Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-09

having SEM Hank to the bank in the
meantime to have him out Of the way,
and found the keg carefully hidden
away under an empty barrel. AS Bar
ker had suspected it had been tapped.
The mystery of Hanks supply was
solved.
"Now," said the doctor as he left,
IT want you to send Hank Jones to the
college this afternoon before 3 O'Clock
with that keg. Impress it upon him to
be prompt-the lecture begins at B."
Barker nodded assurance.
Hank was very much put out OF
countenance when he came back and
found the keg upon his desk. He turn
ed suddenly with the remark that he
had something to do in the warehouse.
Flight was naturally his first impulse
on seeing himself discovered.
"Hank,r said Barker, OBTAINING him,
II Just found that keg of DR.. Boden's
this morning, and l wish you'd take it
up to the college after the 2:42 this
afternoon. He's been down after it
several times"
Hank could hardly credit the testi-
mony of his ears. He had expected
recriminations, ~revilings, discharge or
ever worse when his fault was discov-
cred. Could 1t be possible that they
did not know 1t yet? To be sure he
had been extremely careful in tapping
1t, but, nevertheless, 1t plainly showed.
Surely they must have seen 1t. And
yet nothing was said.
However If concealment was the
word he was very strong for conceal
ment. He would play his part. At
2:45 he made ready to trudge out of
the station and up the chill with his
heavy load to the college. Barker
swore that he heard him sigh regret
fully as he caressingly lifted the heavy
keg and departed.
DIR. Boden met him at the entrance.
"Goodf' he exclaimed. Il was afraid
you wouldn't be here in time for my
lecture, and / needed this for demon
%stration."
He led the way to the lecture room,
where We're awaiting them perhaps a
dozen students with notebooks in hand.
"Sit down for a few minutes said
the doctor to Hank. you'll be inter-
ested in this"
He closed the door, and Hank sank
into a chair behind the students, won
dering rather uncomfortably what
would happen when DR.. Boden found
his keg a third emptied, as he judged
it must be by this time. But he was
in for it now he knew, so he gritted
his teeth firmly together and watched
while the doctor began skillfully to
pry open the head of the keg.
II have here" began the doctor in
the usual formal tones of his lecture
II have here. gentlemen" he continued
as he removed the top and, putting on
a pair of rubber gloves, began to grope
about in the interior, "a specimen
which l have only peer able to pro-
cure with great difficulty In this Sc
cluded place and in ways into which
l hope you will not inquire too deeply.
a specimen which l know viii greatly
interest YOU And with that he drew
forth from the dripping alcohol and
held before their e%yes-tlle awful head
of q negro!
Like the Gorgon's head in the hands
of conquering Perseus. this horrible
thing confronted them with a distort-
ed, frozen grin upon its features. But
to the medical students it was as moth
ing. They gazed upon 1t with absorb
ed interest shining in their fascinated
eyes.
"Now. gentlemen" pursued the doc
tor, with a twinkle behind his specta-
cles as he watched the whitening, hor-
ror stricken features of Hank Jones,
1--WE will'-
But he never finished that sentence.
There was a stiled sound as of a NOR
tai choking in agony and a dull thud
as Hank Jones dropped to the floor In
a dead faint.
A few moments suficed to revive
him.
ut is really too bad of me. Mr..
JONES'" said DR.. Boden. 81 should
have realized how it might affect n
on seeing such a thing for the first
time. We physicians grow hardened,
and, of course. we don't think of 1t at
all. Only l noticed that you had a
great interest in ~kegs-this one espe-
cially-and / thought you ought to
know what it contained after taking
such good care of It."
1t vas a cruel revenge for such a lit
tie thing as tapping a keg of alcohol.
Hank looked feebly into the Doctors
grlmly smiling face, but replied never
a words
Half ar hour later Barker opened a
note which was brought to him by one
of the Joneses' neighbours boys:
Dear Mr.. Barker-I don't suppose Hank
will be able to work any more this after
noon. He had a severe nervous shock
he was nearly run over by a livery team
on his way from the college and is very
much upset. l think he Will be all right
by morning. MRS. HANK JONES.
Barker read it over again before he
sent 1t by the waiting boy to the col
lege for DR.. Boden. During the after