Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-29

if we hadn't "a fell behind little
"Just my luck to be late" Fosdick
moaped.
What you so anxious to be in
Utah for, Fosdick?" Ashton asked. sus-
piciously. You go on TO Frisco, don't
you?"
Fosdick was evidently confused at
the direct question. He tried to
dodge it: Eyes, but-funny how things
have changed. When we started, no.
body was speaking to anybody except
his wife, now"
Now" said Ashton, drily, every
body's speaking to everybody except
his wife,"
You're wrong there" Little Jim
ME interrupted. u wasn't speaking
to my wife In the first place. We gH
on as strangersh and we're strangersh
yet. Mrs. Well'n'ton is a"
"A queen among women, We know!
Dry up" said Ashton, and then they
heard the querulous voice Of the por'
ter of their sleeping car: i tell you,
/ don't know nothin' about the bufef
business"
The conductor pushed him in with
a gruff command Crawl in that cage
and get busy"
Still the porter protested: "Mista
Pullman engaged me for a sleepin'
car; not a drinkin' car. I'm berth
| maker. not a mixer" He cast re-
sentful glance through the window
that served also as bar, and his
whole tone changed: Say, is you
goin' to allow me loose amongst all
you do, l can't guarantee my con-
duck"
them beautiful bottles? Say. man, il
III you even sniff one of those bot
ties" the conductor warned him, "Ill
crack it over your head"
THAT won't worry me none-as
'long as my mouf's open" He smacked
his chops over the prospect of :ati'
macy with that liquid treasury.
'Lordy! Well, III try to control my
emotions-but remember, don't guar
antee nothin'."
The conductor started to go, but
paused for final instructions: And
remember-after We get to Utah we
can't serve any hard liquor at all"
Whats that? Don't they low moth.
in in that old Utah but ice-cream
soda?"
That's about all. If you touch
drop, III leave you in Utah for life"
"Oh, Lordy, III be good"
The conductor left the excited black
and. went his way. Ashton was the
first to speak: Say, Porter, can you
mix drinks?"
The porter ruminated, then con-
fessed: We'll, not on the outside, no,
sir. II you-all is thirsty you better or
der the simplest things you can think
of. II you want to command anything
fancy, Lord knows what you'd get.
Supposin' you was to say, Gimme
Tom Collins Id be just as liable as
not to pass you Jack Johnson.
We'll, can you open bepr?"
"Oh, I'm u natural born beer
opener"
Rush it out then My throat is as
full Of alkali dust as these windows.
The porter soon appeared with
tray full of cotton-topped glasses. The
day was hot and the alkali dustvery
oppressive, and the beer was cold. Dr..
Temple looked on it when it was am
Der, and suffered himself to be bullied
into taking a glass.
He felt that he was the greatest sin.
ner on earth, but worst Of all was the
fact that when he had fallen, the for.
hidden brew was not sweet. He was
inexperienced enough to sip it and II
was like foaming Quinine on his pal
ate. But he kept at it from sheer
shame, and his luxurious transgres-
sion was its own punishment.
The doleful Mallory was on his way
to join the Club" Crossing the YES,
thule he had met the conductor, and
had ventured to quiz him along the
old lines:
Excuse he, haven't you taken any
clergymen on board this train yet?"
Devil a one -.
Don't you ever carry any preachers
on this road?" -
Usually we get one or two. Last
trip We carried a whole Methodist
convention" -
"a whole convention last trip! Just
my luck!"
The unenhghtened conductor turned
to call back: Say, up in the forward
car we got couple of undertakers.
They be of any use to you?"
Not yet"
Then Mallory dawdled on into the
smoking room, where he found his
own porter, who explained that he
had been promoted to the bottlery.
do We come to station stop
soon?" Mallory asked.
We'll, not for. a considerable inter
val. Do you want to get out and walk
up and down."
81 don't" said Mallory, taking from
under his coat SnoOylauinS. whom ha