Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16

me. but he lacks the persuasiveness of his
predecessor. He certainly drinks as hard,
but he is wanting In the pleasantness which
used to q my home a place of resort
for gentlemen and wits. / shall have to
send him about his business, i fear. When
he is in his cups he weeps over his sins,
weeps, sir. How can young people be en-
cOuraged to marry by q man who sheds
tears II you give him a glass Of punehf"
From the Fleet market Oliver took oars
across the river. As he had expected, TWEEN
ty-four hours of privation had already re-
duced his friend to a condition of great hui
mility. He had already sold his wig. his
coat and his stockings. and was horribly
and miserably thirsty.
Sir" he cried eagerly, 81 have been look
ing for you. I have been expecting you"
Where are your clothes"
! ut is an extortionate place. They give
next to nothing for them. The wig gave
me a pint OF Lisbon; the coat gave me three
glasses OF punch; the stockings this morn
ing gave me a pint Of small ale. And / am
already consumed with thirst again, oh,
sir, have pity on q poor, thirsty unfortunate
bankrupt! My thoat Is Hike an oven for
dryness. Fer the love Of the Lord, sir, give
me a drink-give me a drink"
oliver sent for a bottle. OF wine. ''There!"
he said. 1T will make you happy for an
hour"
The mar sat with his head in his hands,
moaning, for the consuming fire OF thirst in
his throat. When the bottle came he seized
IL and drank of half the contents without
the form Of pouring 1t into a glass. Hal
he sighed, setting down the bottle with a
deep sigh. "it is heaven! / want no better
h~eaveni"
How do you like the prlson?'
"Sir-it is-it is"-He drank again. at
Is not heaven. All night long was pur-
sued. sir, by rats. The rats OF this prison
are as large as cats; all night they rau
after me, thousands of rats. there were;
and they chased me and no one else. Dc
you think. sir. l ask you as a Christian ant
a Briton-do you think that his majesty'G
gracious prisoners should be hunted = .
hunted, sir"-the looked about him with
terror In his eyes)-"hunted by rats as bis
as cats and twice as herce?'
why. sir. II you invite them, so Il
speak" .
They ran after me all night-only aftei
me. The other men in the room sat up anC
cursed me. ! did not bring the rats int
the prison. They have no pity upon me
they cursed me-"
|, The livid looks betrayed the horror of hi
. mind. II see them again" he cried. jump
, ing about. oliver gave him the bottle. H,
, drank again. Hal" he said, they ar,
gone. Where did they go to- How dh
they get into the roomF"
You told me-" said Oliver, that 20,
[ would have revenge. You said that re
venge was dearer than life. AS you eanno
have revenge. l suppose you would like t
5 keep your life"
'Sir, l was wrong. l would rather hav
. drink. Give me drink, and ! ask for no re
venge. Sir, ! was wrong. The lady did NO
g owe me 100. but less than. e1OO.
= tholght to cheat the creditors. l did. in
' deed. l have been deceiving YOU"
I mot me, sir. You have not deceive
= me. / assure you. What do you PROPOSE
e them"
Nothing. nothing. o.. II those rats
= He trembled and shook.
Now, sir. give me your attention. 70
5 are in great misery; you will be in create
misery before long. II. however, you ar
o disposed 20 sign a statement giving IN
b truth Of ths whole matter so far a. 70
& are concerned. ! shall not take you cut {