Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-12-23

! the like, could be sold when there
were enough of them.
The dingy Sink, with it's frowsy
habitues, was like scene from Dante;
but Mike Dowd was strictly material.
He was n big, large-necked man, with
yellow mustache and a face as ex-
pressionlesseas stone post. He nod
ded gruftiy as the regular" drew up
to the bar, hut he made no other
movement until a nickel was laid
down with quivering hand; then he
deftly filled a small glass, brimful,
from a worn looking bottle. The man
drew a deep breath and reached for
the drink, but time after time he with
drew his shaking hand, lest he should
spill one drop of that life-giving
liquid!
The we'll dressed young man in the
beaver hat, and the stocky man from
the pit, with the heavy cap still pulled
down over his ears, came briskly in.
so intent that they scarcely noticed
the total depravity of Mide Dowd's
Sink low and ill-smel,inS, and peopled
with living carrion.
Have you any good whisky" du
biously asked the younger man., as
he inspected the rickety back-bar. with
its narrow cracked mirror and it's
scant assortment of bottles.
Leave it to YOU" rumbled Mike
Dowd, reaching under the stickily
painted counter for a copper measure.
II got some at two bits throw"
'Shoot it, accepted the young man
in Mixes language, and with smile
which disclosed a set of even white
teeth. He radiated so much good
fellowship that even the stone post
gave him a half glance of approval,
as he strode heavily to the row of
black barrels across the rear end of
the room.
- 81 Al.
stockily built man, wiping his drip
ping mustache, and there was a look
of deep concern on his face. THAT
foundation is solid rock. 1t can't slide,
and yet 1t does"
Billy Lane unconsciously studied the
geometrical relation of four dents in
the bar. He was troubled.
81 might as well go ont of business
| If the big Pannard Building should
loaf down toward the river one night"
He moved forward as he felt an ell
bow touch his from behind. "Better
stop the work until l investigate,
joe"
Nothing else to do" worried the
superintendent. II wish Harrison
Stuart were alive. He knew the geo
! logical formation underlying New
York as IL he had made it,"
IF Harrison Stuart could stop that
sliding, l can" declared Lane, laying
good fist on the edge of the bar.
First of all, however" and a laugh
betrayed his perplexity, II have to
| find out what causes it. The surveys
show that it's to be as solid as the uni
verse ITSELF
Surveys wrong!" ilusked a voice.
Startled, both men turned to find
the waXen-faced refuse peering up at
them with strained brows. The man
was soddenly drunk, but he was fairly
trembling with his effort at concen-
tration, and his bleared eyes were
steady for the first time in weeks. He
had drunk his whisky, and was hold
ing the glass with a grip which would
have crushed it had he been stronger.
BEG pardon?" said Billy, in sur
prise.
| "Shale up-cropping," went on the
man, holding tightly to thought by his
grip on the edge fthe bar, and slid
ing slowly towards the young man in
his ear1estness. "Substratum-runs
down there-like trough. You're on
the point" His brows began to re-
lax his eyes to dull, his voice to weak
en-. "Cut it Off" His voice died away
in a mumbling Whisper He leaned
heavily against the bar. His head
dropped.
If genie had popped out of bot
| tie to solve their dilemma, they could
have been no more amazed! That
this distorted shell contained frag-
ments of a cultivated intelligence was
beyond comprehension! looking at
him, as he stood there refapsed into
| dullness, with his grimy hands and
his matted beard and his dirt-streaked
face, they could scarcely believe that
it was he who had spoken!
well. what do you think of that"
| gasped the superintendent
Its probably the answer" decided
Billy, his mind delving below the
Pannard excavation, and constructing
a diagram of the tilted substratum.
stranger. do you know the extent
of this shale up-cropping?" he asked.
The frowsy one lifted his head, but
the gleam of intelligence had gone
from his eye.
"A little whisky" he mumbled, with
a formless smile.
Mike Dowd had returned with the
copper measure, and with great vigor
was washing and furnishing two
glasses.
"Give him drink" suggested the
superintendent.
This good whisky'll kill him." grin
ned Mike, his yellow mustache lift
ing. Hey, Bow-Wow! Have a drink ?
OF course you will" and he poured il
out and set it in Bow Vows hand.
The bent head raised quickly and
the dropped shoulders Strengthened q
trifie.
''Thank-you," and. in trembling
hand, the glass was held up and out
with an absurd attempt at formality
Mike laughed, but Billy Lane turned
on Bow Wow that warm smile which
had lined his path through life with
friends.
THE same to you, sir" he replied
with grave courtesy, and drank with
the man. A look of qualification
frightened the young architects face
as he tasted the liquor. That's great
stuff" he complimented Mike Down
Can you stand another one. Joe?"
!. zone at time for me-" refused the