The Washington times., 1925-11-11
The Authors Own
Fascinating Story
OF His Long But
Losing Battle
For Freedom
and Health

THINK you can take care or
yourself now?" he laughed, as I
approached. I'VE had to put you
inside. Couldn't get anything
out Of you, 'cept your name.
You were dead to the world.
They found you on the sidewalk
down on Main street, with a wad
Of bills big enough to, choke a
horse sticking out Of your pants
pocket. It's wonder somebody
hadn't rolled you. Will you go
straight home? Where do you
1ive?''
Would I go straight homer" I
shrank from the question as
from-a loaded revolver. 1 couldn't
go home; it was out of the ques-
ton.
mo, 1 can't go home until I
get thoroughly sobered up"
said. but I have a room at
the st. George and I'll go
straight there and .remain."
"Wfllin' to pay for a taxi to
take you down there?" he asked.
Sure" I responded eagerly.
He told one of the attendants
70 call a taxi, and then pro-
ceeded to count out my money to
me. I'll have to hold out SO
for your appearance. he said.
I'VE give you a receipt for it.
Sorry we had to look you up,
but you were helpless. Be a. little
more careful hereafter. This
bootleg nowadays is bad stuff
On the way out to the taxi a
Few moments later asked the
policeman who accompanied me if
/ would have to appear in court.
That's up to. you," he said.
Most of lem don't. They just
forfeit the bail money and let it
go at that"
On the way down to the hotel
did some thinking, and after /
got there sat in the lobby and
thought some more. This was
the third time in my life that
had been found insensible on the
street, Once in New York. dur
ing the time I had been en-
ployed with Osborne; and once in
San Francisco during the summer
Of 1919.
In the liter case the bartender
told me afterwards that / had
been standing at the bar, talking
and drinking, apparently in full
possession Of my faculties, and
had dropped to the floor like
shot. They had hustled me
across the street to a hotel and
put me to bed.
Walked and Talked
Also, many persons had told
me that, aside from q queer ex-
preston in the eyes, it was inn
possible to tell when 1 was in
toxicated, no matter how much
I drank, until / collapsed. 1 al
ways walked and talked up 20
the very last moment.
This, / knew, was a dangerous
way to react to alcohol. 1t meant
that my system was capable of
standing up until the poison got
such a hold as to render me sud-
denly unconscious. At last /
arose and went up on the eleva-
tor to my room. 1t was just
breaking day. I had not been
absent from the place more than
two hours, yet had been in jail
and out again.
AS I went long the carpeted
hall toward my room saw that
the door was open. Evidently I
had left 1t that way, with my bag
and Corona readily available TO
anyone who might be disposed
to take them.
Then, as I passed the room
next to mine. I saw, through the
open door, a girl in a Japanese
bed. She was looking directly at
II IL l.
on, embarrassed at having in
truded. A moment later l was
In my own room and had swaI-
lowed big drink of corn liquor.
The night before 1 had planned
to catch the day train for. Hous-
ton, and sat down, wondering
II l dared try to go to sleep.
Should / do so ] might miss the
train, and / wanted to be In
Houston bright
and early Monday.
Surprise Visit
Then something happened which
am doubtful about telling.
don't want to shock readers, yet
1 do want TO tell every detail l
Con that will help toward an un-
outstanding Of what eventually
happened to me as the conse-
quences of alcoholic indulgence.
/ was sitting there debating
whether to lie down or sit up
until the train was due to leave
at o'clock when a timid knock
sounded on my door
Come in!' / called, without
getting up. l imagined it was an
early bellboy seeking to sell me
more booze. I would need a fresh
bottle for the all-day trip on tho
train, and was glad of the fore
sight.
waited. Nothing happened. Come
i'm l called. still louder, wonder
ing If was beginning to hear
things"
The knob turned slowly and a