Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-07
liquor at your. PLACE and choose to offer
mo a drink I'll fake II >,

liquor at your place and choose to offer
me a drink. Ill take it."
Ralph Weston hesitated. To supply
Il 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 a
stimulant might, under the circum-
staices, do him more good than harm.
What ought he to do?
Gene along, Tom," he said. "You
shall have your drink, if you think you
can carry it,
Garry it!' repeated Webb. with a
grim laugh. 81 can carry fair skin
full, especially in weather like this.
After all, you're 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
i'll the Adelphi, and he wanted a few
yards start. Drunkards are as cum
ming as other 7more 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
1 way to accomplish his object. for West
on WAS strong and fleet Of foot. But
he maraged it and, breaking into, a
shutting run. 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 Of
raw rum and the scurry through the
| foggy air, Tom Webb was incapable Of
intelligent speech. So he adroitly put
4 soiled handkerchief across his mouth
and grunted automatically. This (as
was intended aroused his companions
! C..queStioning concern, and they ar
rived ut 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 lin grandiloquent moments)
sometimes referred to as his "cham-
bers.' a we'll banked fire loQmed red
i'll 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.
thing that had not been so marked be-
meath the fog bedimmed street-lights.
1t revealed the startling contrast be-
tween the two men.
Ten Webb. from his unkempt. griz-
zled hair and dirty. crumpled collar to
his frayed trouser ends aad down-at-
heel shoes, appeared to be an exceed
ingly disreputable vagabond of forty
Nv, |, y.<>11
thirty years of age.
His host was just a well-set-up man
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 a 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 ravages which drink and neglect
had wrought in his former schoolfel-
lows appearance. Then, taking him
with friendly force by the shoulders,
lie pressed him into an armchair by
the fire. and bestirred himself on hos
pitable thoughts intent.
(Which shall it be, Tom?" he queried.
opening cellaret. Beer or whisky?
Not much variety of choice, l must
say"
whisky will do all right was the
reply, IF you don't happen to have
any rum"
Cant 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.
/ feel us if could manage snack my
self"
Now. considering that Tom Webb
had broken his fast that day upon
nothing more substantial than a
baked potato. purchased in the street,
he might have been expected to rejoice
at the prospect of 4 supper of any sort.
Not he. The money borrowed upon his
overcoat 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 the contents of bottle of whisky
were hastily transferred to the bat.
| tered old flask. 1t never occurred to
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 it.
His scruples went no further.
Weston noted with renewed concern
that although his hayward guest did
but scanty justice to the little supper
set before him. he contrived to replen-
ish his glass several times before he
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; but
to this suggestion Webb would not list
en- at all.
well. Tom he remarked, at length,
''yOu are your own master, and must
have your own way, ] suppose. But
have a spare overcoat. and l absolute
ly insist upon your getting inside it be-
fore I'll let you CO."
TO this Webb consented. looming the
protfered garment, contrived to help
himself to yet final dram, and started