The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-08
By b. Phillips Oppenheim

Mr.. Wallln asked lmoSt-lndlgnantly. 10
you think I've followed her over here for
nothing?' Say, you always were slick
sort of chap, Joe; do you think you could
help me?"
Mr.. Cray stretched thin but muscular
hand across the table
Il do thing so, and | will, Ed he de-
clared. Put it there
The Croft-dum Medlicott party occupied
a large round table in the corner of the res
taurant. Mr.. Wallin and his companion
paused before it on their way out.
81 want you all to know my friend, Mr..
Joseph P. Cray" the former said. with his
hand on Hiram Crofts shoulder. Mr..
Cray has just returned from two years of
relief work with the army of occupation"
Senator Croft shook hands. The intro
duction was made general
"And relation, may I ask" Mrs. Medli-
colt began, adjusting her pince-nez.
"My friend Mr.. Cray, Mr.. Wallin inter
rupted proudly, sis the husband of Mrs.
Cray, the vice president of the kill-the
Drink league"
Senator Croft shook hands with him
again.
This is privilege. Mr.. Cray" he said.
Every one seemed pleased and happy.
chair was brought for Mr.. Cray, who looked
round at the table with its four goblets of
ice water with an inward SILVER. There
was a good deal of general conversation,
which Mr.. Cray dexterously brought up to
a certain point.
Senator Croft" he said, 81 am one of
those men who, before the war, had used
liquor in moderation"
Mr.. Cray in the eyes of everybody be-
came very black sheep indeed. Every
bodys manner stiffened perceptibly 1t
was hard to connect an even moderate use
of strong drink with the husband of such
an inspired dry prophecies as Mrs. Cray.
"When l took up my work over there
Mr.. Cray continued, 81 cut it right out. Not
a drop of liquor of any sort passed my lips.
Being naturally of somewhat thirsty dis
position l developed strong interest in
ah-temperance drinks"
"Surew Mr.. Croft murmured with re-
turning tolerance.
1.-THE subject of temperance drinks" Mr..
Medlicott announced sis one which is at
the present time engaging large share
of our attention.
$50 l understand from my friend, Mr..
Wallin, here" Mr.. Cray said. 81 gathered
that you were over here looking out for
thoroughly satisfactory receipt for non
alcoholic beverage"
'Do you know of one, Mr.. Cray" Mrs.
Medlicott asked
Madam" the gentleman addressed re-
piled solemnly, 81 do
'sThs is becoming very interesting" the
senator remarked Can we be introduced
to it, SIR"
Mrs. Medlicott and gentlemen he said,
1T is, IN sense, most extraordinary
thing that l should have come into touch
with you. l claim to have discovered the
most wonderful. refreshing, thirst-quench-
ing and exhilarating beverage the world has
ever known. hold the receipt for it, and
l value that receipt at good many dol
lars"
Mr.. Croft murmured and nodded
"If the beverage" Mr.. Cray proceeded
solemnly, "were put on the market accord
ing to my directions and sold at even a
moderate profit, its sales throughout the
world would be colossal. But" he went
on, ''all this is talk. l am prepared to prove
my words. ask you, Mrs. Medlicott and
gentlemen, have you yet discovered salts
factory non-alcoholic beverage?"
''We have not" Mrs. Medlicott admitted.
eve were inclined to favor a certain
brand of dry ginger ale,' Mr.. Croft OBJ
served "but we have come to the decision
that its after-effects are deleterious"
"a sense of initiation" one of the old
gentlemen murmured
"a tendency towards pains in the lower
regions" Mr.. Medlicott admitted frankly.