Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-01-07

tenement drinking place frequented by
the lowest classes. RingOld was Sum-
bering peacefully on a table; Anthony
had discovered musical talent in the
bartender and was seated at q batter
ed piano laoOriously experimenting
with the accompaniment to an Irish
ballad; Higgins and Locke were talk
ing earnestly. Locke, as usual, sat
| facing the entrance. his eyes watch
full. his countenance alert To sober
eye it would have been patent that he
was laboring under some strong ex-
element. for every door that opened
caused him to start, every stranger
| that entered made him quake
"Grandes' fellow | ever met" Hig-
gins was saying for the hundredth
time. Got two faults. Anthony; he's
mOdesht an he's lazy-he won't work"
You and he are good friends, eh?'
Best ever
Would you like to play a joke on
him?'
Joke? Can't be done He's wises'
guy ever. I've tried it an always get
the wors' of it,
iii tell you how we can work it,
I've got ticket for Central America
in my pocket, The boat sails at 10.
Let's send him down there"
''Wha' for?"
Locke kept his temper with an effort.
ITO make man of him. Well go
through his clothes, and when he lands
he'll be broke. He'll have to work.
Don't you see?"
No" Anthonys friend did not see.
He don't want to go to Central Amer
ica." be argued. He's got new au-
tom bile
But suppose we got him soused,
went through his pockets and then put
him aboard the boat. He'd be at sea
by the time he woke up. He couldn't
get back He'd have to work. Don't
you see? He'd be broke when he land
ed and have to rustic money to get
back with. think it's an awful funny
idea"
The undeniable humor of such a sit
uation finally dawned upon Higgins
mind
age ii" Locke went on. land here's
the ticket" He tapped his pocket.
"Where'd you get it?"
Bought it yesterday. It's first class
and better, and he'll fit my description.
We're about the same size. Wait"
Locke rose and went to the bar. where
he called loudly for the singer Then
wi hn ha rfn ho %ho
piano he spoke to Anthony: Keep it
up, old man. You're doing fne.'
For some moments he talked earnest
ly to the man behind the bar No one
observed the transfer of another of
those yellow bills of which he seemed
to have an unlimited store
Strangely enough. Mr.. jefferson
Locke'S plan worked without a hitch
Within ten minutes after Kirk An
thony had taken the drink handed him
he declared himself sleepy and rose
from the piano. only to seek a chair.
into which be flung himself heavily.
''It's all right" Locke told his drunk
en- companion. i've got taxi wait
ing. Well leave Ringold where he is.''
Higgins undertook to recall what had
happened to him after he left Muller's
place on East Fourteenth street. but
his memory was tricky. He recoIIected
a vaguely humorous discussion of some
sort with stranger. the details of
which were almost entirely missing
Unexpected and alarming occurrences
made it imperative for him to ter
inmate his connection with his college,
as big Marty Ringold had done earlier
in the day. and begin to pack his be-
lOngings. Partly out of Difference to
the frantic appeals of his widowed
mother, partly owing to the telephoned
advice of Mr.. Michael Padden of Sixth
avenue, who said the injured man had
recognized one of his assailants. he
booked passage to Japan by the next
steamer out of Vancouver.
Strictly speaking. Kirk Anthony did
not awake to a realization Of his sur
rOundings. but became conscious Of
them through a long process Of dull.
dreamy speculation. He said to him.
self:
Nov, begin all over again, Kirk
RingOld was very drunk. Good! Ev-
erything is clear SO far. Next you
were playing piano with yellow teeth
while somebody sang something about
a Little Brown Cot After that
Lord. you must have been drinking!
Well. let's run through it again"
But his efforts were vain. He could
recall nothing beyond the piano. so
fell to wondering what hotel this
could be.
Some east side joint" he decided,
land cheap one, too. from the size OF
this stall" He noted another brass
bed close at hand and reasoned thar
RingOld or Higgins must have risen
early. leaving nim to finish his sleep.
That was considerate, of course, but
Good heavens. it must be Iate And
he was due TO motor to New Haven at
noon. He raised himself suddenly