Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-15

sidewalk / soon managed to steer the
conversation to the topic of stimulants
and intimate that I was really ''in need
| of a good drink"
"Bili" Is Life Saver
NOW / suppose I'm the only man IN
all this town who'd be of the least use to
you this morning" said "BilI' once he
was apprised of my requirements.
you just come with me-"
Up an alleyway he led me, and into
shed in the rear of one of the stores.
Here" quoth Ito myself, lis where
unearth a really truly blind pig" but
1 was doomed to disappointment, for 1t
was only a fellow-beings generosity and
a pocket flask OF decidedly goodish
whisky--if that fluid is ever good
which rewarded my unquestioping obe-
dience of "Bill's' directions.
That's pretty good stuff" said he.
fishing the bottle out of his pocket. II
got it over to Lawss CLOS Angeles) last
night, just thinkin' in the morning I'd
need it. So, you see, I've saved your
life, as well as mine,' and with benign
smile he passed 1t over.
1t was dark in the shed and the bottle
was still good half full so, fortunately,
1 wasn't obliged to drink of the spirits,
although I kept the flask to my lips SO
long that bill, gently reminded me OF
his presence lest l entirely deplete the
supply.
you know 1 can't get any in this
mans town." he offered apologetically,
land I do want one more drink before
it's all gone
Tries the Trueloves
I hastened to disclaim any gluttonous
intentions and returned his property with
due thanks. He helped himself and we
returned to the street, he to his work, u
as he said, and l to continue my search.
"Give dog a bad name and 1t will
stick to him.. So because the Truelove
boys had at one time been accused (they
were never convicted and many thought
the accusation wrongfuD of selling whis-
ky at their ice cream and candy store
on Greenleaf street ! thought, after ]
had lunched, 1 would visit them and
see what an hour of lounging on their
comfortable settees would disclose 10 me
Accordingly after an appetizing lunch
con at one of the restaurants l dropped
casually in on the Trueloves (there was
only one of them there at the time)
purchased a package of tobacco and
seated myself as restfully as possible
on the big. high-backed settee which
faces the cigar counter and soda foun-
tain.
Perched on one of the stools at the
soda counter was a street car conductor
engaged in consuming an ice cream soda
concoction. Some friend of the proprie-
tor-clerk was dividing his time between
the morning paper and the discussion
of local events with that functionary
and my advent caused no comment
I rolled a cigarette and lighting II
lazily started to glance through mag
azlne The other loungers departed
shortly, and to cover the lapse / walked
over to the stool vacated by the carman
and ordered root beer. While 1 was
slipping it one of the Localities dropped in
to show his friend "Bilr' <(that's what
he called him, anyhow, although he
wasn't the "BilT" mentioned earlier In
this story some souvenir postals re-
ceived through the mail that day
They were of the comic persuasion
and was allowed to look at them and
join in the laugh they caused. The sub.
jects of the cards suggested a more per-
sonal inc Of talk, and we laughed and
chatted long enough for me to "jusi
miss" a car to town.
Then the prevailing price of barley
came up for discussion and continued as
the topic of conversation for possibly a
half hour. Transient customers to the
number of half dozen or more came
in, purchased cigars, candy or soda, as
their needs dictated, and departed.
The question of liquor crept into the
conversation and 1t was carefully ex-
planned to me (and In manner enforcing