The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-04-09
A STREET CHARACTER.

Doc Horne walked into the Alfalfa
European hotel feeling as if he were
returned Rip Van Wrinkle.
He had been away from Chicago only
two months. and the streets seemed un-
familiar and changed as ne came into
the Alfalfa neighbOrhood. At one cor
ner where a four-story building had
stood there was now a muddy cNcava-
ton. The hotel front, too, seemed diff
ferent. There was something missing
or something added. he couldn't tell
which. Perhaps the explanation was
that he now looked at the OLD building
with refreshed interest.
There were two strangers seated in
the Office. but they lowered their pa
pers and studied Doe as if ne were a
stranger.
AS usual, there was no one behind the
desk. The Alfalfa hotel usually took
care of itself-the patrons taking the
keys from the pigeon-holes. setting
down "caIIs" on the slate and hunting
for mail out of the assortment left by
the postmar.
Doc" put his new tan-colore1 vaIisc
on the floor and removed his new black
derby hat with the swathe of Grape
around it.
The day was damp and mu@ry. and
Docs" bald frontal was dewy with per
Spiration.
"Anybody at home?" he asked
The strangers did not condcScend to
reply. and DOC" felt more than ever
like Rip Van Wrinkle
''WeIl. If it amt Doc"
Il was the lightning dentist He
slapped Doc on the shoulder with a
familiarity which would no; have been
pardoned under other circumstances.
YES. my hoy. back again-back to
the old home"
I'm mighty glad to see YOU. All the
boys have been asking about vou."
They're all here. I suppOse?"
''NO. haven't you heard? Why. say.
Doc this has seemed like a different
place since you went away. Let's sit
down.
They sat on the side of the Office
where dim daylight fell from the
street windows. and the lightning den
fist gave Doc a long. pale cigar with
red and gold label around it,
You heard about the banjo man,
didn't you?" asked the dentist
Il haven't heard a word. I've been
very busy settling the affairs of my sis
tcr's estate / had lawyer and an ac-
countant to help me. but ali the respon-
sfbility practically rested on me"
I'VE heard about your sisters death.
Was it unexpectedly"
well, you go ahead and tell me what's
happened here and I'll give my story
later"
You know the banjo Player?"
The one who wrote songs?"
Yes. Well, he's married-married
the week after you went away. Shes
an actress, and they went on the stage
together. He can sing some and play
the banjo, and they say she's quite
dancer. They act at these continuous
houses
We'll, well. Is our other friend drink
ing as hard as ever?''
who, the lush? Well, sir. he's try
ing his hardest to quit. There was
three days last week that he didn drink
anything but ginger and some new cider
they've got in at the bar. Then one
night he got with some fellow, who was
here buying a stock of goods, and he
got an awful skate
TOO bad, too bad. y man of good in
STbilctS, NtS. SIR. IL = too bad
The real estate fellow is out on the
road, advertising cough medicine. or
something ike that. There wasn't any
thing doing in his line here. l think he
owes the house a little money"
Does the drummer ever come in any
more?''
Yes; he's been here twiee-a day or
two at time. But we've got two new
agent You want to look out, Doe
That bicycle man Will sell you wheel
before he's known you an hour"
Il don't think so. | have n friend in
the manufacturing business who has
offered to make me a present of the
finest wheel that's manufactured"
do you think you could learn to ride,
'Doc?'"
Doc chuckled and rubbed the ash
| from his cigar against the arm of the
| chair.
You weren't out here that evening
| last summer when some of the boys
dared me to try to ride q wheel? | for
| got who all were there, but turned the
| laugh | jumped on that wheel, rode
| down the street, turned around and
| came back without n wobble.'
! s.yVby. VIII, ia Won lcarr9"
Learn! I never touched n bicycle
until that day. l suppose it came easy
to me, because I'm naturally cool
| headed and then learned to preserve
| my equilibrium when was walking the
tight rope"
Why. / never knew that you walked
| the tight rope"
We'll. | never did follow it tor any
| length of time hut | used to practice
| il a good deal in a gymnasium at Gin