Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-09-14
The Reform of
Sullivan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

By PETER DURANT
q. 100. western Newspaper Union

sullivan sat up, Stretcheu nlmSelI,
and looked about him. at first he did
not know where he was. Then he be-
gan to remember. lie had hit Titus
burg, where someone had told him
there was the chance of a job on the
new trolley line. The story had been
untrue, but that had not distressed
Sullivan In the least. 1t was some
years since he had had job, and he
was thinking of retiring.
A man was a fool who worked In
fine weather, when one could sleep by
the roadside and bum from house to
house Sullivan, in rags; Sullivan, the
perpetual hobo, would have felt king
but for one thing.
He wanted drink. He wanted 1t
with all the need Of the habitual
drinker whose parched throat and
aching nerves are tormentlng him into
qualification of an inveterate habit.
Sullivan felt In his pockets. There
was the fifty-cent piece someone had
given him-a woman, it had been. He
had pitched her pathetic story about
tramping to the bedside of dying
child. Sullivan was an adept in his
line. Sullivan grinned. He got up,
smoothed down his rags and staggered
to the likeliest looking blind tiger.
He went In at the back door and ac-
costed the proprietor. "Say, gimme a
glass of the real stuff" he demanded.
"Sure y answered the proprietor,
and in a few moments Sullivan was
lifting glass of whisky to his lips. He
drained it, and it stung like living fire.
"Say, that's the goods!" said Sullf-
van, smacking his lnps. Something
strange about the proprietor attrac ted
his attention. The man had foreign,
rather Spanish air, and-why did he
limpi He had club foot. Sullivan
felt vaguely that something was
wrong.
BLOW much?' he demanded
"Nix," said the other, waving the
fifty cents away. mo charge for
whisky in this burg"
Sullivan took his opportunity to de-
camp. No doubt the guy had gone
plumb crazy, but lie knew when to
make his getaway. The liquor was
still scorching his insides.
"Gosh, that was good!" said Sulli-
van, staggering to the next place that
looked like business.
The proprietor of this was little,
wizened man, and, strangely enough,
he limped though his shoes appeared
to be Of a pair. Say, gimme a glass
of whisky" said Sullivan.
"Surep said the proprietor, setting
down glass of amber-colored fluid.
Sullivan drained 1t. Talk about
burning! 1t felt like liquid fire. Suln'
van smacked his lips.
"How much?" he demanded.
mix" said the other. mo charge
for whisky in this burg"
Say" began Sullivan, and paused
Something was wrong. SAY, what's
the price Of soft drinks in this burg
Them he asked.
The other laughed. "Can't get EN-,
he answered. "Say,- where you come
from that you don't know we're undel
prohibition"
"Under whatf" yelled Sullivan.
"Prohibition-and we're enforcing
It, too replied the other Nothing
but whisky sold here Va can't get I
soft drink for love or money"
"Say, do the folks here drink moth
ing but whisIky7" Sullivan demanded.
"Sure they don't. We're q prohibi
tion town, we are. You must ha' beel
asleep, stranger"
Sullivan staggered out. eliminating
He was undoubtedly thirsty. And, nov
that soft drinks were unobtainable, h
had terrible aching for one--a cup o
tea, glass of--yes, water! The de
spised fluid which he had not taste,
since he was boy. He remembers
the old oaken bucket the lone
ing grew to be unbearable.
Sullivan went up to nice, homel
looking place with soda fountain
"Whisky frappe" he read. "Whisk
sundaes with crushed Juniper" III
staggered up to the marble slab wher
a dozen young men and girls were In
bibing yellow liquids through straws.
"Say, gimme a glass Of Soda" h
pleading, spinning bis fifty cents.
Hey, GIT out Of here, you bum
shouted the proprietor, while the Crow
Uttered He advanced with threaten
ing gestures. Sullivan noticed that h
iimped, Say, this is prohibitio
I town, this Isl Think you can buy sol
drinks in Hellsburg?'
Sullivan opened his eyes and sat NJ
He was lying where he had fallen, III
der tree on the outskirts Of THU
burg, He was conscious of burning
unsppSa sable thirst. For few mil
utes he did not know where he wa
SO vivid had been the dream.
Then, remembering, he rose to HI
feet with a groan. gripping his fit,
cent piece. Across the street was
soda fountain. Sullivan went in.
"Gimme a raspberry phosphat
please, mister" he said to the atten
ant.