The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-24


that their pupils studied me intently
"How far would you travel with a
man who could toss you bunch like
that on the table ?" he pointed at the
wad of bills. II need man like. YOU,
a man that can look and talk and
act like a gentleman. l got ideas
but amt always able to put them
over. You see, know my own
limits. 1t doesn't matter how much
OF front / wear it don't fool the
people that / want to fool"
understood him. "My face is III,
fortune. Is that it," / laughed.
He nodded. "You can make 1t
your fortune. 1t hasn't made much
of one for you yet. Anyone can
tell that you have been educated, and
used to good things and all that,
where's it got you?"
Here in your apartment, accept
ing charity" / replied.
He waived disclaiming hand.
"Not charity-business," he correct
ed me.
THANK you," said l. "I'm glad
you put it on business basis. How
much do you think the food l ate
was worth?"
What you mean?" he asked.
| 81 mean what l told you awhile
ago I'm a gentleman" said, mot
u bootlegger or a crook
His thin lips curled in a sheer. 81
suppose it's better to be gentle
man and starve than wise guy and
get rich"
II think So" | told him.
There's still other ways of max
ing money" he said. For instance,
you could run to the police, give
them my address, and tell them what
I've told you"
| "You know that l won't" l replied
| will this cover the cost of what
| ate ?"
| admit that it was ungracious,
even to confessed criminal. But
after all, he had insulted me. l
placed two dollars upon the table
how pitiful >the amount was when
laid beside his huge wad of bills
picked up my hat from the chair on
which it had been dropped at my en-
trance, nodded to him and started for
the door.
wait minute" he said. "When
you think this over, you'll change
your mind. You'll want to find me,
! won't be here. This place is rented
for the night. Just 60 to Weinberg
| and tell him you want me. That's
the kind OF man l ammo hare
feelings"
"None here, either" / told him.
"But | hardly think We'll meet
again"
"Your belly's filled now. Wait till
you're hungry again"
81 WILL" said l. And with that l
| walked from the apartment to find
myself moment later in Washing
ton Square. l looked at the great
clock on the Judson Tower. l could
still keep my word to Mrs. Cannon.
did. Then, with two dollars left Of
the five that l had received from
weinberg, | climbed, more easily
this time than last, to my room.
/ sat down upon the bed and re-
Viewed the last hour. And as l
thought of how a cheap criminal had
carried me to his lodgings, fed me,
patronized me and insulted me,
was sick with shame. A man of my
education and breeding, who had
sunk so low in the social scale that
he was open to such an insult, who
was as unable to cope with the ele-
mentary facts of life as l was, was
unfit to live.
1t was harsh judgment which l
rendered against myself, but just
one. Incompetents clutter up the
path of progress. Society, in making
civilized life difficult for the incom-
petent, is enacting natural DEGREES;
for nature. before society began, de-
stroyed the incompetent. A sudden
determination came to me. | had
parted with the last possession that
had a marketable value. Of course,
had my overcoat, but freezing was
not preferable to starvation. Z
But why starve or freeze when
there was an easy alternative?
That is, the alternative would be
easy IL j were III luIl poSsesSloH u
my facilities. But if I became
hungry to the point of starvation
again. MY facilities would be inn
paired, my will be gone. could see
myself begging of passers-by, even,
possibly, rummaging in refuse-pails
for bone or . crust, like any FAM
ished dog.
The alternative, of swift and simple
self destruction, was infinitely pref
cradle to such degradation. ! would
eat again--already my stomach cried
for more food, so long had l gone
hungry-then walk to the water
front and rid society of one OF its
unfit.
t(Continued in Our Next Issue)