Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-12-14

hHIDu w
a man like Webb with drink seemed an
act of cruel kindness, If not downright
folly. especially as he seemed but half
sober. Yet, the unfortunate man was
evidently chilled TO the bone, and q
stimulant might, under the circum-
staices, do him more good than harm.
What ought he to do?
"Come along, Tom," he said. "You
shall have your drink, II you think you
can carry it."
Garry it!' repeated Webb, with a
grim laugh. 81 can carry a fair skin
full, especially in weather like this.
After all, you're a good chap, West
on"
So saying he disappeared in the fog,
followed by his impromptu host. He
knew his way well to the latter's rooms
in the Adelphi, and he wanted a few
yards start. Drunkards r as cum
ming as .other more fully-developed
madmen. His idea was TO provide an
opportunity for swallowing the remain
ing contents of his flash, which he
trusted to have ~replenished subsequent
ly. He had to sneak across the road
way to accomplish his object, for West
on was strong and fleet Of foot. But
he maraged 1t and, breaking into a
shuffiing rum, overlook his host near
Somerset House.
Better take my arm, or l yours, in
this fog" remarked Weston. why,
what's the matter, Tom?'
What, with the hasty swallowing or
raw rum and the scurry through the
foggy air, Tom Webb vas incapable OF
sA. -An O. hA nIrnif1u NM
a soiled handkerchief across his mouth
and grunted automatically. This tas
was intended aroused his companions
unquestioning concern, and they ar
rived at the Adelphi arm-in-arm. A
somewhat steep climb up three flights
of stairs brought them to the modest
but withal cosy couple Of rooms which
Weston Gn grandiloquent moments)
sometimes referred TO as his cham
bers.' A well banked fire doomed red
in the CRATE, and a large lamp, prompt
ly turned up to full power, revealed as
comfortably furnished a little sitting
room as any reasonable bachelor need
desire.
1t revealed something more, some
thing that had not been so marked be-
meath the fog-bedimmed street-lights.
1t revealed the startling contrast be-
tween the two men.
TIN Webb, from his unkempt, griZ-
Zled hair and dirty, crumpled collar TO
his frayed trouser ends ald down-at-
heel shoes, appeared to be an exceed
ingly disreputable v%agabond of forty
five or fifty. In reality, he was barely
thirty years of age.
His host was just a well-set-up nan
of twenty-eight, who scarcely looked
his age. Neatly, If somewhat plainly.
dressed, but remarkably well grOomed
and blessed with more than an average
share of good looks, Ralph Weston
stood forth in the lamp-light as Il very
good sample. indeed, Of n healthy, man
ly young Englishman. A look of sor-
riw and pity that he could not sup
press came over his face as he marked
the rayages which drink and neglect
had wrought in his former schoolfel-
lows appearance. Then, taking him
with friendly force by the shoulders,
he pressed him into an armchair by
the fire, and bestirred himself on hos
pitable' thoughts intent.
(Which shall it be, Tom?" he queried.
opening a cellaret. Beer or whisky
Not much variety of choice, / must
say"
Whisky will do all right" was the
reply, IF you don't happen to have
any rum"
Fan endure even the smell Of the
stuff" rejoined Weston; "but here's
the whisky. And, as I'm pretty sure
you've had no supper yet, I'll see what
l can discover in the way Of eatables.
l feel as if l could manage a snack my
self"
Now, considering that Tom Webb
had broken his fast that day upon
nothing more substantial than n
baked potato. purchased in the street,
ne might have been expected to rejoice
at the prospect of n supper Of any sort.
NOT he. The money borrowed upon his
oyercoat had been spent solely upon
rum. And the uppermost thought upon
his mind now was to secure the oppor.
tunity of replenishing his flask, with
his hosts whisky. Ralph's brief alb
sence to the larder gave him his
chance, and he was quick to seize It.
A slip Of paper was hastily trans
formed into an impromptu funnel, and
half he contents of a bottle of whisky
~ "ths bdISlclItu 10 the Dat.
tered old flask. 1t never occurred tn
him that he was doing anything wrong
or mean in thus surreptitiously helping
himself. The whisky he must and
would have, and it would probably be
refused to him were he to ask for II,
his scruples went DO further.
weston noted with renewed concern
that although his maynard guest did
bu scanty justice to the little supne,
set before him, he contrived to replen.
lsh his glass several times before no
rose to depart, and that he was thicker
OF speech and ~unsteadier of limb than
before. He even proposed to him To
camp for the night upon the sofa: hut
10 this suggestion Webb would not lis,.
en- at all.
Wen, Tom" he remarked. at lenpt,
you are your own master, and mnst
nave your own way, l suppose. R,t 1
nave a spare %oyercoat, and I abso,rte-
y insist upon your getting inside II 20
fore I'll let you CO..
To this Webb consented, donninp tho