New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-04
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JUNE 4. 1911

at isn't habit with me- says he. 81
don't like the stuff always makes me ILL.,
but-but wanted to forget
II see. says |. Business on the blink:
I'm in an awful hole" says he. Debts.
You wouldn't belicye-cveryone, every
where. Then-thcn I've been plunglng on
cotton. They played me for a sucker.
well. that's what they're there for, says
|. you know. Hicks. YOU amt done any
thing unique But understood YOU had a
good thing in that -four business OF yours.
How'd YOU come TO get in SO deep with the
debts"
Il don't know. says he. Il suppose
we were irving to make too much OF "A
spurgc. We got started, and couldn' stop.
It's like a whirlpool, this society game; a
WhirlDoOl-srcks YOU in. / saw how II Was
going TO end; but | couldn't stop. |
wouldn't care 50 much if il wasn't for
Esther and and Mother ON, Lord, what $
to become Of Them"
Course. that's the howl they alway> put
up at this stage Of the gamc.-the wife and
kids. or the poor old mother. All kinds Of
crooks Use il. from white whiSkcrcd bank
wrcckcrs. To strong arm artists caught with
lead pipe up their sleeves. and gen rally II
make, me want 10 see EN- soaked good and
hard for playin baby.
But in this case knew Mother; by sight,
ANYWAY And She was Just as nice and dear
an old lady as Sadie had described. | could
frame up the look that would come into
them gentle old eyes when she heard the full
details of how her Eddie had gone to smash;
and what the look would be like il by any
chance he should carry out this tlniShin
bluff of his va, >omethin didn't care to
dwell on.
81 never can face thcm-never!" he WAS
groanin
All, slush." says |. "You've got to face
EN-. and you've got to straightcn thing, ont
tool"
NO. no." SAYS he. shudderin' and hidin' hi,
face in his hands. You don't know what a
weak. silly ass I've been. drink when don't
want to, smoke 50 many cigarettes that il
has affected my heart and lungs. eat thngs
that hurt me. and follow where anyone leads
I've let things 60, important things because
couldn't decide one way or the other.
dread little things too, like meeting strangers
or opening letters. or hearing water run
through faucet. o.. its awful. NcCabc,
It's been growing on me, and | can't think
what is the matter.
81 can make a guess, says |, lookin' him
over critical.
Don't tell me, then" says he. IL
couldn't stand it. Don't talk to me about
heart disease. or tuberculosis, or any OF those
dreadful things"
"Ah, can the medical tommyrot." saws |.
what do know about your heart or your
lungs It's your nut I'm iindin' fault with,
or the way YOU don't use what's inside of IT,
Say. who's been runnin' YOU. Hicks, these
last few years, your head or your stomach"
why" says he. "what do YOU mean"
"Iust that. says |. you've got brain.
amt you, like the rest of us? Well, is it on
the Job' Say, you've seen a steamer Cap
tain up on the bridge. amt you boSSin' the
whole shootin' match. from pilothouse to
stoke hole? He was the brains of the ship.
Now your brain ought to be Captain of your
craft too. That's what you've got one for.
But, as near as | can figure out, you've re-
signed command. You've eaten ANYTHING
that was handy. Sopped up any liquid that
might be showed at you and done the easiest
thing. So YOU have got your stomach out of
gear, and from there the mischief has spread
through your nerves. That's what's maxim
your knees tremble and your hand shake.
Maybe its something worse; but. | doubt
it"
But what can | do?" means Hicks.
"Do?' says |. "Why, fight your way back
TO the bridge and go to givin' orders againl"