Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-17

compelled to visit Long Beach just at
time when you really need little
drink to pull yourself together. isn't itY
inquired dolefully. 'This is the morn
ing after the night before with me, and
understand that until you know the
ropes this burg is drier than the Pyra-
mids of the Sahara"
Nothing like it, was his reply.
Nothing in the world easier than to get
most anything you want here. That
dry Is huge joke. 1 wish 1 could get
off the car and I'd be glad to fix 1t for
YOU. I'll do the best I can, though, and
show you where to make a try. Maybe
you can get it without my help. it isn't
so hard. It's right opposite the Salt
Lake depot"
Meets Cruel Throw Down
I tried. but, oh such fall down. In
response to my request for morning
after pick-me-up," the hard hearted
land cautious) proprietor of the
cigar d-soda-fountain resort mixed
ard handed to me a bromo seltzer!
BEST thing in the world for you. young
man." was his admonition, nor did my
arguments swerve him from the stand
Subsequently l learned that quiet tip
had been passed round by the wise
ones that the prohbitionists were send
ing some sleuths around to secure evil
dence for proposed raids"
1 wandered for an hour or two, just
trying to get my bearings and gain an
idea of the most likely looking thirst
quenchng resorts. visited several places
which l thought bore the earmarks, and
it was well along in the afternoon when,
taking counsel pf my rebuffs and the
whispered information of a chance ac-
quaintance, wandered into Prittie's drug
store and confided my need of a drink
to the clerk on duty.
IT want a drink of whisky" was my
opening remark, qualified by, 'and want
it bad" (That's the way 1 got it, even
tually, it was very bad)
"Have you got prescription queried
the clerk.
Prescription nothing! 1 didn't have
any prescription the last time I got
drink in here and l don't see why.I need
1t now. Bob Haskell, brakeman. was
with me, and we got what we wanted"
Gets His Drink
"Haskell?" 1 nodded. II don't know
any such man." continued the clerk. you
see have to be mighty careful who I sell
whisky to without prescription, or we'd
be behind the bars here all the time"
A woman entered the store at this juno
ture and he concluded by saying: Here's
a lady now, and so 1 couldn't serve you
anyhow"
/ took heart at that now" and deter
mined to wait.
Evidently the newcomer was no stranger
70 the clerk for he went over to the
little cozy corner waiting room whittier
she had gone after looking curiously at
me, and seated himself beside her. The
conversation lasted probably three or 'ur
minutes and at Its conclusion the cle.z
retired behind the prescription case tax
ing with him as he passed the soda coun-
ter two glasses.
7 heard a little 'gurgle, gurgle" from
behind the case, and the man presently
returned to the soda fountain. Placing
the two glasses he had brought with him
in the little cup-like glass standards he
filled one of them with soda and passed IL
over to me without word The other ne
took to the woman who was still Wali'l5
By the reflection on the window and the
mirror I saw her take the glass from the
holder as he offered it to her, look at the
quantity of whisky it contained, and then
toss it off, straight" and withou
"chaser." 1 know what she had was
whisky, for later 1 sampled the drop OF
two left in the bottom of her glass when
ii was returned to the soda fountain
Trade Grows Brisk
She had barely finished drinking and dJ-
parted when man dressed as mechanic
entered and with a nod to the clerR
Iassed along to the rear counter. There
he removed an empty beer bottle from his
pocket, passed it cautiously to the clerk,
who retired behind the shelves for q mo-
II, ent, to return presently with full bot
tie. The necessary cash transaction took
place, and concealing his purchase under
his coat in a rear pocket, the visitor took
his leave So far as I could hear not
word was exchanged during the trans
actien.
Entered next a young woman to tele-
phone. Also she was friend of the clerk,
and judged from the conversation which
took place, of the proprietor as we'll
She finished her telephoning shortly
and then the clerk brought out some
thing to her in a glass which suspect
was whisky, although I didn't have a
chance to find out absolutely. She drank
it and them in spite of the clerks don't
hurry" said she had to meet friend.
and departed, with the promise to return
later.
During the little lull that followed the
clerk and gossiped on various subjects
and l secured another drink. Just as
he was serving it for me a coored wo-
man carrying a sack which bulged and
cllnked enough to advertise it's contents
as empty bottles walked into the store
and to the same rear counter from