The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-08-31
= = - 7."-.@- =. - e - 2
Brethren !. Of the !
Burning Thirst
By OWEN KILDARE

copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)

We were in Nick's, on Bayard street.
Those who know the least about it or
it's like, would call it Glow drinking
Elace," or common resort"
"Nick's Dead House," and "The
Morgue" were our names for the
place-and we knew it pretty we'll.
We were there, not because we had
any clubable desires, but because We
had to be there. There were fires Within
us, and wherever the most for the
least was given, there we-and all the
brethren of the burning thirst-could
be found.
We were not old acquaintance. For
the last two hours we had been neigh
bors in the lodging house, occupying
adjoining hunks. The common motive
made us meet in Nick's, and, as GUS
tomary among the sodden, we sat to-
gether to travel jointly into forgetful-
ness
Receiving our ''tubs'' from the
greasy bartender, we chose table near
the door.
We drank our first cub in silence
Ordering another, our finances were
examined. The prospect was horrible
only the price of one more.
We drank slowly and smoked, and
then the other spoke.
II don't mind carrying the banner
and walking the streets for a night.
il it wasn't for the things fellow
thinks about, tramping from one END
of the town to the other"
knew he was about to tell mo
few chapters from his life, and, not
wishing to encourage him too much
for we all have troubles of our own
l made no reply.
"Only to think that less than two
years ago l didn't know there were
such places and such stuff as this" he
continued. "And now I'm kicking be-
cause l can't get enough of it. It's
ferce!"
Are you only two years on the
Eum?" asked, Stimulating interest
That's all, and don't you think it's
long enough to be carrying the ban
ner, or sleeping in them ten-cent
hunks, and getting your chuck either
In five-cent beanery or at some base
ment door? And nothing to drink only
'tubs?"
"Well, if you feel that bad about it,
why don't you quit being on the bum?"
Eyes, why don't l? Why don't you
or any of u.s." he sneered. ''None OF
US knows what it is, but once we get
down this far, something goes out o.
you, and you're stuck for good. And
then they boiler: It's drink, the de-
mon of rum that's the cause of it,
''Well, if it amt rum, what is the
cause of it,"
Then knew that he intended to tell
me his story.
He half-carried the club" to his lips,
but put it down again, and stared at
some flies, flirting with a pool of the
stuff in the center of the table, j
II was making good wages, and
thought I'd get married. One day,
three years later, got caught in the
belt of my machine and this old arm
q mine got twisted out O. joint" He
held up his palsied limb with a move
ment typical of mendicants. ''Some o
them wanted me to sue the company;
but the super came round to see me,
and, when I got we'll again, he gave
me job as night Waterman. There
was less money in that than working
at the bench, but it was easy, and
had mostly all day to myself"
nodded comprehendingly.
well, everything was lovely till the
wife began to kick about having less
money to keep the house than when
I was at the machine, and the first
thing knew, we had boarder, fel-
low that was working over at the shop.
It's a funny game, this keeping board
ers.'
What do you mean?"
II don't know how smart you are, -
he remarked, somewhat disdainfully,
"but guess you'll understand this all
right. One night had a worse touch
Of the rheumatic than ever before, and
the super, happening to be still in the
Office, put man in my place and let
me go home" The mask of indiffer-
ence fell, and the f1end was disclosed.
"And they didn't expect me at home!"
He almost emptied his glass.
What did you-?''
Il had the rheumatic, he didn't, and
he got away before could choke him
like a rat. l wanted to kill him and
her, but she, too, got away on me be-
fore but, wait"
The last drops of the beer were fairly
sucked from the bottom of the tub
Then everything went to the dogs
l. didn't care what happened, and
Ever seen either of them again.
"No, and her I don't want to see
again-what's the use?' he spoke,
growlingly. "And him-him?-I been
following that hound all these
years. Wherever heard he was, ]
went. l tramped and begged from
town to town, and sometimes was so
close to him that I only missed him by
few hours. And now I been hang
ing round here, because ]. know he's
here and s0rlnor or 1ofar Tsn nooo+