Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-28
Question of POlitenesS

glasses and bottles Claude managed to break
the neck of his soda, and split about half OF it
on TO the floor. However, he poured the rest
into the glass and drank it off at gulp.,
As he drained the glass he suddenly started,
How very odd" he said "Jack did you put
any ice into my whisky
Jack looked up.
"Ice? No"
Claude held the tumbler up to the light. There
were two or three small fragments OF glass at
the bottom of it.
"Ive done an extraordinarily stupid thing, =
he said. "I've swallowed a chunk of glass. Is
it very indigestble?"'
Jack jumped out Of his chair.
Swallowed piece of gass| he asked.
Claude are you sure?'
0Wcll, it was something hard, and it wasn't
ice. and there is some more of it in the tumber.
But don't look like the Tragic Muse, What shall
/ do? Glass cannot be very wholesome.
| Jack looked at his watch.
! eve can catch the last train back" he said.
''You must come up to London tonight"
] "And see doctor?"
eyes, Of course knew man-oh, my
Cod"
Claude got up too.
''Is it as bad as that?1 he asked "Yes, sup
pose it might play the deuce with ones inside
But you needn't come IL wonld De absurd ior
you to come too"
"Nonsensel couldn't possibly stop here"
| Claude turned to the window and looked out
! The basket chairs where they had been sitting a
quarter of an hour before had been moved IN,
and the moon had risen a little higher. Other
wise everything was pitilessly unchanged. For a
moment he felt angry and horribly helpless
WHY should splinter from soda-water bottle
wretched accident Of this kind be allowed to
enter into the issues of life and death?
Jack touched him on the shoulder
"Come, Claude, we mustn't miss the train"
"No: I'm ready But isn't it odd we should
have been talking about these things just before
this happened? Tell me what you We're golne
70 say Just now--that man you knew
81 can't talk Of it. Come"
Two days later Claude lay dying They had
gone at once to great doctor, who mad toic
him there was nothing to be done Ii ne died
he died quickly but terribly; If he lived, he
lived And he lay dying. They had gwen hin
as much morphia as they dare, but there were
intervals in which he was conscious. He coulo
not bear the weight Of the bedelothes Or OF the
useleas poultices and on the third morning h'
Law lust covered with sheet. Under the IN
Auence of the drugs he had gone on into DIS
turbed sleep about four that morning, ant
when Jack came back at eight ne was SUI
sleepinr But soon after he began TO tidget anc
grow restless, and when the doctor came he wai
awake. M
] The main was almost insupportable, and hi
face was growing very white and worn, Wher
the doctor saw him, he looked up at Jack, wh'
was standing on the other side of the bed, anC
shook his head.
Jack understood at once, and without hesita
ton knelt down at Claudes side.
oClaude old boy." he said "it is nearly over
You viii not be ia pain much longer. Is Their
anything you want doner
: Claude smiled. Even in the midst OF his rend
inc pain he was his old courteous self.
: NThanks, Jack; there is one thing. All
J His face contracted with a fresh spasm Of pam
cone thing" he continued my mother vii
be less wretched if she hears there has been