The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-07-15

Dicky crumpled it up in his hand and
was about to throw it away. But he
didn't. He opened it 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 saloOn-a cheap sort of place.
Dicky took out his 10 cents and start
ed for that corner.
He stepped up boldly to the bar. q
| want to get drunk" he said to the
bartender.
"Well," replied the bartender with
grin, there's nothin' to hender you if
you got the price. What d'yOu wantT
"What-whats the best thing to get
drunk on?" inquired Dicky in a hesi-
tating sort of way.
Well replied the bartender, uncer-
tain whether Dicky was chatting him or
otherwise, I'VE sell some of the great
est forty rod stuff you ever tasted for
cents. I'll warrant three big glasses
IL make your hair stand ON end all
right"
Gimme three glasses, them" said
Dicly.
"Three glasses" exclaimed the bar
tender. what, all together?"
We'll" returned Dicky uncertainty,
'any way that-thHt's best, you know"
1t was half past s. The mems res
cue meeting was in full blast. 1t was
the grandest rally of the year.
Willoughby G. Schenck, the banker,
philanthropist and mission worker,
harangued the crowd, and he knew
ability in that respect. He himself
had worked up out of the slums. and he
knew. He had large audience and a
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 softening line
sat with bowed heads and quivering
lips. He was only fairly launched when
a young man in beastly state of in
toXcation 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 Il front seat.
1t was Dicky Donnelly, drunk. The
forty rod had taken effect Dicky felt
himself that it had gone to his head
just little. Drunk as he was, though,
he sat IN straight, but swaying 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 Dicky
Donnelly he saw himself as he once
might have been.
church member in good standing,
would have been unaffected. but now
the bankers words Of gentleness and
sympathy and sorrow so mingled
themselves with the fumes in Dicky's
brain that Dicky felt them very, very
much, and his tears began to fall, or at
least they seemed TO do so.
And when the banker had ceased
Dicky staggered to his feet and looked
once more around upon the crowd.
Gents he said in husky voice, 81
don't know as there's bigger bum in
this here room than me. | don't know
as there's a man here as has gone the
pace as | has myself. Gents, look al
me, born an bred in a good home, witt
every advantage, an here | am to
light. There amt BIT OF wickedness
hat | amt guilty of, there amt" His
voice trembled, and he stopped for an
instant. Il tell you, my fren's," he
| continued. 1T was Il blessed thing that
I stumbled into this here place to hear
the words that this here man." he in
dicated the speaker, has said TO me
tonight. He's good man, an maybe
he's went through just what l did, an
he amt afraid to tell you an me to
brace up
Dicky raised his hand solemnly.
my fren's," he went on, you know
where | been tonight? been in that
there hole Oh the corner An | say to
vom tonight that from this time fortl