Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

98 DANGRR IN THR DARK.
sauntered out of his room upon the street, and
directly met a company of idle' young men, on whose
hands time seemed to hang as heavily as upon his
own.
"Which way, Mr. Carleton ~" inquired one of their
number, in a familiar manner.
"I'm trying," he replied, "to run away from the
blue-devila-heavy thoughts and dull hours."
" Ah I we are just the men who can sympathize
with you in that distress; for these blue-devils you
talk of, have been hard after us all day, and our
captain here proposes to halt at Wring-neck alley and
fire a broad-side upon the foe I"
"In the shape of brandy-slings, mint-juleps, gincocktails,
etc., I imagine ?"
"That's the kind of artillery and no mistake!
Come now, fall into ranks with us, and we'll route
the enemy, horse, foot and dragoons I"
"Yes-join us in our stroll, Alonzo," remarked,
Mr. Brown, "for we all have a little touch of the
dumps to-day,"
" I'll join you only on one condition; and that is,
that we retreat to a more respectable point than Wringneck
alley, before we face about."
" All agreed I-Since we are gentlemen, it becomes
us to spree genteelly."
"I'm not in for a spree, boys-never indulge to
excess; and only wish to take enough to throw off
this unbearable dullness."