The times., 1899-10-22
WASTE RULES" USE oRE OIEO

that he said he had no money. I asked
him for so cents and he laid down half
a dollar. I couldn't see anything in the
deal at that figure and held on He made
all sorts of promises, but 1 wouldn't stand
for a hangup. He felt through all his
pockets, but as he knew perfectly well
before making the bluff found them empty.
I've s0t to have il at any cost, he
said, and suddenly struck himself a sud
den blow on the left side Of his face The
blood streamed from his mouth. and be-
fore / had recovered from my surprise
he thrust his fingers into his mouth and
pulled out a tooth capped with gold
There's five dollars worth Of the gilt he
said, Give me the morphine.
Well. when 1 saw that exhibition of
nerve was sorry that I had not let him
have the stuff in the first place L ex-
planned TO him Just what sort of people
the general run of customers for drugs
were and he took it all in good part. I
made him take the tooth back. We had
d long talk then and before he finished
knew all about him and his trouble.
Finally he handed back the bottle. saying
that he would try and get along without
il. | had taken quite an interest in him,
and learning that he had 10 place to
spend the night invited him home with me
The next morning 1 saw him on a train
for home, and as L shook hands with him
just before the train left I handed him the
teeth. We c0rrespOnded for time, but
as the interval between the letters be-
came greater the incident passed out u
mind 1t was about a month ago that a
nice looking. neatly dressed young fellow
entered the store and seeing me standing
in the rear part stepped up and held out
his hand at the same time calling me by
name. | failed to recognize him and said
So Without any further explanation he
opened his coat and held up mis- watch
charm. This was gold-Capped tooth,
which at once identified him.
After congratuIating him on his in
proved appearance. 1 asked how he had
Jared since / had seen him last He said
that immediately upon his return home n
had started to work with firm det II nina
tion TO regain lost ground and 70 iii him
self OF the habit that had Dsen r5spolsi-
bic for his troubles. For a time it was
hard work. and more than once he was
tempted TO give up the struggle and 90
back to the old order of things. At susa
moments il called for the exercise OF tIaL
same nerve or will power that had pEoEpt-
ed him to knock out his tooth. and. IN
fact. it was the tooth that kept him
straight. He kept it with him ali the
time. and insisted ttat as mascot it laT
away over the rabbits foot. His alvance
was rapid. and but a single glance was =
Cessary to convince me mat tIe wCr.I ma ]
treated him kindly since our first meeting
He insisted upon giving me the credit To-
his reformation and after his return home
I received q watch charm similar III ap-
pearance to that Ornamentlng his own
chain although the tooth on mine was
made of ivory instead of being the real ar
ticle.
Such a case is the exception More Oft
en- the Gend that is turned down plans
scme way to get even FOR what he consid-
ers unjust treatment. We have had them
ccme in and get hold of their favCrite drug
and attempt to get out Of the store with
out paying. Then there is a row, which
usually ends in the fiend throwing the stun
on the floor and leaving with threats Of
getting even. But they seldom carry out
any such threat as they know that IL
would be very apt to result seriously tOr
them. Another illustration, but Of a di1-
ferent sort Of the nerve displayed by the
dopsrs was given a short time ago by a
cheap crook who came in and wanted gum
opium. When he is in mOuey ne either
uses morphine or smokes opium. but as
times grow hard he takes To chewing the
crude gum which is far cheaper. This par
ticular chap had reached the gum-chswing
stage, ana came IN 10 Duy HalI an ounce
He wanted credit and didn't get it. He
left the store. but was back in less than
twenty minutes.
Lemme have it for this, will you
he asked, holding up a roll Of wire netting.
'' Where did You get that 1 demanded.
'' Down the street in Walkers hardware
store There was only an Old guy in there.
an [ walked in an pinChed it. Say. do {
get an ounce for it,
Il hastened to assure him that he did
not
Well. give me half an ounce, viii