The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
"HERE is no doubt but that at one

! The photograph which came tc the chief of police, and from which the artist has cade an original drawing ]: proof positive.
 There is the eye which reveals a shrewdness cf temperament, spirit O. daring. a mind which in distrust calcu' Jates before the action If the muscles The face in the picture is characterized by it's fine disdain for the opinion oi ,he world. The fellow has gene too faI on the route of dissipation ever again te lift his head and gaze with unilinchina eve in the face O. man--hut he las To' by any means reached ihe end of nj Journey.
 That is he had not at the time the photograph was produced. Since then' ten years have passed. He is TOW almost at the end of his row. Clammy death has it's fingers about his throat and he struggles for breath. His face IS saiiow as If already in the process of 'returnins to clay. Lines of whitened scalp part in crooked furrows the hair of his heasi' Protruding stumps of teeth and a ghast- ly display of purple gums make his mouth horrid, and his laugh, disgusting.
 He is as dead as a. man who breathes can be. He is not aware of the opera lion of the world about him. He is indif- ferent as to the manner of government, The gradual change of customs, the ad- vancement of science. His physical sys- tenn no longer is capable of responding to ,nourjshment He will continue to breathe for a limited period and he will die.
 The man is in Birmingham. He does uot know that he is doomed. That hope which abandons the mind when the last breath leaves the chest, lives. Even as his scrayny fingers uplift the motley shirt, which like an ample bag hangs about his ..boney,' frame, and drives to It's home near the vertebrae the point of the deadly needle. he smiles
 ..I am better today, doctor" he says. And soon I will be a man again"
 sss -ffA ffi pr. Cha rles whelan, city physician, has no chance of restoring Walter Snead, and has no chance of restoring dozen other ..fiends" whom he has in charge. Cocaine has done its work too well. But the phys ician s watching him, and csring for hiin' and keeping him protected wi;h that drug, once so fatal, now so necessary.
 Of all his patients of this class, pr. Whelan takes ahe greatest interest in Spead. This might be because the mans veins contain the blood Of chevaliers: because at the present time his father and brothers and sisters live in comfort Alabama. la because this victim, out of a world of wealth and happiness deliberately chose the route that leads to death; or, the physi- clans interest might be due to the fact that Snead, though no longer ashamed of his condition, no longer sensitive or his position as an outcast among men, IS cheerful still and full of hope.
 Last night, we paid the fellow visit In that part of South Twentieth street which is surrendered to the petty merchant, the car was halted. There were flickering lights all about which told the story of conditions There were the sights of traf- fickers in fruits in noisy narangue with Saturday night purchasers. From a dis nal room came the twang of fiddle, and the loud guffaw of fellow in the grasp of rum. A lonesome cop hammered the wall with a rusty billy" watching all the while lest a crime occur.
 Through the alley we tastened, Dr. whelan at regular intervals casting ahead the pale beam of a pocket lantern. There were empty barrels, piles of variegated debris, puddles of muddy water, and surrounding all a darkness and damp ness which contained the smell of dis ease.
 "This is the house." finally said the doctor. "It has been deserted for a year. I pay the rent-only s2 per month.
 It was a dilapidated little shack The paint has dropped off in strips. The door 10 the first entrance hung on rusty hinges, and emitted grating groan as we showed 1t open. All about was dark ness, and from the interior, 8 certain closeness, a certain mustiness, together with the scratchy noise of scampering rats was all that greeted us. The. ray from the ghostly lantern indicated a rickety stair, and at the suggestion of the doctor. we proceeded to climb. A frightened bat brushed his wings against the face.
 On the second landing, we halted. With a cane, the doctor rapped. There was no answer. He called-but no one re- sponded.
 .'He is evidently visiting he ventured.
 At that moment, however. someone laughed. It might have bsen the spirit of some departed occupant, for the sound came downward from the ceiling with a sudden hollowness that struck a chill tc the marrow. It might have been noth. ing save the scraping of the joints of 8 skeleton, although in the darkness. one
 
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