Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR SEPTEMBER H. 1911

what thought when this OIL steam wagon hove in
sight! Another pipe dream. thinks |, an shut
peppers: Guess that brandy the doc give me the
tost thing set me straight. They amt fake about
brandy"
In the privacy of our room later asked him about
his change of name.
Some youngser. taking pity his forlorn state had
rugged him out like a dude, and now he looked down at
himself complacently.
ooh, they'll have me- he said; "but what tell? Ye
can't live but once. Think I'm goin' to waste this
chance-togged out like this, an wild all these high
muckimucks runnin round wild their tongues out, an
sngin oh my. an How heroicl evrv time | open
me mout'? Not yer life! I've done me stunt an
now III 60 back an take me medicine like little man.
Nebbe III git clear when they read about this. Any
way, can put on side fer They'll have me mug
in all the papes, an mebbe pitcher o the raft
reachin' out fer yer thatch Won't the boys stick out
their peppers? Most o them dubs been furdern
Coney nor done more hit cop in the back the nut
wild brick Hully Gee! fought dat was big thing
once! But dis" He lost the world in content
platon of his own high estate.
I BABE him goodby on the wharf, where still urar-
rested, he stood IN group of highly diverted
porters and from that hour until my return to the
city, two weeks later, | had no word of him. Them
mindful OF promise had made, went at to the
place where he had told me to inquire for him.
1t was early evening, and walked slowly through
the Jost1ng throngs, cran1ng my neck to discover
the number he had given heard hail from the op-
poste side Of the street, and stopped. Of it
chair and arrayed in all the glory Of evening dress
His large, complacent twisted smile fairly dominated
the street He almost fell upon my neck in his joy
seeing me.
| looked him smilngly as we walked along
well told him, you certainly are putting side
you called it.
ooh, amt chuckin bluff this trip" he replied
joyfully. "Its straight goods I'm givin' We now
Then he explained Fate had been kind to him: he
had found the officer alive and through the influence
of political friends of OConnes inclined to consider
his injury all in the days work. O'Connel's reception
hero, too had been all that he had dreamed. The
tragic episode seemed ending in pure meodranla.
An do onto the glad rapSo" he went on with
bubbing eagerness "The boys is gvin' me a blowout
tonight brass band an the whole ward there an all
the COILS Say, got to come an hear give EN- the
grand Jolly-how done it. Hully Gee it's great-yer
droppn' down tonight
Indeed, in the end went 1t was all he could have
wished and his cup Of JOY was plainly full | stayed
until the speech made-I must confess that until
that had not thought of my part in the affair
simply detail put in BY Providence to exalt OCon-
nels glory,-and then pushed through the crush to
bid him goodby. He was not to be found and, sud
denly recalling other disappearances Of his through the
evening, soberly made my way to the bar, with fore
bodngs for his pale little wife, whose JOY in his dis
tnction was feared to be tempered by his less heroic
side.
He was there indeed; but to my relief and surprise.
not drinking. He having his shoes polished-for
the fifth time he told me, with apologize grin
his own weakness
aye see he explained "all that ladeda in there pits
me nerve; SO runs out here to take me mind off.
Now I'm goin' back
When l told him what l had feared, he shook his
head, with the first touch of gravity had seen on his
face that night
@Say. I'm givn We the straight goods now! I'm on
the water wagon fer keeps he declared. ave got a
job as foreman OF gang OF Dago mud singers, an
more fy-by- night in mine! Not yer le!"
| went with him to speak a last word to his wife.
She radiantly happy. thought her too good for
him; which, perhaps is not a bad thing for a man,
whatever it may be for the woman She voiced his own
expectations for their future.
"Johnny's on the water wagon" she told me- ian
we're very happy. guess we're all to the good
have not heard of them since; but sincerely hope
that her faith has been justified