Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-22
A RIDICULOUS SITUATION.

A. prominent young Minneapolis bnsl-
ness man is in trouble. 1t has been
whispered around among his friends that
on a recent Friday night he was seen on
| Nicollet avenue in q state of beastly IN
toXication.
But it isn't true. friends. He was as
sober as a prohibition candidate for gov
ernor. 1t was the men who were appar-
entity taking him home who were drunk,
not the prominent. young business II
society man. He was the victim of de-
cidedly unfortunate circumstances, that
was all.
He had been to The grand opera, and
was on his way home. Two young bloods,
friends of his. met him IN the street.
During the carly part of the evening
these two friends had accumulated just a
little bit more than prOpriety would die
tate, but they We're by no means off their
feet.
They were quite happy when they met
the young MAJ from the opera, and. get
ting on either side Of him, they took him
by each arm and insisted that he should
join them in a night-cap. He was will
Ling, and they drank. The saloon was on
| Nicollet avenue. and as the three young
men left it the sober one was in the
middle, with his two arms clasped tightly
by his friends.
IF we walk down the street this way
people will think Tn drunk" he remon-
strated with the pair when they refused
to let go.
That's all right. Charley: We'll see you
home all right. How the mischief did
you come to get drunk, anyhow" said
one Of the intoxicated ones to the sober
Lin a very loud voice, as they passed a
crowd waiting for a street car.
For heavens sake keep quiet!" eX-
claimed Charley. Don't you see that
some of my friends are in that crowd
I can't afford to AVE them thinlS I'm
drunk, even if I'm not. and l won't stand
it,"
With this he attempted to break away.
but the drunken man held on hard. He
tried to reach a sign-post on the edge of
the sidewalk. but in this he was also un-
successful. He looked for all the world
like a very much intoxicated individual,
and there was not one in the crowd who
had gathered about who did not believe
that he was the drunken one and his
friends the sober ones.
Nov, Charley. brace up. and be a man!
You've had enough to drink tonight
came from the other friend in a voice
loud enough for everyone to hear.
Charley was getting desperate. He
fought hard, but his friends still stuck to
him.
A policeman came along, and attempt
ed to Guell the disturbance.
"WhatS the nndller mere, anyhow I! lie
asked.
"Why, we have a friend who is a little
under the weather. and we are trying to
take him home" said one of the pair.
you all look as though you We're a
little under the weather." said the police
man, after a glance at the trio.
Charley tried to explain that he was
not drunk, that he had never been drunk
in his life, and that the first and only
drink he had had in a month had been
taken with his friends just a minute be-
fore.
"These two fellows are causing all the
trouble; they're drunk and I'm not, and
I want you, officer, to make them let go
of me-"
"That'N do now, thatll do; you had
better let your friends take you home.
They appear to be in better condition
than YOU are answered the officer.
Charley looked into the faces of the
crowd which had gathered about. and,
recognizing several friends of his family
decided thai the best thing he could dc
was to submit and go on arm in arm with
his drunken friends.
This he did, and, when another block
had been covered, his friends let go
Charley ouldn see the joke. and the
evenings entertainment nearly broke uI
in a row.
Today there is a prominent young man
under the ban: but any of Charley's
friends who saw him Friday night should
forgive him. for he was not drunk.-Min-
neapolis Tribune