Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27

contemptuous laughter of the world
about him.
A mouse like Benet will take crumbs
gratefully. since he cannot get a loaf.
So he made friends with other human
mice like himself. failures, never-to-
be men, dreamers who could not
realize their most modest dreams,
chorus men and broken-down human
litter such as one finds around a small
Paris boulevard theater.
To such people there seems but one
way to meet the ruthless reality of
Iife-that is, to forget it. And because
alcohol and narcotics help such folk
to forget the uncomfortable. they will
often trade their doubtful privilege
of living for 4 drink or "a pinch Of
cocaine.
Louis Benet, however, did not re-
sort to these substitutes. Somewhere
in him, unknown to him even. but
later to be known to the world. there
was a hidden strain of resistance. He
preferred to go on hungering for a
beautiful love TO come, for success on
the stage, which he would lay at the
feet Of the woman who might bring
him that love.
lie did not barter his dreams for
drink or drugs. But so sorry was he
for his friends, who We're only too
glad TO get these means Of forgetting.
that he did not blame them for doing
what they could to endure life.
At that time the police were carry
ing on a campaign against the
drug traffic and We're on the trail of
a ring of men who were the center
and leaders Of the traffic. The actfv-
tty Of the police made II much harder
for all drug addicts TO get their sup
ply. and among Benet's friends there
was much distress. Finally a group
Of them came to him and said:
Louis, none OF us dare move to
get the stun we want. We are being
watched SO closely that they won't
sell us any while this police hunt is
on. But we die without it, You
don't use the stun. Everybody knows
II. Nobody watches you. Won't you,
for Gods sake, go TO them and get
us a supply! We implore you"'
Benet hesitated. lie wished they
had not asked him. lie did not want
10 be the agent for the abominable
traffic. But he looked at their drawn
faces and his nerves, tortured by
hunger for life, knew what these
nerves must suffer in their torturing
hunger for the substitutes for life.
SO he gave in. and said he would
do as they asked. But he would not
take a Centimo for his risk, and gave
notice that only for a short time
would he do this thing for them.
They told him where to go, what
10 do and say. intrusted to him their
money and waited for him to return
lie did as directed and after much
caution was admitted to the outer
room of the Office of the president
of small bank in the heart oi
Paris. There a big man with a bru
tai face and glittering eyes took
Benet into a corner and said
Listen, you. If ever the police
get hold of you as a suspect, they
will question you. If you don't an
Ewer, they will bully you and perhaps
beat you. Here is my advice to you
Let them break your leg before you
tell them about this place or me.
do you hear? Because the police
will never kill you for refusing tC
tell on me. But as sure as there Is
night. as soon as you inform on us
If ever you do--your neck will bf
broken by any of 20 men who work
for me. Here is your STUFF
The man led Benet into the Inner