The age-herald., 1901-02-10

It was four o'clock in the morning in the winter of 1S93-4. I was reporter for one of the morning newspapers in San Francisco, and was walking rapidly to my room. A man jumped from out dark stairway, seized my right shoulder convulsively with both hands, and in high and excited tone said: Have mercy upon me and buy me a drink of whiskey. I am suffering for tr'
 I said, Certainly; but please take your hands from my shoulder!'
 We walked in silence to the first barroom, and when I inquired what he would drink he said 'fWhiskey!'
 Seeing that he was too nervous and un- steady to pour it Into the glass, did so for him. Under the bright glare of the electric lights I took a good look at my man, and noticed all the ear-marks of a perfect gen. tleman. His face had a sad and mournful expression, and would have made splen- did model for picture entitled "A Lost Soul" It appealed to me strongly. He had maintained a perfect silence all along.
 l ordered pint bottle of the best whis key and put it in my pocket. Outside I said to him: Friend, take this to your room and make a heroic effort to taper off at that time I a teetotaler. But, have no room," he said I carried him to ho- tel, registered the name he gave and saw him start upwards In the elevator in the care of a bell boy. I had invested $175 in a suffering stranger whom never expected to see again. At the elevator door he had said to me, Your name and address, please!' I replied, "The clerk will give 1t to you should you ask him.
 year passed had forgotten all about the man. Tn moment of weakness and carelessness very thoughtlessly and wrongfully took drink of whiskey with 1I.l aAfa to ot- d fhay say on the Pacific coast That drink called for another and spree resulted. My princely prodigality soon changed the color of my bank balance. My chums, relatives and friends colluded, and resolved unani- mously not to give nor lend me a cent of money The barkeepers refused to sell me liquor when money was offered for it.
 This time I was the picture of "A Lost Soul.' I had called at the postoffice for the letter that never came, and in despair and distress was standing oh the steps, lost in conjecture as to how and where could get the next drink. distinguished looking man, elegantly yet modestly dress ed, approached me. and, with hand extend- ed, said:
 Well well; have found you at last. For two days all the staff of your paper and myself have been on the lookout for you. Come. take a walk with mei'
 I said, You are a stranger to me, sir. and evidently mistaking me for some one else" His only reply was, "Oh, no!'
 We walked along. chatting about trines, until we came to a frst-class barroom, when he said, twill you join me in a drnk?"
 noticed that he placed $20 gold piece on the bar. As we were going out he slipped the change. s1975 all coin, into the side pocket of my coat. Then I turned to him and said: My dear sir, you are la boring under some sort of deluson-it Is Of ata traf idpOtitV.' and insist ed upon returning the money whereupon he said, in a quiet and forceful tone, ''I think not Put the money back in your pocket My name is -, and my home is in Fresno County, where I own several large fruit ranches. I am bachelor, forty years of age. About a year ago I got on a fearful spree. and left home to keep my aged mother and devoted sisters from seeing mo.