The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-06-17
THE TALE OF A HOT DAY.

Aig'3o HSi ioiu oii iSlt LpiuF, Sdll ~ III
the afternoon the thermometer said
that the mercury had got perllously
near the ninetles. AS he contrasted
the inviting porch on which he stood
with the sizzling asphalt that lay be.
tween him and the street car he first
groaned and then cast grave asper.
sions upon the veracity Of the Their
mometer. lit hadn't been a case Of
necessity he would have staid where
he was, but he could not.
He caught a summer car after but
a moments wait and as the side draft
swept over him he found his bad tenn.
per slipping away. BY the time he
reached his Office he was quite Sc.
rene ami it was only after he found
that he would have TO so out and look
up a number Of people that the mem.
Dry of the porch rose up to haunt
him again, Within ar hour 1t had
become something very like night:
mare. IL
1t was about $3.50 O'clock that Cor.
don stepped under the arches of City
liall to pass damp and greasy hand
kerchief across his brow. He had
done the same thing at least 40 times
in as many minutes after he trudged
reluctantly from the office and he felt
as though his pores would never get
back to their normal condition again.
His nostris were full of dust, his col.
lar was collapsing about his neck, his
feet burned and his shirt was begin.
ring to cling exasperatingly to his
back. To make 1t all more annoying
he had missed every man on whom
he had called, and he had next to
climb the hump, He would have
given odds of 20 to, / that after he did
so it would only be to face another
disappointment and have to come
back down again.
AT this psychological moment there
came to his side friend with a sug.
gestlon.
Fierce, isn't lt?' said the friend.
! What would YOU say to big glass
|-all sweaty on the outside-of but.
termilk? know a spot where they
keep 1t buried so deep in the ice it
takes them three minutes to get down
TO 1t. All in favor will please signify
their assent by saying 'Aye!'
For one brief instant Gordon could
mot find his voice. For two hours he
had yearned for drink, yet he had
not dared to yield. He had thought
of a round dozen different things that
would have been more delightful
than nectar, but he had thought, too,
of the consequences when he went
out into the streets again. 1t had
been hard fight and more than once
! he had snatched victory from the
2 burning just in the nick O time.
But buttermllk! Visions Of no
summers on the farm, of weary jour
: neys across glazing fields, or rare de
scents into the paradise of the spring
/ house and then of intoxicating
}. draughts frcm crooks that were not t
i be exchanged for priceless crysta
$ rose to torment him, and he laid ,
3 shoulder before he could speak.
e Get me to 1t the shortest way, a
n you love mel" he said hoarsely, an,
: together they departed joyously. l
e was only block away, but to Coz
l. don it was like the quest for mirag
e across maddening sands tina
Is stretched more Unfortunately wit
IS every step. But at last they passe
between the wicker doors beyon
which lay the treasure.
at AS Gordon Quaffed he marveled q
,e the moderation with which his frien
r. had spoken. Such draft as that /
lie which he had buried his face was nc
81 lightly TO be esteemed. Already b
~ could feel the dust and CRIME leavin
i: him. His skin seemed to be gettin
I'd cooler SO rapidly that he half feare
,e something might happen. His bloc
IL was quieting down and ne wouldn
y have cared, very much II the mercur
" had climbed TO $780, Such buttermil
al deserved to be deferred to.
ne That was why he ordered more Ii
ee mediately. He drank his secor
>" glass even more slowly and Apr
at ciatively than he had the first.
ed was SO good that It ought to be d;
ey lied over, he thought, like RAJ
m vintage whose bouquet was its chic
us est beauty. When he smacked b
lips for the last time he set out wi
springy step to go about his bushes
he In the very first office he visited