The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-19
IT'S A TALE OF
7SOAKS---ONE OF
EN- A SPONGE
Flask Goes Often to the Barrel
And as Often it Goes Back,
Part of Il Into Barrel
ONE SOAK WORKS FOR 6;
THEN SIX WORK THE ONE
Temperance and Mother Come
Between the Cup and the
Lip Again and Again

A man with a hole In his hat and
three days growth Of alfalfa on his
chin made his way through the swing
ing door and ambled up TO the pol
ished mahogany. behind which Peter
Zuhrm was polishing glasses, In an
effort to convey the impression busi-
ness was pretty good.
"Whatllitbe queried Zuhrm, lay
ing aside the glass and polishing cloth.
"Fillerup," said the stranger, depos-
iting on the bar a leather-coyered mask
with a nickel stopper.
--Zuhrm turned TO the barrel labeled
|"l0year-old" and proceeded to manip-
ulate the siphon. At about this time
another stranger. OF sad and downcast
mien. entered and placed q brotheriy
hand en- the first comers shoulder.
.My boy" he said. don't do II. Per-
haps you have q Mothers mother!
What would she think were she 10
see you, her son, the apple or her eye,
souandering his money for such evil
LIQUID? Don't do II, my friend"
The other looked properly crestfal-
len, then penitent. The flask was al.
ready on the bar, and Zuhrm stood
with hand extended. the palm turned
expectantly upward.
The owner of the flask reached for
Il, hesitated. reached again. then SHOW
ed the evil thing from him.
Dump II back" he said. And after
Zuhrm, with muttered investive, had
consigned the contests of the flask
back to the barrel. the tempted one
n a. n l.ft In nm
Ten minutes later another strang.
err entered. presented his flask, asked
that L. be filled and then, seemingly,
after much communion with himself,
rendered IL back and asked that II be
dumped" He. too. left the flask In
his pocket and smile OF blissful con-
tent on his grimy face
Dear, dear mother!" he inuttered
softly. as the swinging door closed be
hind him.
"well"-said Zuhrm. returning to
the business Of polishing glasses.
'Woll--"
Other patrons entered, bought their
favorite brands and departed, and
Mr.. Zuhrm commenced to perk up and
take hope, when third flask was de-
posted on the bar and the owner
tersely said: "Fillerup"
Mr.. Zuhrm turned toward the bar
rel. hesitated, looked the customer
over, considered him all right and
then filed her up. But when he
turned. a change had come over the
patrons face. It was sad. forlorn
Suddenly It lit up. like q street car
nival at night.
"My dear, sweet mother!" he said
softly. Dump II back"
see here" said Zuhrm, exasper
ated. whats this wave of prohibit
ton about? You're the third. now
What's the gamer"
Its all on account OF a CHAP out
side." said the stranger. He sure ID
q soft,hearted man. Speaks about
your mother and such. till you just
have to forget the booze. It's touch.
ing"
Must be-" said Zuhrm. drily. But
don't come back"
Il WON'T" said the other. and de.
parted.
In the course of an hour four more
flask owners entered and worked the
same game.
At about this time Mr.. Zuhrm took
notice that while the reforming pa
irons were all different persons. the
flask had invariably been the same
even down to the long scratch In the
leather cover.
"Tts Deep" opined Mr.. Zuhrm
There's just one more fellow can
work that on me. Then I'm going to
follow him and solve the mystery"
And Zuhrm, true to his word. closed
up shop and followed the next knight
of the flask The stranger led the
way down the street to vacant lot
where six seedy friends arose to wei.
come him at his approach.
Ibid II work AGAIN." chorused the
sextet.
Like charm" said he OF the flask.
One of the six. no other than he OF
the sad and benevolent eye, stepped
forward with lineup.
my turn now" he said.
Whereupon he OF the flask pro.
duced q stick with q hook on the end
OF It, inserted the hook In the flask
and withdrew q sponge. from which
he squeezed at least three fingers" OF
virgin l0-year-old.
Well" said Zuhrm, as ne retraced
| a nor xpo "A o. y