Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-09-02

was nrmer. the warmth Of the room
was drying his wet clothes. ia a.
lief tell you as not. Perhaps I've got
Gadsden. and was born out in the
great state Of Ohio-but I'm not Presi-
dent yet: he added, with q dry touch
of humor in his tone. Then he turned
and looked at Richardson. e! can't see
why you've filled and warmed tramp.
but-well. I'm obliged to you. Mr.
I don't recollect your name:
Richardson. John Richardson"
Mr.. Richardson. then-rm indebted
throw myself into East river. But now
why. l feel like a new man. / fancy
1 shall not kill myself-until day after
tomorrow"
Gadsden swung around in his seat
and looked at him, half smiling, a
picture of reckless tragedy. Maybe
I shouldn't have told you. for in the
any one who contempiates suicide.
Only. It wouldn't be worth while to
Il hadn't thought of IT." Richard
son smiled grimiy II was sss only n1Iy, curl
that the easiest Yay?"
when was a reporter heard q
plumber say that gas was. He'd tried
It. and had been revived in time. I In
never had any liking for gas myself"
of disgust. How about a pistoI7"
Gadsden laughed. Haven't got one.
my dear sir. Put mine up the spout ,S.
bungle pretty often"
HIS host looked thoughtful. 'Td
thought of that. Accidents happen.
supposeT
The other man nodded.
IN and fro lyon DISCOURAGE me-" he
said gloomily.
Gadsden looked at his back and then
stretched his hand out toward the de-
canter. His fingers almost touched 1t.
THERE won't do 1t! Take 1t
away. Cad. l cant see a bottle with
out being thirsty
you think to slake your thirst in the
Gadsden shook his head dejectedly.
no! I only wanted to get away from
1t all. / was starving and freezing to
death. What's the use?"
That's just it-whats the use?"
They looked at each other. Gadsden
rose and made his way unsteadily to
stretched his hands out toward the
red embsrs Then he looked at Rich
ardson again with that peculiarly keen
and restless glance Of his.
Richardson nodded. still walking to
Gadsden looked at him with a plying
expression. you're young man, he
pointed to the luxurious and brilliant
room.
Richardson laughed. 81 can't keep a
thing; mortgaged. eaten up. gone"
The older man looked again at the
- "
boy, don't do It. Wait until tomorrow.
And face my creditors? But never
mind that: tell me about yourself.
you've got a story
His guest shook his head. mot much,
I was born Of good parentage. and well
brought up. ] started to work in a
newspaper ONCE out in my home town
got IS a week. and swept the once.
east 1t was here in New York that I
found out what made me work.
when ] get drink ! can write. It's
first big leader when was full Of
whisky They didn't know 1t down in
the office. and they raised my salary. 1t
was big scoop. that article. Then I
made another good thing. was drunk.
and the editor chief called me up
and talked to me. He said l had great
stun In me. but II drank I'd go to
the devil. That stopped me for a while.
side, rd found out what had to do to
write4 They would have made me an
editor. but I couldn't be kept sober.
Then my mother died. I went out TO
the funeral. and the one girl in the
world saw mo.
''she was very sorry for me, be-
cause she knew I loved my mother.
but she realised that was q drunk.
ard. She refused me. I can see
her now"-he paused. looking into the
flre. his dark eyes rejecting the flame,
"Shs was crying as II her heart would
break.
AFTER that I drank harder and hard.