The Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1919-current, 1920-11-26
The Last Ditch
BY MURIEL LEE


~ hnd small roll ~ bills into an
other.
The hrstnanrd article VAS a pawn
brokers' ticket. the money represent
I'd what be- had just borrowed on hi,
watch. which be had managed 10 clins
% through the ylcIssltudes " tso
years OF mlsspeut life
Beyond the glltlering store lights
the streets were wrapped in compare
tive gloom. and with grim. set lips
and resolute eyes this man whose
heart history was full OF tragic
wretchedness. paced ou until be
threaded byways where only un oc.
casional habiiation showed Then he
strucs out over d highway leading into
the country
MARI Burton had indeed reached
"the last ditch" Like o. fugitive from
cts N destruction. be- vas leaving
behind h.m SCENES that had held him
captive 90 me curse ~ strong drink.
wrecs'ug mauhood ambition aud -
speciHb.l.ty Only o. week previous,
recovering no public hospital frum
utter prostrtlou 40 ne end of reck.
less bout in O. flashing mument iu tho
tWinkI.ng 0f au eye retrospectIon had
pictured to hIm his utter worthless.
ueas, and % wurer.ne hope bad stolen
upon hlm warning BIN that then vas
The parting Of the ways
There was nurse ln he hospital
who ssused he soul submerged by iis
fipat0n II was her Kindly friendly
words that had made him think OF a
face SIN more beautiful and . voice
just as fuli ~ music-hls wife. Marcia.
She bad bern ne guiding star Of bic
existence. hut some p-rversr Unborn
craving had drawn him among rrck.
less roystercrS She hai never chlded
him. but when ne rHrrsses had gone
beyond on bounds her father stern.
implacahle bad taken her avay from
him.
you have brought my only child 10
poverty and suffering John Thearis
had said "Heuceforih she Rll be- my
care. and you shall never cross my
threshold aFain until you arr able TO
give her he home she deserves. and
have banished The temptations that
have brought sou 10 ruin"
Burton bad gene Oar away. 20 sun
more deerly drain the drsgs OF the
fatal cup There had come ne period
when restrictions % the las had made
Intoxicating drinks dinicult of attain.
ment Like many others partaking %
poisoned counterfeits aud n01ious sub
siitutes. be- had welcomed the liquid
Gre bringing mania % his alrsady al
torted mind TIE day be- lsft the
hospital be- had made his Trvat resolve
to conquer the thirst that had 90.
meshed him. Or dle 10 ne attempt
he had learned that some ~ miles
from The city q railway construction
camp had advertised Cor workmsn. Ne
had nov Sufficient 20 s-cuGr sus
teuancs and shelter Cor q vesk ahead.
and new strength aud hop lnfused
him a. ne pure hracing air from for.
eat and field blew strouF aad inylgor.
ailnT into be face. Il Vas veil % 10.
wards tsu O'Clock when h. So down
on q bench beside tho opsu sindo~ u
. roadhouse aud vested Ne was Kept
alert By a voicr within the room b.
yond Ne made out q man speaking
earnestly 90 three oihsrs
Between hsrp and Parisu ths Mcf.
nit crowd parted with their truck.
load Of stolen plumber h. said n
rvpfeenied over ssnUo They mus
have taken tn alarm and disposed
u their freight someuhers aiong ne
route Cor The truck vent through Pan.
ton empty Start your search with
daylight To he man sho succreds
promise q 500 iuspeciorhip
AHAAhN AAAN wv W NNHANN =
make Burton svarv % the fact that
these Were government assnts on ne
track % he plunief " soms so called
nquor pirates Who had hurrlarired 4
warehouse and made % with a f1r
tune ln intuxinuts Ths circum
stances faded frum hia mind a. h
continued his cours no cane O.
shers excavations cut he rad and
detoured Twice IN the darkussa h.
stumbled inio pits and finally crossing
what seemed 20 b. some loose has
covering he ground that substance
rave way aud b. vas preclpliatst ssv
srul feet down.
his arm struck = tot and be- tina
cover crashed IN. There vas . langi,
o. spllntering glass his elbow. SLIGHT
~ cut wss dslugsi with q punrruN
liquor fsvivinr sil his past faisful n
perisnce. ns trsmhlsd Was thi,
plenitude % ne curs that hal
Wreckrf him some tornenfiur tempia
non OF fatei on. newer All his man
hood arose He reachei beneath hiu
FOR e bottle from ne bon Hs hruushl
q doan 90 ruin win e tshsmsu
anathema aEslust ne subtle polso.
that bad hssu hs bane
Mara burton reflected quictiy The
he sped hack o. the roadholse To.
leader Of he oaoers vas ius retiring
Burton addressed him. 10 told ~
story. ne asked that he b. rrvauiel
with the position offered n be- led N,
way 20 the stolen goods
Tho official aoqulesced. and be- kepl
hfa wonI uuffon wHa nlHrrH Al a