checked as if from want.
 "Oh, sir" she said to me i'll q trem- bling voice. If you've got all that money, perhaps you'll spare me just n | few coins: I've never q swear it to you) | been i:I Sucli a place this before. But I was so sick that lost my chance of work in the big shirt factory not far oil. and tonight my landlady has turned me into the streets, and, oh, sir''-
 Frank, what's the matter:'' flew from Alec Bradford's lips aS he saw me reel little and put my hand dizzily to my head.
 ''Good God. Ruth! It's you!'
 caught her to my breast and show cred kisses Oil her poor wasted face.
 My two friends got us q carriage be- fore long. l learned aftCrward that Ruth behaved like the strong. brave lit tic creature she had always been, though the tears strcamcd down her shrunkrn checks. but that babbled in the sillicst WAY and narrowly escaped being dragged to prison as q disorderly l baSchanalian.
 Ruth iS at home with Clara and my self now, and We are both very happy ill her company. though the return oi healthiul bloom to her cheeks often makes u> believe that one admirer out of a half dozen whom We know may soon partially rob Us of her.
 Bradford would never accept my money, but insisted on calling the be- of. And, by the way, as he live: not far from our Kansas town, and ac companied me with my sister back into the west, should not be greatly sur prised if
 But perhaps, as their mutual affair, arc still quite unsettled. sister Rutl might object to further details on tha rather delicate point.-Edgar Fawcct in Once a Week