Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1903-07-17

Dicky crumpled II up In his hand and
was about TO throw It away. But he
didn't. He opened II again and read It
carefully through to the end. Then he
stepped out upon the sidewalk and
glanced up and down the street. ON
the farther corner was brilliantly
lighted saloons cheap sort OF place.
Dicky took out his 10 cents and start
ed for that corner.
He stepped up boldly to the bar. 81
| want to get drunk" he said to the
bartender.
well" replied the bartender with a
grin, there's nothln' to hender you II
you got the price. What d'yOu wantT
what what's the best thing to get
drunk onT inquired Dicky In a hesI-
tating sort OF way.
We'll" replied the bartender, uncer-
tain whether Dicky was chatting him or
otherwise, I'VE sell some Of the great
est forty rod stun you ever tasted for
3 cents I'll warrant three big glasses
II make your hair stand on end all
right"
Gimme three glasses, then" said
Dicky.
"Three glassesr exclaimed the bar
tender. what, all togetherT
"Well," returned Dicky uncertainty,
"any way that-thAts best, you know"
II was half past y. The mems res
cue meeting WAS IN full blast. II was
the grandest rally Of the year.
NNfIIntahl.u Al GnhnnnL ha ho nh
phllanthropist and mission worker,
harangued the crowd, and he knew
how. There was no doubt about his
ability In that respect. Ho himself
had worked up out Of the slums. and he
knew. lie had a large audience and
queer one, but he made an impression.
Hardened old sinners who hadn't
thought OF home and their bOyhood
days for years sat with the tears run
ming down their faces. Toughs whose
faces never showed one softenng line
sat with bowed heads and qulvering
lips. He was only fairly launched when
young man In beastly state OF In
toxicatlon entered the room. This
young man glanced wildly around up
on the crowd and at the speaker, then
lurched heavily up the aisle and sank
into a front seat.
II was Dlcky DOnnelly. drunk. The
forty rod had taken effect. Dicky felt
himself that II had gone to his hend
Just little. Drunk as he was though,
he sat up straight. but swaylng from
side to side, and tried TO listen. The
six or eight bankers whom he saw
finally dwindled down TO one, and this
one, who had seen Dicky enter and
seat himself, poured forth his whole
soul not upon the old men, not upon
the toughs but upon Dicky. In Dlcky
Donnelly he saw himself as he once
might have been.
Ordinarily Dicky, who was a good
church member, In good standing.
would have been unaffected, but now
the bankers words Of gentlcness and
sympathy and sorrow no mingled
themselves with the fumes IN Dicky's
brain that Dlcky felt them very. very
much, and his tears began to fall, or at
least they seemed TO do 70.
And when the banker had ceased
Dicky staggered 10 his feet and looked
once more around upon the crowd.
"Gents," he said In husky voice, II
don't know M there's bigger bum IN
this here room than me. ! don't know
as there's a man here M has gone the
pace ns has myself. Gents, look at
me. born an bred In good home, with
every advantage. an here ! am to.
night. There amt a bit Of wickedness
that amt guilty OF, there amt" His
voice trembled, and ho stopped for an
instant. II tell you, my fren's," he
continued, ut was n blessed thing that
I stumbled into this here place to hear
the words that this here man." he In
dicnted the speaker, has said TO mo
tonight. He's good man, an maybe
he's went through just what did. an
he amt afraid TO tell you an me TO
brace up"
Dlcky raised his hand solemDly.
my fren's." he went on, you know
where been tonight | been In that
there hole on the corner. An | say to
you tonight that from this time forth