The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-03-01

- in which Wallace Green had
taken his room is the city Hall
Park.
Paying no attention TO the direction
ne was taking. Green reached the park
before the fumes Of the liquor ne Aad
drunk began 10 take their Iuu effect.
And then, instead OF the desire lor
activity, came d lassltude SO intense
that the mere idea OF taking another
step was wearylnS. he sank down
gratefully upon the hrst empty DencL.
he could find, needless Of the TACT that
the slanting rays OF the warm after
noon sun was shining fun upon H.
For awhile he experienced a certain
comfortable pleasure IN watching lhe
doubled images OF the people hurryln
by. Then came a lOnglnE for sleep
against which he struggled teebly Tor
a little before II overcame MN COM
pleJely- ALL.
shaking his shoulder. For IN instant
he was inclined 10 resent this, but the
blue uniform OF a policeman doomed
above him, and he rose UnsteadlIy TO
fWhassher m-matter,'' he heard him
SELF asking in strange. thick voice;
Come, old man, the officer spoke
not quite so harshly a. ne would nave
done 10 less respectfully C4aC ineprlsile
1t amt safe for you TO be sleeping
here. II you don't move on III nave 10
take you over 10 the station
Wallace stumbled and nearly Tell as
he tried 70 step away Then he eNer-
ciSed a little more Of his enfeebled Will
power and managed 70 place one foot
before the other IN the general dLec-
tlon OF the Brooklyn bridge.
He discovered that his head was
aching furiously His whole mouth
seemed sore and swollen. A thirst
such as he had never known before
burned within him. His race was
smarting with heat as though a flame
had sCOTChed II.
a drinking fountain stood in the cen
ter of a small circle OF asphalt sur
rounded by benches. He turned his un-
Wieldly steps toward II and hurried az
fast as he could work his feet
An Italian woman was giving her
child a drink from one Of the tWo cups
that were chained to the fountain. The
other was just being laid down by a
man so utterly ugly Of appearance 50
completely filthy OF dress and person
that, half drunk as he was, Wallace
elected 10 wait for the child 10 finish.
When, at last, he secured the cup he
preferred he drank IL empty again and
again. II seemed as though he could
never get enough
He was just uIling the galvanized dip
per for the fourth time wlen his Keeling
senses made him aware that the ugly,
filthy individual was cycling MIN with
some interest
wei, what do You want?'' he menaJ
10 say distinctly His tongue trlpped
still thickly over the words, but the
other shufhed uneasily 10 one side.
Wallace empued the cup again At
last he seemed temporarily satisfied. he
turned away and almost ran into the
man who had been watching him so as
TO arouse his ire moment since.
Excuse me, mister the man whined
COntemptibly. Would YOU gimme a
dime fur a drink. I amt had a drop
nor a bite-fur two days"
Green tried 10 focus his eyes upon the
ugly red ones that turned even from
his unsteady gaze. His first impulse
was to kick the hideOus wreck OF fallen
manhood 10 one side. Then q more
generous, if quite maUdlin. sentiment
sent his hand into his pocket for the re-
queSted change.
Before his fumbling fingers could grasp
the elusive coins. his mood had veered
sgan- He felt a drunken, UureasOning
curiosity about the beEger. He wanted
u talk 10 him.
''D-dOwn on your back, eh2' he man
aged TO speak iutelllgibly.
The tramp seeming a pOsSObIy larger
generosity than he had at first expected,
began Immediately a well arranged tale
OF hard luck which he thought would
suit his hearer-
Blinkingly Wallace watched the man
and tried 20 keep mental track Of the
words he spoke He had a vague be-
lief that he was being made a con-
fidant. It seemed TO him that he ought
to give confidence in return.
MY names Green-WaIlace Green, 90
he told the stranger in that difficult
articulation which sounded so far of
and unnatural to him.
My names the beggar began.
Mono. I guess that isn't quite
right Green's memory struggled with
new thought. ''NO-my real names
Meade-Wallace Meade I nights well
own up 10 it. What's the use Of hiding
il now?"
Sure, that's right" the ugly. eves. or
the tramp forced themselves into what
was meant for an inCratiating smile.
Its funny, though mister. but nv
I didn't know anything about the
name-Until the wedding I thought il
was just the same as II always was m
TIL found out it was Meade" Wal
lace finished his inCOhcrent speech with
a glance to see how his newly dfscov-
cred COnfidant was taking the news.
You say your name Is NeadeP' the
grimy man asked as though il were a
matter that interested him
That's it-Meade,' Wallace nodded
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Meade"
"Gee-it looks like we must be Soma
relashun," the begEar spoke eagerly
now. Your name an my real one is
just the same. My name is Hollis
Meade, too"