The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-01-30


lister peered. His struggles lcssened.
his chin sagged. and Ms tongue pro
trudcd, then he sat loose Nnd still. The
politician flung him out (to the room
so that he fell Imply upSn his face,
then stood watching him. Einally, Me
Namara passed out Of the\ watchers
vision. returning with n watAr bucket.
With his foot he rolled the unconscious
wretch upon his back. then drenched
him. Replacing the pail, he seated
himself, lit a cigar and watched the
return of life into his victim. He
made no move. even 70 drag him from
the pool in which he lay.
Strive groaned and shuddered, twist
ed to his side. and at last sat UP weak
ly. In his eyes there was now a great
terror. while in place Of his drunken
ness was only fear and faintness- alb
ject fear of the great bulk that sat and
smoked and stared AZ hin so fishily
He felt uncertainty Of his throat and
groaned again.
why did you do that?' he wills
pered, but the other made no sign. He
tried to rise. but his knees relaxed.
He staggered and fell At last he
gained his feet and made for the door
Then. when his hand was on the knob.
Mcnamara spoke through his teeth,
without removing his cigar.
Don't ever talk about her again.
She Is going to marry me-"
When he was alone. he looked curl
ously up at the ceiling over his head.
THE rats are thick I'm this shack" he
unused. Seems 10 me heard n whole
swarm OF them"
A few moments later a figure crept
through the hole in the roof OF the
house next door and thence down into
the street. A block ahead was the
slow moving form OF Attorney Strive.
Had a. stranger met them both he
would not have known which Of the
\ two had felt at his throat he clutch OF
n stranger, for each was drawn and
haggard and swayed as be went.
Glenister unconsciously turned to
ward his cabin, but AT leaving the
lighted streets the thought OF its dark
| ness and silence made him shudder
| Not nowl He could not bear that still.
ness and the company of his thoughts.
He dared not be alone. Dextry would
he downtown undoubtedly. and he. too
must get into the Hight and turmoil.
He licked his lips and found that they
were cracked and dry.
At rare intervals during the past
years ne had staggered IN from a long
march where for hours he had wngel a
bitter war with cold and hunger. $
limbs clumsy with fatigue his gar
ments wet and stiff. his mind slack and
| sullen. At such extreme seasons he
had felt a consuming thirst. n thirst
which burned and scorched until his
very bones cried out feverishly- not
a thirst for water or a thirst which
eaten snow could quench. but saw
age yearning OF his whole exhausted
system for some stimulant. for some
coursing fiery fuld that would burn
and strange. n thirst for whisky. foI
brandy. Remembering these occasion
al feroclous desires. he had become
charitable TO such unfOrtunates as Were
too weak 20 withstand similar tempta.
tions.
Now with shock 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. II was no foolish wish
10 drown his thoughts or % Danish
the grief that preycd upon him. but
only thirst. thirst-a crying. trembling
physical lust 10 quench the fires that
burned inside. lie remembered that
1t had been more than year since
he had tasted whisky. Now the fever
Of the past few hours had parched his
every tissue.
AS he elbcwcd 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 Gleuis-
ter 20 his senses. and he wrenched
himself away. This was not some soil
tary. snow banked roadhousc. lie
would not stand aud soak himself
shoulder TO shoulder with stevedores
and longshoremen. This was some
thing 20 he done in secret lie had
no pride I'm It, The man on HIS riCht
raised a glass. and the young man
strancled madness 10 tear It from his
hands Instead, he hurried back 10
the theater and up TO box. where he
drew the curtains.
whisky" he said thickly 20 the
waiter Bring It TO me fast Don't
you hear1 whisky"
Across the theater Cherry Malotte
had seen him enter and Jerk the cur
tains together. She arose and went TO
him. entering without ceremony.
whats the matter, boy?" she ques-
toned.
"Ah. I'm glad you came. Talk to
me-"
"r'hank you for your few well chosen
remarks" rhe laughed. "Why don't
you ask me TO spring some good, origi-
nal jokes? You look like the finish 10
six day go-as-you-please. What's
upf"
She talked TO him for moment until
the waiter entered. Then, when she
taw 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