San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-01

familiar in the moist Days Of his
Youth.
The Eddies OF Suburban Develop.
ment had swept around and beyond
the Spot.
Vacant Store-Rooms and decrepit
Hold-Overs told of the Blasted Hopes
of many a Renting Agency.
That very Day he borrowed key
from the Real-Estater.
When he went back TO the children,
he carried n Secret and a Surprise.
Ic iantalized them by promising 4
Visit TO n real Show.
Elderkln and Anastasia were key
ed up and eager when they started
out under his Guidance next Day.
He came to the Corner and turned
the rusty Lock and led them into the
stuffy and bedrasgled Antiquity.
A Relic of the Post.
They followed timidly and took a
slow and puzzled Survey of the Deep
Carvings, the cobwebbed Mirrors, the
cold Array of Empty Decanters, the
latticed Screen, the yawning 1ce-Box,
the notified Brass-Work, the sleeping
Cash Register. the yellow Prints OF
by-gone Champions.
Upon the Wall certain Placards
were still decipherable.
One gave assurance that there was
not Il Cross Word in a Barrel OF any
thing made in Kentucky.
Another suggested that IL Drinking
interfered with Business. it might b.
bright Thought TO omit Business.
Still another, brief and cryptic, said
"Tie the Bull outside"
where are WEI" asked little Anas
tasia.
Cant you guess?" asbked Uncle
CRANKY, much amused by their Be
wilderment. This is what l told you
about all last Winter. 1t is Saloon.
Both Anastasia and Elderk5n clap
ped their Hands with Delight.
They began to pump Questions.
Uncle CRANKY gave them the Modu:
Operandi.
He explained that the Screen baC
been set before the Door because the
Patrons believed that a Desire fol
Privacy is instructive among the We'll
Bred.
In the Decanters had shimmercd
the more Fiery Compounds which gave
Quick Results.
From the Grains of the Field came
spicy Oscillations, enabling the Dumt
to speak and the Dull to open the
Book of knowledge.
Those furnished Faucets had gush'
ed for Years with Brew which foam
ed in the Mug and carried scant 4
per cent. of the necessary Ingredient
The Purchaser who was out for O
20 per cent. Effect had to return Il
the 4 per cent. just times in order
to arrive at his Destination.
These Mathematical Exercises. be-
ing often repeated in spirit OF
Rivalry, developed incredible Storage
Capacities.
TO be the Custodian of large Field
Cargo was to be respected and adj
mired.
"Why?" asked Elderkin.
at was part Of the Code replied
Uncle CRANKY.
AND the Rum-Seller?" suggested
AnastasIa.
"Ah, he was not marked with so
harsh a Title in the day of his So
cial Supremacy. Those who had won
his j Nor could &c tut .:st Name,
but Strangers and those amateur
Stews who were still on Probation
usually addressed him as Professor,
His Post of Duty was behind yonder
massive Slab. He wore a costume Of
virginia. Whiteness. 1t was touched
off by one or two costly Gems and n
Fresh Carnation with Tin-Foil around
the Stem. | find it difficult to convey
TO your Meagre Understandings all the
Complexities involved in the Practice
of his Profession. He was n Com
posite of Guide, Counselor, Friend.
Referee, Diplomat, Reception Commit
tee, Medical Adviser, Weeping-Post,
and Political Prophet. To set out the
Glasses and ring the Cash Register
were The least of his Obligations.
Sometimes he had TO listen, for an
hour at a Stretch TO the Hard-LuclS
Jonas whose wife had been 10 see a
Lawyer. Beer and sympathy were on
Tap at all times"
rYou mean that those who were n