The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-13
By Louis Joseph Vance
Copyright
Frank A MuHssy
Company.
" The Black Book, - The Brass Bowl

; through the paper solss Of my shoes
l AMI made movement a necessity
r'he clock in the Jefferson Market
I tosver indicated about 2 Of the after
noon. and / would eat
The world owed me a living or that
! debt at least, II should pay one meal
! on account.
1 without a cent in my pockets. turn
J d 59p side street entered a restaurant,
I w here had been known, and ordered
/ the most expensive meal that the bill
1t was served and ate-gorged my
/ self 10 TepletGOu-
/ There were few other patrons at The
! tables. although the place was resort
/ weu-known to newspaper men. artists.
and their TX
Indeed, / would not have gone there
I at the regular dinner hour, for then
knew thar ] would have met some one
who might recognize me
AS ii was, ] counted on being undis-
tuTbeds even as I counted on my ICru1er
/ reputation as a paying guest 10 weigh
against my shabbiness, and procure me
/ the meal
! Afterwards, If the cashier would not
take ny. word TO pay az some indefinite
! time when my fortunes should have
! mended, / would reconcile myself 10 be-
I ing taken 20 spend the night at the JEFF
feTson market police station, nor did
4 / care, so long as I went with fun
/ stomach
So low. YOU see. 7 had sunk that I
was ready and willing 10 abuse the con-
( fdeuce Of my fellow men
And that 4 did To all intents and
purposes. / stole that dinner-and most
lexcellenJ one 81 was, too
u I fingered over IL. winding UP with a
! big black cigar OF q brand 70 which
/ was partial-Or had been once-tO-
Cether with Cofee and Cognac-
fanCled that my waiter was suspl-
cious- ] had noticed superciiious
sheer on his lips as he took IN my
patched and worn attire, and now ne
nOvered about me ever with an obse-
. iqulcuSneSs that was eXaSperating-
] had thought Indeed that ] N shi
slip ouI into The street and run fIT il
; while his back was turned but i
seemed that ] must bide my tine fol
that
I called FOR more coffee and another
cigar The waiter left the room
Ncw was my opportunity ] haH
rose rom my chair. giancing around
p Il was then that my luck changed
% II was then. while I contemplated
crlEne-nay, was IN active coTnrlissio Tor
{ Of the same-that the tide turned
( faraday came I'D behind ne, sOftl
treadlnE, and put his hand lightly o.
= my shoulder with a.
u be- vour pardon, sir, but
% sank into my seat and faced him
He was q very young man. 7 though
p Say OF one or three and twenty years
tail 1.-THE. weii-builJ, si1ewE- dark O
r skin, with dark eyes that barely IS
10 / capped being totally black. a heavy IN
8 Eemp- name of hair thrown back from
his forehead
s He wore, go emphasize the gloom o
o. ! his appearance, thick blue glasses
70 goggles % tighten IT, a most enEaEiul
z ! smile, and manners that were the Per
= fgrtIDn GF r0urreSv-
! He had been dining 2 table or wv
IN the rear Of mine Little enough at
, 1eEtioI had I given him 10 tell N
: truth, being wholly occupied with m
own affairs desDicable as they were.
RnIa0SInc from my monetary star
j, Of apprehension, 7 surveyed him dts
IiuteTestedIv. too TetharEic to give hin
more than a slight nod for reply
IFS next remark. however. was o.
J nature - rouse me again
, 7 beg your pardon sir h repent
ed 'hut-er. can Won ready
p -Rcai3' 7 cried wondering II he va
y mad What do Won meanT
--T mean can YOU re9dT' he Teiteru1e
! / patiently. II cant sir. as YOU see
% he added apoiogeti-aIIv; I'm about haI
r blind 90
Z s'Oh-yes'- u1uu1bIed stupidity. Won
derInE what he might be driving 81
Some sense Of the proper amenities 0
lie stirred within me- and I told him
I'm sorry"
; THANK You. sir re spoke with
/ soft SlurrinE Of his rs a fulI-mout11e
? broadening OF his vowelS, that marke
: him for a S0uthere0er-
{ Thank YOU sir I had hoped tia