The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-25
A WRECKED
FRIENDSHIP

me from my friends" or words to that
effect, most likely had an experience
similar to his own.
1t being pay day, Parker made a
bet on the races. Strange to relate,
his horse won. Then, to properly
celebrate, he betook himself to re-
sort where the clink of the cut glass
was music to his ear, and the odor of
the cut lemon refreshing to his nos
trils. He had half dozen or more
pleasant prescriptions compounded by
the man behind the bar and made sew
eral very congenial acquaintances,
owing to the liberal manner in which
he insisted on paying for all drinks.
He told several funny stories, which
were received with applause, and was
voted thorough good fellow" by all.
He was enjoying himself hugely and
all the world looked bright. Then
came the cloud on his horizon. This
cloud was Bayless.
Parker was just in the act of order
ing up another round when Bayless
took in the situation and came over
to the bar. In answer to Parkers in
vitation as to what it would be, he
said he would take good cigar" and
being rendered one of the best in the
house, he put 1t in his pocket for fu-
ture reference. When the drinks had
been disposed Of and Parker exposed
his roll of bills in paying the check,
| Bayless, with the license of friend,
| remarked: Here, let me take care
/ of that for you until tomorrow. Don't
think you are going to relieve the
/ financial panic just because you got
paid off to-day" And Parker in his
maudin innocence, turned it over to
/ him. Bayless soon departed, saying
to Parker as he left that he would get
his money back when he got good and
sober and not before.
A cloud passed over the faces of his
new found friends as they saw Bayless
and the money disappear. do you
know that guy?' one of them in
quired of Parker The latter replied
that he had a boarding house &C.
quantance with him. We'll, take it
from me-" replied the other, there's
nothin' in this thing of lettin' other
people take care of your coin for you.
The guy may be on the square, but
it is the one best bet that he makes
you beg to get your roll back"
Parker noticed that the manner of
his newly made friends had become
less respectful, now that the money
was gone He tried to tell a story
but no one would listen to him. His
popularity had waned. He inwardly
cursed himself and cursed Bayless
and sorrowfully he made his way un
steadily to his car
The next morning he felt decidedly
seedy. He needed many things, ex
ternally and internally, and he figura
! lively champed his bit as he though
Of how Bayless had persuaded him t.
give him his money! He found II
cents in his clothes and delberateC
for some time as to whether to inves
it in a shave or a drink, but the drinl
got the decision. Then he wen
around and raped up Bayless.
Bayless came out looking clear-eyet
and healthy to an extent that was ir
ritatng to Parker in his nervous fraz
zled-out condition. "Say, old man
I'm certainly much obliged to you fo
taking care of that roll for me las
night. AS ! want to get Turkish
bath and shave and a general over
hauling thought I'd come around an,
look you up" said Parker in rather al
apologize tone, and despising himsel
meanwhile. Bayless had caught tn
oodr of the alcohol, however, and a
he noted Parker.s nervous, uneas.
manner, assumed a belligerent att
tude. 81 should think man lik
4 you, Parker, would have better sens
j than to be throwing your none
around like that" he said to him, So
Y verely.
4 "Well, l don't often get that wa,
4 you know" replied Parker, humbl!
feeling obliged to take this attitud,
q as Bayless had as yet made no NOV
= toward returning him his money. ~
q just take that money Of mine nov
Z plea~e," he continued. "No, yo
4 won't" said Bayless, with patroni
\ ing air. IF l gave you this none
4 you'd go right off and get tanked i
4 again. I'll wait few days and So
n how you behave, then If you are goc
Z maybe III let you have it,"
B Parker was raging inwardly, but /
d tried to be calm and diplomatic. +
u explained to Bayless as calmly as
could that he needed few things
] the druggists for his nerves, Turks
x bath and a general going-over by Il
Il barber to get himself around into
n normal state again, but Bayless on
y laughed at him. In doing so
n reached Parker's limit, and the latt
A made one jump for him and seiz'
II him by the collar. "See here, Ba
d less" he said, I've had enough
q this farce. You've got bundle
81 my money, and if you don't dig 1t
right away I'll find way to make "