The Washington times., 1925-11-10
The Authors Own
Fascinating Story
of His Long But
Losing Battle
For Freedom
and Health

TIHEN, suddenly. L remembered
n pile Of old check books, many
Of them on banks IN a Northern
city, in one OF the compartments
In the back room of the office in
Dallas, where I had desk room.
had run across them one day
willie hunting for some one-sheets
that Howell wanted and couldn't
find. remembered being curious
as to how they got there and that
they were printed with the names
OF different firms and individuals.
II those old check books were
still in that compartment my
elan was made to order for me.
had a key to the office, and ]
would go up there late at night.
Turning on Lights
I took the 10 o'clock interurban
Tor Dallas. At 11:30 was in the
back room Of the office. feeling
like a burglar. I turned on an
electric light. and Immediately
turned II off again. Its glare
frightened me. Someone might
see me. After long time
switched It on again. I carried
the dust-covered check books
big books they were with four or
five books to the page-to a table,
and nervously tore out two or
three pages Of checks from each
one, taking them from the back.
These put into my pocket. The
books 1 returned to the shelf. leav-
ing them as nearly as had found
them as could.
3 L was trembling violently as I
went down the stairs and out onto
= the deserted streets. Had a DO
1iceman accosted me / believe I
should have run. I felt the need
of a drink. I knew place where
1t could be had. and bought a
quart. Then I went to the st.
George Hotel and to room there.
I took several drinks. and lost
consciousness.
I awoke with a start. my nerves
jumping. It was $3.50 a. m. For
some unaccountable reason ] felt
irnpelIed to get out, Of that room.
I had not undressed but had been
living across the bed. l took a
drink from the bottle. went down
stairs. said hello" to the sleepy
clerk. and stepped out on to>Main
street.
What happened to me 1 don't
know. I awoke in an under
around room, with dim lights, and
bars all about me. I was lying
on a bench. There were fifteen or
twenty men in there, most OF
them lying on the stone floor.
Two or three were walking back
and forth liked Gagged animals.
Where was I? How had got
there? Evidently it was jail.
One of the walkers stopped and
spoke to me.
Gee, but you were drunk he
laughed. "They carried you IN
here like a sack of meal. How
y'r feeIin'?"
"Couldn't feel much worse" 1
said as staggered to my feet.
I ran my hand down into my
trousers pocket. My money. near
~, $500. was gone. My hand weot
into my inside goat pocket like
a flash. The blank checks and
some other papers were still
there. / felt relieved. Yet
was apprehensive. What had !
been arrested for? What did the
police know?
Here. take this said the
man who had spoken to me. He
was offering me something-a
white powder-on the tip of
slip of paper. In the other hand
he had a rusty tin cup of water.
"a iii shot of NJ" he said; it'll
Straighten you right up"
"a lii shot of M" and the man
who was offering it to me was a
total stranger. Even in my daZad
condition / knew his intentions
were kindly. and checked the i'm
pulse to knock the paper out of
his hand.
II don't want any of that
stuff" / said, irritably: put it
away. Don't you know you're
taking an awful chance showing
it?'
Without a word, he quickly
transferred the little heap of
white powder TO his tongue and
took a sip of water to wash it
down. ] noticed his skin was
like parchment and his clothes
threadbare. He was a little fel-
low and looked intelligent. but
needed a haircut.
81 thought it'd help you he
mumbled. BEG your pardon"
That made me feel cheap, and
was endeavoring to square my
self with him when the rattle Of
a key in the solid iron door at
the end of the passage outside
T. the bars that ran to the ceiling
at one end of the room attracted
my attention. / knew ii must
Be the jailer.
What place is this?" l asked
the little man. hastily.
Its the city prison, under the
city hail." he replied. 1T must
be getting along toward daylight.