The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-07
New and Amazing Serial Describes Ont
! Mans Long But Losing Battle
for Freedom

veranda above I recognized the
voice Of my old fried, Doctor
Roster. talking to Mildred.
Board Creaked
Doctor Roster, at my behest,
had been over to see my wife
several times. On two occasions
she had remained over night with
us. They had become very friendly.
The sound Of their voices re-
lieved me. 1t gave me an idea
They were on the Veranda lii
front of the house. would creep
in the back way and get up
stairs and to bed without Their
knowledge. I would occupy the
porch bed and would not be dis
covered until morning. That
would give me q full nights sleep
and / would be in better shape.
All went we'll with my plan
until I was in the act Of turning
from the living room to the stair
way, when a board creaked.
What was that?'' / heard MIL
dred ask. There's somebody in
the house. Then came the sounl
of chair being pushed back.
It was too late to retreat.
Hastily, noiselessly as I could,
went on up, the stairs, For the
moment I had escaped detection.
A light was burning in Donn!e's
room and 7 saw him peacefully.
and confidently asleep as 1 tip
.toed past. I got to the porch.
My first thought was to swing
off. and drop to the ground he
low. But where should I go+
back to the city and booze again?N
No, that wouldn't 90. I could
hear them talking down stairs.
I'm sure there was some one,
I heard Mildred axclaim. II n
going upstairs to make sure
croucl1ed in a corner of the
porch behind a curtain and waited.
Behind Curtain.
Mildred came upstairs, went
through the three rooms and
then came out onto the sleeping
porch where 7 was concealed.
She snapped on the electric light.
Strange" 1 heard her murmur,
az knew there was somebody"
Behind the curtain L was trem-
bling in apprehension. Though
drunk, had no courage to face
Mildred. I couldn't see her, but
feared she would investigate the
corner where / was and discover
me. It was an odd situation
man hiding in his own home like
a burglar. And, should she dis
cover my presence, should she
come upon me suddenly without
realizing who I was, the shock
might. send her into Mysteries. I
scarcely breathed.
TO my great relief, Mildred
finally turned back into the house
and went downstairs. She had
left the porch light burning. l
came from my concleamant2 and
looked into the house. She had
left the lights burning in al
the upsthairs rooms. I didn't
mind that. but the light left burn
ing on the porch was a. problem.
If I turned it off Mildred would
notice the change when she re-
turned upstairs. If let it burn,
my presence in the porch would
be detected wLeE she came out
there to turn tie, light off.
Went To Bed.
I was very sleepy. knew
from experience IL ] postponed
going to sleep while / felt such
need of doing SO would become
wide awake and would soon
crave more alcohol. I turned off
the light, disrobed hastily, hid my
clothes behind the curtain and
crawled into bed. Then another
possible complication occurred to
me. Our frined, Doctor Roster,
was a fresh air enthusiast. She
might elect to sleep on the porch
that night. Should she so decide,
and should / be blissfully asleep,
she might not discover my pres
ence in the bed until burst out
laughing at the picture and check
ed myself with difficulty. Surely
they must have heard that guffaw
downstairs. I listened apprehen-
sive1y.
The next I knew it was broad
daylight. From the position OF
the SUN it must be late. My head
began to throb violently. / swung
my feet to the floor and every
thing went spinning. Need for
alcohol was upon me.
I'll slip on my clothes and
drop to the ground" 1 thought.
My mind pictured the array Of
bottles and ,. the genial bartender
at the lone Mill Valley saloon. L,
would sneak down there and get
a drink or two to brace me up.
RUt 7 would come back after
wards and have it out.
TO Be Continued Tomorrow