The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-03-12


brandy. Remembering these occasion
al ferocious desires. he had become
charitable to such unfortunate> as were
too weak to Withstand similar tempta-
tions.
Now with a shor', he caught himself
in the grip OF thirst as insiStent as
though the cold bore down and the
WEAKNESS Of endless heavy miles wrap
ped him about. 1t was no foolish wish
to drown his thoughts or to Danish
the grief that preyed upon him. but
only thirst. thirst-a crying. trembling.
physical lust to quench the Rres that
burned inside. lie remembered that
1t had been more than year since
he hal tasted whisky Now the fever
OF tae past few hours had parched his
every tissue.
AS he elbowed in through the crowd
at the Northern those next him made
room at the bar. for they recognized
the hunger that peers thus from mems
faces. Their manner recalled Glenis-
ter to his senses, and he wrenched
himself away. This was not some soil
tary, snow banked roadhouse. He
would not stand and soak himself
shoulder to shoulder with steyedores
and longshoremen. This was some
thing to be done in secret. He had
no pride in 1t. The man on his right
raised a glass. and the young man
strangled a madness to tear it from his
hands. Instead. he hurried back to
the theater and Up to box. where he
drew the curtains.
whisky he said thickly to the
waiter. Bring 1t to me fast. Don't
you hear? WHISKY"
Across the theater Cherry Malotte
had seen him enter and jerk the cur
tains tccether She arose and went to
him. entering without ceremony.
whats the matter, boyT she ques-
toned.
An. I'm glad you came. Talk to
me-" snr
Thank you for your few we'll chosen
remarks" she laughed. "Why don't
you ask me to spring some good, origi-
nal jokes? You look like the finish to
six day sp-as-y0u-please' What's
up?"
She talked to him for moment until
the waiter entered. Then. when she
saw what he bore. she snatched the
glass from the tray and poured the
whisky on the floor. Glenister was on
his feet and had her by the wrist.
"What do you mean" he said rough
ly.
Tts whisky, boy" she cried. "and
you don't drink"
"Of course It's whisky! Bring me an
otherw he shouted at the attendant.
"What's the matter" Cherry insist
ed. 'I never saw you act 80. You
know you don't drink. I won't let you.
It's booze-booze, tell you, At for fools
and brawlers. Don't drink It. Roy.
Are you in trouble"
81 say I'm thirsty-and will have It!
How do you know what 1t Is to smolder
inside and feel your veins burn dry"
Tts something about that girl" the
woman said. with quiet conviction.
"She's double crossed you"
"Well, so she has, but what of Il?
I'm thirsty. She's going to marry Nc.
Namara. I've been fool" He ground
his teeth and reached for the drink
htnh ha hn1
Mcnamara is a crook, but he's a
man, and he never drank drop in his
life" The girl said it casually. evenly.
but the other stopped the glass half.
way to his lips.
"Well, what Of It? Go on. You're
good at w. c. T. U. talk. Virtue be-
comes you"
She flushed. but continued: 1T simply
occurred to me that II you aren't strong
enough to handle your own throat,
you're not strong enough to beat man
who has mastered his"
Glenister looked at the whisky a mo-
ment, then set 1t back on the tray.
Bring two lemonades," he said, and
with a laugh which was half a sob
Cherry Malotte leaned forward and
kissed him.
You're too good man to drink.
Now, tell me all about It,"
"Oh, it's too long! I've just learned
that the girl is in, hand and glove,
with the Judge and McNamara-that's
all. She's an advance agent-thelr
lookout. She brought in their instruc-
tions to Struve and persuaded Dex and
me to let them jump our claim. She
got us to trust in the law and in her
uncle. Yes. she hypnotized my prop
erty out of me and gave it to her lover,
this ward politician. Oh, she's smooth,
with all her innocence! Why, when
she smiles, she makes you glad and
good and warm, and her eyes are as
honest and clear as a mountain pool,
but she's wrong-she's wrong-and-
great God! how love her" He drop
ped his face into his hands.
When she had pleaded with him for
himself a moment before Cherry Ma
lotte was genuine and girlish. but now
as he spoke thus Of the other woman
change came over her which he was too