El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-05-06
Underwood rose to his feet and abb
ruptly turned his back.

ruptly turned his back
I'D rather you wouldn't get person
al" he said CURLY. Sitting down at
desk, he began to rummage with some
papers and, turning impa1ently to
Howard, he said:
Say, old man, I'm very busy now
You'll have to excuse me-"
If Howard had been sober, he would
have understood that this was a pref
ty strong hint for him to be gone, but
in his besotted condition, he did not
propose to be disposed Of so easily.
Turning to Underwood, he burst out
with an air of offended dignity:
Underwood, you wouldn't go back
on me now. I'm an outcast, a pariah,
a dereiict on the ocean of life, as one
of my highly respectable uncles wrote
me- His grandfather was an iron pud
der" With drunken laugh he went
on: Doesn't it make you sick? I'm
10 good because I married the girl. II
/ had ruined her life I'd still be
decent member of society"
He helped himself to another drink,
his hand shaking so that he could
hardly hold the decanter. He was
fast approaching the state Of complete
intoxication. Underw God made no at
tempt to interfere. Why should he
care if the young fool made sot of
himself? The sooner he drank him
self insensible the quicker he would
get rid of him.
mo, Howard he said; you'd never
make decent member of society,""
"P'r'aps not" hiccoughed Howard.
How does Annie take her social
ostracism?" inquired Underwood
Like a brick. She's a thorough
bred, all right She's all to the good"
'All the same, I'm sorry 1 ever in
wood. Il never thought you'd make
such fool of yourself as to marry"
Howard shook his head in a maud
lin manner, as he replied:
81 don't know whether | made a
fool of myself or not, but she's all
right She's got in her the makings
of great woman-very crude, but
still the makings. The only thing /
object to is, she insists on going back
to work, just as if I'd permit such
thing. Do you know what l said on
our wedding day? Mrs. Howard JEFF
ries, you are entering one of the old
est families in America. Nature has
be petted, pampered member of that
select few called the "400,"' and now,
damn it all, how can / ask her to go
back to work? But if you'll let me
have that $1,000
By this time Howard was beginning
to get drowsy. Lying back on che
sofa. he proceeded to make himself
comfortable
Two thousand dollars," laughed
Underwood. why, man, I'm in debt
up to my eyes
AS far as his condition enabled him,
Howard gave a start of surprise.
Hard up" he exclaimed Pointing
around the room, he said: Whats
all this-a bluff"
Underwood nodded
"a bluff. that's it. Not a picture,
not vase, not a stick belongs to
me. You'll have to go to your IA
ther''
Never" said Howard despondently
The suggestion was evidently too
much for him, because he stretched
out his hand for his whisky glass. ''F'a-
theirs done with me-" he said dole
fully.
He'll relent," suggested Under
wood
Howard shook his head drowsily.
Touching his brow, be said:
Too much brains, too much up
here Placing his hand on his heart,
he went on: Too little down here.
Once he gets an idea, he never lets it
go, he holds on Obstinate One
idea-stick to it. Gee, but I've made
a mess of things, haven't u"
Underwood looked at him with con-
tempt
You've made a mess of your life"
he said bitterly, yet you've had some
of