Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29
spark Of yeHou light burned steadily the "htness the shirt front
OF
thing, tufdLed the 0 shoulder

leaned the parapet of the bridge and
stared at the river.
Hankinson. after q sharp glance at him,
edged away; he resented the others presence.
and was not pleased to know that 1t had been
thrus, upon him so very stealthily.
L passed no remark" said Hankinson icily.
No" said the other Il know you didn't.
But that what you were saying to your
self. you know-eh?"
My thoughts are my own,' responded Han
kinson, still icy and surly.
"Um-m,' said the stranger they are-when
you can keep them strictly to yourself"
Hanknson coughed note Of mingled dis
like and defiance.
L can keep myself to myself" ne answered.
and then added. with primitive touch of sig
nificant meaning, and that's more than some
folks can do"
quite I-er-wil you come and have . drink
with me-"
[ IANKINSON turned hot and cold He
Strengthened himself The stranger was al
ready preparing to saunter downward.
Don't mind If I do" said Hankinson sud
denly.
His taciturnity vanished. The thought of
ale, cool, amber, refreshing, filled every nook
and Granny Of his mind. He turned and
marched along at the strangers side and his
usual good opinion of himself made him hold
up his head
Close to the foot of the bridge stood a liquor
shop. They went in to q room hanked by q
wooden counter, whereat . stout woman was
dispensing drinks
The stranger pushed forward into the light.
and Hankinson followed closely upon his heels
keenly alive to the fact that he was positively
thirsting for the drink which had been prom
ised him When he had become possessed Of
a large bottle Of Bass and had tested it with
preliminary remark which implied that he
Y,,el ,aI all - ~
Hankinson looked at the latter more closely.
When he had finished his inspection q certain
amount Of wonder fell upon him, and he began
to ask himself what the man was doing there.
According to his reckoning. the stranger was
a gentleman. He wore good clothes, spotless
linen. he was very well groomed and set UP,
and there was certain air Of distinction about
him which led HankinSon to wonder If he had
ever been in the army and had q command
the only thing in which he himself conceived
distinction to be found.
He slipped languidy at a glass of John Jane
sons whisky, understanding to praise it in
words almost as heartily as Hankinson, by deed,
praised the ale. 1t took another bottle of the
latter to assuage Hankinson's thirst for that
time, and when it had been duly consumed they
went out.
Hankinson paused awkwardly at the door;
he was not quite certain what ought to be said
or done The stranger paused, too and pro-
duced cigar case. Have cigaT?" he said.
Hankinson accepted the generous offer with
alacrity. He remarked to that inner self with
which he often held converse that If he was
in for good thing he might as well make the
most of it. And so each man lighted a cigar,
and they strolled on to the bridge together en-
joying the nights silent peace.
"A pleasant night" remarked the stranger
in a casual tone. What do you say if we stroll
along the riverside for little way?"
I'm agreeable" said Hankinson I'm al
ways game for little innocent pleasure-that's
met"
Ali" said the other. There's a good deal
of innocent pleasure to be got out of life if ore
knows how to go about it-eh?"
Hankinson intimated that he knew his way
about as we'll as most-thats what he did. He
proceeded to talk freely Of how he acquired his
knowledge and what his knowledge amounted
to as they strolled along a path which lay on
the further side of the river