The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-22
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ing amount of whiskey Welleston took
each day. Deprived of the stimufant
for several weeks, Welleston had started
gorging himself with ardor. Weakened
by his sickness and not even having the
influence of open-air life to drive away
the fumes and effects, the poison found
its way more rapidly to his brain
Moreover, it had the result of causing
him to practically abandon eating.
SO has shaken nerves had twice brought
on spells which were almost delirium,
and Pitt had on these occasions been
compelled to secrete his arms to prevent
his issuing forth, as a bearer of death,
into the sole street of the town.
While IN this state, Father Brady
had attempted to bring. him back to
himself through his companionship
and by trying to extend helping hand;
but he was always repulsed. And
when the effects of the liquor had partly
worn off and Welleston commenced to
feel half ashamed Of the part he had
played, another spell of drinking would
be started So thoroughly was his
system filled with alcohol that the
first few drinks act Tally seemed to
brace him up and give him back his
moral bearing. Then the relapse into
sodden state, preceded by a fit of
quarreisomeness, would ensue And
this program was kept up over and
over.
1t was In one of his meanest moods
that the climax had come. Coming
downstairs shaky and nerve-wrecked
from his orgy of the night before,
Welleston had taken three drinks of
Whlskey IN rapid succession. For the
moment he was In one OF his caimer
moods. Inquiring of Pitt whittier the
priest had gone he had been told
that one of the girls In the dance hall
was dying and that Father Brady had
been hurriedly summoned
Jest like those women" exclaimed
Welleston, IN virtuous disgust, "leadin'
the lives they do, then goin' hollerin'
was it?"
It's the one with red hair-the
little one" Pitt had said soberly.
That's the one l was talkin' to a
couple of nights ago." had remarked
ed sort of feelin' low and I give her
poke in the eye just to brighten her
up a bit. Girls in places like them is
there to entertain people-company
hours amt no time to sulk"
Pitt had kept polishing the bar In
silence Welleston sat for a time looking
gloomily into the open door of the
stove which was blazing on account of
the increased GOODNESS which indicated
death shocked him IN a way, and to
drown his feeling In the matter he
commenced to drink once more When
Father Brady had returned, WeIleston
was m his worst mood. To his ribald
question as to whether the girl, to
whom he applied the worst term, was
dead, the priest had given a curt
nod and gone to his room. But when
the call to dinner was made and
Father Brady, with the look on his
face which betokened recent prsyer,
had eaten q frugal meal, something had
prompted Welleston to commence 8
sneering cross-examination as to de-
tails
"And do you really believe such as
her can get to heaven7" he had in
Quired.
al do" the priest had answered
briefly "There Is JOY IN heaven over
the sinner that repents."
But" persisted Welleston, IN
provokingly insulting tone, chow does
all this stuff you've told me prove
there's any heaven for such g girl to
60 tor"
In an instant the fighting spirit so
long held under control by his priestIy