The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-05

all right she said. "But-but
I don't think this climate agrees
with .me-it's too cold"
Call to Fresno
That irritated me. I had bought
big supply of wood, and had
piled it right at the back door,
so that she could easily keep a
crate fire going all the time. l
knew it was chilly there in the
tall redwoods, especially when one
remained inactive. The nights
were frequently quite cold. We
always slept under blankets. At
the same time hundreds Of people
summered in Mill Valley because
of that very condition-its cool
ness, even in the hottest weather.
I was at a loss what to say.
Besides, / had but three Of four
minutes left in which to catch
the o'clock train. -
"We'l talk it over tonight" I
said as / made for the door. "I'll
have to run. Good-by.
That day I got drunk. And that
night instead OF going home I
telephoned and said had to go
to Fresno on business, suggest
ing to Mildred that she get Mrs.
Cody to come up and sleep in
the house with her.
your voice? What's the mat
ter with your voice?" she asked.
TREMENDOUSLY. "Oh, Don, you're
not drinking? Don't tell me
you're drinkingi"
''Of course I'm not drinking.
How do you get that way?" /
replied. irritablys trying to con-
vey the impression that the ques-
ton had made me angry. What's
the matter with you, anyway?
You're getting impossible. I have
big money in sight-a good PROPOSE
ton. Well move to the city, If
you like, as soon as. get back.
Don't forget to have Mrs. Cody
with you. Good-by." hung up
before she could reply.
Call Of Alcohol.
Who Is there to justify in the
least degree this reprehensible
conduct on my part and what fol-
lowed? I do not and cannot. It
gals me to tell 1t, but / am
bound to portray myself truly.
The call Of alcohol was again
upon me-wife, child, future
nothing else counted. SelfishC
ness supreme was dominant. T
believe / would have gone ahead
and got drunk that night if a
moose awaited me as the penalty
at sunrise.
For five days / remained in a
Al RAVssaVN
cisco was still wet, but the date
when national prohibition was to
become effective was close at
hand Perhaps that knowledge
egged mel don't know. man
aged to make a flying trip to
Fresno the third day solely for
the purpose Of sending Mildred
a telegram from that point, tell
ing her business had delayed me.
was afraid she might come to
San Francisco and hunt me out,
as she had done at Hartford two
years before.
When / did get back to Mill
Valley it was late at night. l
was drunk, shaky, and ashamed.
Instead of going home, set off
over the automobile road for Muir
woods, where / arrived aboct 2
a. m. I kept on up the railroad
to West Point, thence down to
Mill Valley again, arriving al
daybreak.
I was striving to get myself
sober as possible. hoping to con-
ceaI my detection from Mildred.
But when I got to Mill Valley.
after walking all night. I seemed
in worse shape. than ever. The
lone saloon was already open
long before any of the stores
and I failed to resist its lure.
One Drink.
persuaded myself that one
drink OF whiskey would straight
en- me out" would dispel my I'M
steadiness and physical misery.
OF course, I knew tht odor OF 1t
would be about me, and that MIL
dred could not help noticing It,
but 1 told myself I could con-
vince her I had taken only one
drink. AS for the business" that
had taken me away, would fab
ricate a story that had failed to
land 1t. And, although I knew
my bank account had been reduc-
ed by nearly 5000, Mildred had
never been inquisitive about
money matters. She need never
know of the shrinkage. would
jump in and make 1t up some
I sauntered into the saloon and
ordered whiskey. 1t went to the
spot" 1t was one Of the most
satisfying drinks had ever
taken in my life.
"One more won't hurt me, l
unused.
At noon I was still in that sa-
loon, doubtful of my ability to
climb the steep trail to where I
lived, and shrinking more and
more from the ordeal of meeting
Mildred. I sat for a long time
with my head between my hands,
2 o'clock train for Sausalito and
San Francisco.
After two days in San Fran.
cisco my friend ""Bill" Allen, for
whom I was working out the ad-
vertising campaign, inveigled me
down to the ferry and on to the
boat for SausaIito 1t was not I'M
til / saw the electric train
marked Mill Valley" after the
boat landed at Sausalito that /
realized his intention to get me
home. Immediately 1 baked and
the train pulled out without US.
/ was in no condition to meet
Mildred. nor anyone else. 1 .n-
sisted on returning to San Fran
cisco to sober up" Allen was
something of diplomat. He sue
ceeded in convincing me 1t Mas
better to face the music" at
once, and suggested a plan where
by / might Cease into the tynnd