The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-04-19
'RrueaR 7 saih after 4 moment.

Bruce" I said after & moment. !
He opened his eyes and looked At
mo vacantly, but made no reply -
a general way l attempted to console
him, but he only shook his head IN 81
lence, and finding my efforts unre-
warded finally abandoned them. W.
dering a mild decoction for myseli.
touched his glass and drank 10 'ne
hope that better times might soon %
on the wing. He emptied his glass
without reply, and sank back into DIS
detected posture. Five minutes latel
he seemed to be half asleep, ana
determined to take him bodily IN
hand. Not wishing to have him seen
in that condition by any friends WIN
might chance to enter, l shook nlm
into a semblance Of life. Then ma
king him take my arm, | assisted MN
into the open air. Darkness mao a.
ready fallen and the lights OF the
skyscrapers were beginning to sparkle.
He lurched heavily against me, anu
seeing that his condition was rapidly
becoming hopeless, signaled cao'
opened the door and thrust him IN
side. He fell upon the seat, mutter-
ing some address to which he wished
to be taken and l turned to the ]enu
who was propping him up.
HE will be all right In a couple OF
hours. At present he IS not feeling
particularly we'll and should be taken
care OIL said significantly. The otn'
er nodded his understanding. Then
with brief instructions for him TO
handle his charge right side up with
care, l turned away as he picked up
the reins.
formulated my own plans for the
evening. In my then state of mind, |
did not care to exert myself, prefer
ing to 90 where l could sit quietly
and be entertained by others. de-
cided upon the theater. A block fur
Their on I happened across a banking
acquaintance, who, upon my invita-
ton, Joined me. At the end OF the
performance we emerged. It was now
in the neighborhood of II o'clock, and
shaking hands, we parted for the
night.
Having thrown down my key to the
house, I decided to stay downtown un
til morning. Crossing the street, en-
tered the Pacific hotel. l knew the
clerk at the desk, and saluting him b!
name, I asked him to assign me to
room few floors up and fronting OF
the alley, such location being quiet
er in the early morning hours than
room facing the street. He gave mi
the key and bell boy immediatel!
showed me to my number.
Not being accustomed to retiring be
fore IL, was not in the least sleepy
Leaving the light burning, | threw
myself upon the bed as scene by seen
l ran the film of the events of the d.
before my mental eyes. And so deel
ly did become engrossed in this tina
when l aroused myself and looked
my watch it was after midnight
arose and stood before the mirror
searching my own face keenly, m
mind still reverting to my quarrt
with my uncle and its probable futur
consequences. While l did not imal
inc that in his present state Of min
} he would be particularly concerned q
to where was, resolved to call bill
up and advise him of my whereabout
} It did not seem that 1t could do an
harm, and undoubtedly 1t was goo
l policy to try and conciliate him no
t that we had given full vent to o,
spleen. Going to the wall telephon
/ asked for his number, and a momel
i later heard his querulous voice ov<
! the wire as he demanded to know wi
r it was that called him at tn
! hour. l answered him with the quie
Q ness always strove to employ e
cept upon rare occasions when ! II
Q the moment lost command Of myse
a wished him we'll and told him whe
was and that l had decided to 7
9 main downtown for the night. H
n answering sentences exploded In n
a ear like distant firecrackers.
n That's right. Just like you. Spen
n ing your money for hotel bills WIZ
d you have better bed at home. Al
= suppose you will pay those pirat
IT dollar for your breakfast. All rigl