Evening star., 1922-06-11


wv old rowboat on the
sand? You want to
know, do you? II l hadn't drunk as
much as I have I wouldn't tell you.
And 1 wouldn't tell you now il you
we're some one else. Because I have
to be very prudent. even here
The cafe proprietor, Borreos. fat
and puffy, was sitting opposite me,
spreading his arms out on table
sloppy with spfotches Of one of the
red wines of Spain. He had STUN
bled about closing the shutters OF
his shop door and then dropped into
the chair there. his eyes wandering
and empty with drunkenness and his
tongue wagglng-Wagglns ihces-
sanity.
The surroundings were appropriate
for melodramatic condolences
wooden tables. stools, monumental
street organ, the bare walls. the low
ceiling, the cloul of ill-smelling
| smoke which floated over our heads
the yellow light of the three gas
Jets. the half of a window left open
through which we could see, in the
clearness of the night, the Tagus and
the dull silhouette of the cathedral.
Borreos continued:
1T is six years, You understand
six years since 1 came to this city Of
mud. / didn't come because 1 liked it
here 1 had to make living. L
| haven't often as good customers as
you. But business holds out. all the
| same. And I prefer being here to
| going to sea. 1 used to be a sailor
But wait-I haven't finished my
glass"
He swallowed his wine with gulp.
"C1x years ago the Louison OF
~ Rochelle, of which 1 was cap
tain, was wrecked on the coast OF
Galicia, near Cape Toriana- You
| know where that is. don't you:
Three small boats put off from the
wreck In mine were Golday, an
Englishman; Gabourne, another Eng
! lishman. and Stradford, a Dane. Three
! able e-bodied seamen, YOU know. They
weighed the boat down. 1t was night.
The boat began to leak. 1t was my
| life or theirs, wasn't it? If they
stayed, we were all certain to sink.
So. you understand, I waited until
they fell asleep like logs. And then,
without a cry, all three
He illustrated the drama with ges-
lures He had killed his three eN-
hausted companions and thrown them
overheard.
TT was hard. But I had to do it.
1t was either they or 1. Why not
they? I came here. I opened cafe
Everything was we'll. 1 had some
money. So had they. That is to say,
not was who had the money.
And who knows that the captain OF
the Louison is in Salamanca Except
you? Well, have another glass.
He drank off his wine. AS for me.
7 said nothing. A word from me
would have e1asperated him. He was
pale and nervous. He clenched his
fists: his eyes were fixed. He got up.
But he was too drunk to keep his
balance. He was scarcely on his feet
when he fell to the floor, as stin as a
manikin. and lay there groaning.
confess that had no pity for him.
1t was late. What did it matter II
this miserable creature died there:
opened the door and stepped out
| into the quiet night. Salamanca lay
sleepihg in the soft shadows, ana
felt happy to be alive, as il L nae
come out of some bloody dream.
~ X y
eATURDAY, three days later, was
= market day. All Of Old Castle
aocked to the city, which the autumn
rains had transformed into a yellow
ish lake. The houses had taken on
the dirty gold color OF the eartn.
The cathedral itself seemed huge
block of mud. One splashed along IN
the mire, among bespattered people
with faces as somber and gloomy as
the colorless sky. Where could go
to spend the evening? To Borreos.
! There. at least. men drank, played
| Games and talked. There I would
, find a little life.
The proprietor was at his counter
| solid and jovial. He shook my hand
as IL nothing had passed between US.
"Here you are! What can 1 do for
your
| installed myself In corner.
Most Of the patrons were playing
dominoes, half obscured by the smoke
of their heavy. acrid Spanish cigar
cites. New guests arrived constantly.
A tall fellow, with red hair. sat
down near mo and ordered q glass
of malaga. He had dog with him.
He didn't speak to me. But he seemed
sinsularly excited when the big street
organ, worked by Borreos, began TO
| grind out dance music.
! First there was waltz, then
slow, melancholy dance, and then
music hall air In the midst of the
last piece the tall fellow arose, his
glass in his hand. Addressing the
company. he said in loud voice;
| .I drink to Louison."
The organ stopped short. Borreos
advanced to the middle of the room
who spoke Of LouisonT he cried
IT did" the man answered.
.what did you mean by thstfS
Nothing. Il IL my wifs's name.