“What could ever cause a man to get into such a condition?” asked a fellow, who, three weeks before, had arrived quite as dishevelled, but had already forgotten the fact, which is just as well.
“The cause?” asked the German.
“Yes.”
“Beer.”
“Beer! You are the first man I ever saw who got to such a finish on beer,” returned the questioner.
“I drink nothing else—never,” the old German affirmed.
“I am thinking Mr. Floyd will try to clean you up in a hurry—or not at all—if you tell him that beer put you down and out.”
“I hope so,” said the old man; “I feel pretty bad.”
“Some mighty arguments have been put out that it is the distilled liquors that do all the mischief; that light wine and malt liquors are no more harmful than tea. And here you are in our camp to disprove this contention. If you say you have been on a beer debauch, you may not be believed.”