Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-02-02

over III tne east side OF the town, among
streets many of whose names I had
scarcely heard. Then we dismissed our
cab and went into horrid f1aring den
of place, with electrics in its windows
and pictures of huge ''schoone-s" from
which the tawny beer prodigally over
foamed.
"Take nothing but seltzer water" I
whispered to Bradford, but he laughing
ly refused and called for three glasses of
beer.
''Now begin" he rejoined, and in
his twinkling eyes 1 read hints Of in
ebriety by no means pleasant
Come" l said, while we were all
three slipping our beer in presence of a
great, blond, moon faced barkeeper and
watched by a group of shabby loungers,
Its very plain, Bradford, that this
whole scheme has been idiotic"
"Aha" giggled Alec, you're back
ing out! l thought you would" 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 i'll between Brad
ford and myself Eyes, 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 60 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 dcmoralizihg him.
"Not a bit of it, he muttered. 1.-THE
bet isn't off at all. Frank Amberley's
got to begin" Then he loudened his
voice so it could be heard in every cor
ner of the big, vulgar gilded tavern.
How much money, Frank, did you say
you had about you tonight?'
"Alec," pleaded Hathaway's low
voice, "look at that gang of rowdies
over there! We'd 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 saucy
shoulder shrug.
Something i'll his tones challenged my
reckless anger. spoke as loudly as he
did and at once began to act out my
prearranged part
Five thousand dollars" 1 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
l lifted them both and gave to each a
little ostentatious flourish. Then 1 re-
placed them, adding, still in tones clear
and high, "It makes me feel kind of
nervous, but still I don't doubt I'll
get home all right"
"Oh, Jack and will sec you safely
homen' cried Bradford, with glance
across his shoulder at the listening
group of loafers.
Just then something touched my arm.
A young woman, who must have en-
tered the place but q few minutes ago,
stood at my side. Some trick of the
garish light left her face in partial
shadow, but l could see that it was
very pale and hollow checked as if from
want.
"Oh, sirn' sho said to me in a trem.
bling voice, 'if you've got all that
money, perhaps you'll spare me just
few coins! I've never q swear it to you)
been i'll such n place as this before. But
l was so sick that lost my chance of
work in the big shirt factory not far
off. 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, Ruthl It's you"
caught her to my breast and show
cred kisses Oh her poor wasted face
My two friends got us carriage be-
fore long. l learned afterward that
Ruth behaved like the strong, brave lit
tie creature she had always been,
though the tears streamed down her
shrunken cheeks. but that babbled in
tiiO oiiiiNot way anu cSCdpeu
being dragged to prison as disorderly
Ruth is at home with Clara and my
self now, and we are both very happy in
her company, though the return of
bloom to her cheeks often
makes us believe that one admirer out
of half dozen whom we know may
soon partially rob us of her.
Bradford would never accept my
money, but insisted on calling the bet
"off. y And, by the way, as he lives
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 affairs
are still qHite unsettled, sister Ruth
might object to further details on that
rather delicate point. Fawcett
in Once a Week.
n,,tn