Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-09-09


tant where he had passed his col
lege days, he had always been treated
with very marked favor. To Illica the
students frequently sojourned for
their half holidays. 1t was there they
attended the theater, had their din
ners. and sometimes joined in social
functions. Among the young men of
his time at Monroe college, as the adj
Joining institution was called, no one
visited Illica more frequently than
Rossiter. With plenty of money at
his command, possessed of bright
manner and ready wit, and being
withal quite prominent as an athlete.
he had once had number of friends
and many acquaintance in the staid
but pleasant inland city.
He supposed that he had buried
shame: he had told himself that he
had worn out regret; but both now
rose to torment him. AS he moved
in the direction of the square, he
passed one of the station windows
and glanced in. A clock high upon
the wall informed him that it was
quarter past eleven.
Il must have beer, if it takes nv
last Nickel" he said, moistenine his
parched lips with his tongue
Presently he rounded the corner of
the station and stood in the full glare
of the electric lights. There were
few men seated upon the hotel
steps, and at the upper end of the
open space trolley-car was putting
down passenger, otherwise there
~
plunged hand into one of his trous
ers pockets and drew forth four
coins, a five-cent piece and three pen
MES. He knew that it would be folly
to attempt to enter the hotel. so he
started along the north side of the
square in search of a saloon He did
not have to go far. A gayly illumined
place, which went by the name of
The Keneseo," soon caught his eye.
Two men, whom he had not noted in
his first survey of the square, were
lounging upon opposite sides of the
door.
cit that yer las chaw O. terbaccer
we've got in yer face, Bill?' demanded
one of the other as Rossiter ap-
preached.
He had heard it before among men
of the class to which these loafers
belonged, the class to whose level,
or lower, he himself had sunk, but it
now carried with it an unwonted re-
proach. 1t revealed to him with pain
full vivldness his own position in the
world, and he cursed the fate that
had caused him to leave the freight
train. 1llica was potent in rousing
the unwelcome spectre of the past, in
stirring memories that he had fancied
dead or so somnolent that they would
never waken TO plague him, in
kindling longings that he had for
many day resolutely banished.
AS Rossiter drew near, and it be-
came evident that he was seeking the
saloon, the two loungers stepped back
to allow him to enter, scanning him
with ieering curiosity as he walked
toward the bar. With one hand he
tossed his little bundle of clothes
upon the polished slab behind which,
in trousers and gauze undershirt, a
close-cropped, red-faced Irish-Amer
lean was standing, and with the other
cast down his last precious nickel.
"a glass of beer, for Heavens
sake!" said he.
The saloon-keeper shot an amused
glance at him, seized a beer mug.
turned "a spigot, held the mug
up, eyeirg it's contents critically,
blew off the foam, put it beneath
the tap again, and then placed &c be-
fore Rossiter with flourish.
Still hottern'n 'ell!" he remarked.
Rossiter answered with little nod
of assent, and then gave himself over
to the luxury of the beaded draught.
No bottle of wine quaffed in his
primrose days had ever afforded him
quite the satisfaction he experienced
from that plebeian beer He put
the mug down with sigh.
Have another?" asked the saloon
keeper.
Rossiter smiled regretfully and
produced his three remaining pen
MES, climbing them in his hand.
Guess not" he answered.
ooh, WELL" said the man behind the
bar good-naturedly, Il see you're
ruther down on yer luck. I'll STAN
treat. They's some crackers over
there" he added, pointing to a nicked
dish that stood upon a table on the
opposite side of the room.
Rossiter helped himself to a gener-
Gus handful, and, returning, took up
his Drumming mug that was awaiting
him.