The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-06-17
"Is that coffee?" he asked, peering
over my shoulder.


save you. The effect of coffee on the
human system is as destructive, though
perhaps not as rapid, as prussic ACID
He took the pot from the stove ana
flung it after the pancakes.
We had dry toast for breakfast, and
boiled water. Boiled water has as
much taste and staying qualities as
boiled air.
But boil it Griggs would and, as
still felt little delicacy about refusing
him anything, submitted. | content
ed myself with the thought of the
lamb chops which | had provided for
dinner and washed down dry toast
with boiled water.
The morning pipe goes best over a
steaming cup Of hot coffee, as any one
who has ever tried the morning pipe
we'll knows. Now, though had not
the coffee, still had the pipe.
| walked out on the front porch and
sat down In the second-best chair
which was the only other chair, and
not fit for man of literary pursuits
to sit In.
Griggs followed me out, and sat
down In the real chair | started to
fill my pipe.
Young man." he exclaimed, look
Ing at me over his glasses, young
man, tobacco is drying up your life
blood at rate that is appalling! To-
bacco Is the curse of our American
manhood, and is slowly sapping the
strength OF our race Truly, the days
OF the smoker are numbered.
But l am glad to see It, am
glad to be the means of saving you
from far worse death than that from
which you saved me. 1t is my duty,
and 1t Is my good fortune, so soon
to be able to repay the debt Of graft
tude which l owe you"
With that he picked the pipe from
my mouth. my tobacco pouch from
my hand and threw them into the
stream that passed my door.
For moment the thought OF resist
ance possessed me- And then came
the more quieting realization that this
was man whom | had recently saved
from death. Besides, he was much
larger than |, and showed by his atti-
tude that he was determined to save
me, even to the extent of employing
physical force. sank back into my
chair in sullen acquiescence.
AT the proper time l went to the
kitchen to prepare the chops. To my
horror, they had disappeared!
After hunting fruitlessly for half
an hour, Griggs joined me.
MY boy" he said, what is it?"
I've lost the dinner" | said shortly.
If you mean the meat" said my
salvage severely, Il considered it my
1uty to dispose Of it before it could
wreck your life. Meat is only fit for
and to animals | have given
t. Vegetables are the only proper
ood for man"
| gasped. Then ran to the back
loor and looked out. There, In the
IAN that Is reserved for my moth
'aten watch dog, Kipling, were what
emained of the chops Less than half
we're left. ! gathered them eagerly In
ny hands and turned to go back to
he house.
The next instant the chops were
matched from my hands and flung
nto the stream | looked up angrily
nto the calm, sad face of Griggs.
Food for dogs alone" he said.
And will save you. 1t is my duty"
Duty be hanged" cried |, and
truck at him.
1t was a foolish thing to do-to
trlke at him-for the old fellow was
citing for the best. And the next in
tant realized how foolish It was
Something descended on my head
ke the side of a house, and passed
eacefully into a land where I was
urrounded by stars that gradually
ook the shape of lamb chops.
oWhen | recovered | was living on
~ back in my straw bed in the shed,
nd Griggs was sitting beside me with
bowl in his lap. opened my mouth
speak, and he filled it with Cruel
With that my salvation began in
arnest Griggs did the cooking and
leat, tobacco and coffee were on the
lack list ! stood it for three days.
"Griggs," l said, 81 think I'm
ured, all right. And I'm the kind Of
man that likes to live alone. I'd be |
yer so much obliged II you would |
love on"
But he wouldn't hear of it. | had
ayed his life, and he would save mine
begged. bribed, entreated. and |
ven threatened; but to no avail. And |
realized that as long as we both lived
was to be the victim of Griggs' graft.
ide.
hated to do it, but it was the only
ay.
| enticed him to walk with me along
lie very cliff where l had found him
'hen we reached a good place | asked
i'm to look into the raging torrent be.
Nv, and then pushed Kim ever from
ehind.
As l was the only reason why he
ad not gone down there fhe uoal.