The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-03
CHAPTER xxx11r

AN4S SIOn6 Win the Ru8f0,
Maurice had 4 look round the sit
ting-room that confirmed him in his
poor opinion Of the Bellamy. It
was hard to understand what the
family physician could have been
thinking Of, to have lodged Fenno's
father in such = hole. If his hurts
had been 50 slight that he could
be moved in from the street to these
grubby accommodations, one would
think, he might as readily have
been conveyed to his own home. II
serious, surely he should have been
taken straightway to some hospital
Of the first class.
Baffied understanding could only
fall back on the reflection that
every country has its peculiar Gus
toms-ways often at first sight
quite illogical in alien eyes.
Maurice idly moved round tho ta-
bic and shifted . chair, 80 that he
might sit down without squarin1
himself at his companion. Some
thing thumped on the floor; and
the guard, with profanity, pumped
to his knees and retrieved . cork
less bottle which had been left
standing beneath the chair, q II
slowed there in haste for want Of
. handler hiding-place.
Good griefl" he lamented.. get
ting up. "Almost that was . trag-
edy, fella. However. I guess there
wasn't any spilled TO speak Of. L
got to hand it to me-I'm one spry
III guy when liquors in peril"
He grinned 1t Maurice over the
bottle % he had : ravished sniff 1t
its neck.
Alright stun! Suppose and you
treat ourselves to . shot; how about
it,"
"Many thanks" Maurice replied.
Il haven't any taste for whisky.
But don't let me prevent YOU"
"Hot chanc't." The humorist
stopped . stiff dram into one Of the
used glasses, took it raw, and
smacked lips Of gusto. Maybe
you know best about your drinkin,
but thay's one thing you don't know,
and that's what you're missin'."
"lm sure"
II know" A singular geniality
had already extinguished his earlier
insolence: it was strangely as If
the creature had made up his mind
to forgive Maurice the misfortune
Of being . foreigner. and by treat
ing him rs IN equal. make full
amends. "You're scared, account
81 al you've heard tell about rot
gut passin' for hootch over here.
Well, believe It or not, you got no
call to be in this hotel; anything
= person gets here is right-genu-
wine import goods that amt even
been uncorked, let alone cut be-
fore they buy il"
Zone il to understand you are
well acquainted here?"
with this dump? Only like I am
with the palms Of my hand" The
man slouched down in his chair. Of.
fered cigarettes, and when Maurice
politely declined, lighted one for
himself. "Why wouldn't be-? Don't
/ live here?"
"You live here!"
II bet me your life. Anything
funny about that?"
"Only, I daresay. to one accus.
VOI1IGV 80 = 01U w ANOA ~ C0Ssb NAV
tiers from q European viewpoint.
To me, / confess, It seems curious
that . wage-earner should be able
to afford American hotel tariffs. I
can only infer that the difference
between your wage-scale and ours
accounts for It, monsieur"
The guard, sitting with his head
cooked at 4 quizzical angle, and
giving his ironical grin full play
again, permitted . surprising vol.
ume Of smoke to drain oil through
his nostrils before replying:
"Ain't tryin' TO kid me or any
thing, are you. fella?"
"But ! do not know you well
enough TO jest with you on personal
matters."
TO this, after another instant Of
silent speculation. the guard re-
turned with . wag Of defeated
head:
.All l can say b. one Of us is all
wet"
4 good-natured shrue conveyed
th1t Maurice Was content to let |
th1t pass II his course In the |
American vernacular under Tess
BqFce was incomplete. II it had yet
teb put him % spsalEing torms with !