The waiter was there to take my order. I
knew him and winked to him to go away, and he went. He thought I was
going to work the young fellow for his money.
The young fellow said, "Why don't you call for something? I thought you
were starving."
Now here I was up against it. I'd panned this man for something to eat,
and he was willing to pay for anything I wanted, and for the life of me
I could not swallow any food. When a man is drinking he doesn't care to
eat at a table. Give him a square meal, and he doesn't enjoy it. I know
men to-day who spend every dollar they earn for drink, and eat nothing
but free lunches, handed out with their drinks. That was what was the
matter with me. All I wanted was drink. The young man had called my
bluff, and I had nothing to show but lies. I sat there wondering how I
was going to get out of this hole. I was looking at the man and he at
me, when the little good that was in me cropped out, and looking him
square in the eye I said, "Young fellow, I've lied to you. I could not
eat the first mouthful." I told him I'd gone up to him thinking he would
dig down in his pocket and give me a little change.
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