The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-26
New and Amazing Serial Describes Ont
Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom


j indifferently. I knew I had
the ability to get plenty of work
along my lines. and didn't care
particularly about having been
''fired." What 1 was concerned
about, and what dreaded more
than words can express. was
meeting and trying to square"
myself with Mildred didn't see
how she could possibly forgive
me, or even overlook my conduct
without forgiveness. Maudlinly
found myself wishing were dead:
, nor did 1 pull myself cut of that
mood until Hicks returned and
mixed up q couple of fiery drinks.
While drinking I had always
! tried to avoid meeting anyone for
whom / cared, but that morning.
Afte~ Hicks MIXED three or four
drinks of so-called whisky for me,
: decided to go home and have
. II over with
had been away eight days
without communicating with Mil
dred, and, aa nearly as / could
calculate, had spent all my saw
ings. / had lost my job, which
meant the cutting off OF regular
income from that source, and !
had weakened my standing in
the community with some Of my
friends and possible clients.
But in spite OF all these set
backs and causes for worry, the
thought OF facing Mildred was
the paramount ordeal. I wanted
to dodge it. but knew ! couldn't;
so drank as much as could
stand without becoming visibly
intoxicated, in order to get up
Dutch" courage. When told
Hicks of my intention of going
home that morning he tried to
dissuade me.
tits Sunday. Wait until to-
morrow" he urged. ''We'll slow
up today and be all right tomor-
row. I've got my wife to mike
explanations to. but it's going
to be tomorrow morning for mine.
Come on stay with me till to-
morrow"
One Regret
For q wonder, remained firm
IA my resolve. Half an hour
later I got off a Bryan street car
near our place. and a moment
later I was in the house. To my
great relief, Mildred was not
three. She had gone to church,
leaving Donnie In charge OF Mrs.
McCuiloeh, the woman who came
every day from 5 till 5 to help
in the housework and look after
the boy.
OF course, a great revulsion OF
feeling swept over me as gazed
ARRR 1As
eyes and listened to his talk. Just
as soon as ] could / retired to my
own room and went to bed.
knew I was going to be sick and
regretted not having. brought
home a bottle. While undressing
I was seized with an awful in
c1lnation to redress and go back
downtown until the next day, but
conquered 1t. I called to Mrs.
McCulloch and asked her TO tell
Mildred not to disturb me when
she came home. 1 wanted to gain
time. wanted to put Off seeing
her as long as could.
Reaction from the poisonous
stuff had been -swilling for a
week set in almost at once. / be-
came violently i'll and was obliged
to call Mrs. McCulioch into the
room. She wanted to send for a
doctor, but I said no. Then Mil
dred returned. She came in and
heard the tail end Of the talk
about the doctor.
mo, never mind the DOCTOR"
she said to Mrs. McCulloch. "If
he wants one he'll ask for him.
Just let him lie there" She
passed out Of the room without
speaking to me at all, Mrs. Nc
Culloch following. I rapidly grew
worse and was In the throes OF
acute nausea, with intermittent
vomiting.
Aid In Nurse Is Unexpected
Presently I heard voices in the
front room. 1t was the Reddins-
tons-the couple who had lived
with me during the summer. They
had called. Mildred was telling
them was Ill and they were pre-.