Read The Alcoholics for Free Online Page B

wagged his gray head thoughtfully. "I've never been able to understand it," he said, his tone indicating that the problem was not one of personal concern.
    "It's a very interesting question," said Gerald Holcomb, in much the same tone. "Brother and I were discussing it only a night or so ago. You remember, brother?"
    "I do indeed," nodded John Holcomb. "I believe we made a mental note to ask our good friend, here, the doctor, about it. But since he seems to be as baffled as we are… Mr. Sloan? Do you have an opinion?"
    Jeff Sloan shrugged. "The only opinion I have right now is that I'm going to fall apart if I don't have a drink. How about it, Doc, as long as we're on the subject?"
    "You've had one," said Doctor Murphy shortly, and he thought: Dammit, are they all crazy or am I? They act like-
    "Just one, Doc. I only had an ounce. What's an ounce of whiskey for a man with a bad case of shakes?"
    "All you need. All you'd better have."
    "Well," said Bernie Edmonds, blandly, "every case is different, of course, but my own experience has been that a little whiskey is like a little knowledge-actually dangerous, you know. Less medicative than, uh, aggravative. Aggravative, Holcomb: Is that a good word?"
    "If it isn't," said John, "it should be. At any rate, Bernie, I certainly agree with your sentiment."
    "A beautiful and concise restatement of an ancient truth," said Gerald. "To wit: A man can't fly on one wing. I believe we're all in agreement, here, Doctor. Mr. Sloan needs and should have another drink."
    "Give him one yourself," snapped the doctor. "I know damned well- Did you find it, Rufus?"
    "No, suh. Sure ain't no whiskey in that room," said Rufus.
    "But-all right," said Doctor Murphy.
    "How about it, Doc," said Sloan. "Make it a good shot this time, huh?"
    Doc Murphy looked at him. He had given Sloan an antabuse pill, and it takes no great amount of whiskey, in combination with antabuse, to prove damn-near fatal.
    "All right," said the doctor. "Rufus, bring Mr. Sloan an ounce and a half of bourbon."
    He held out his keys. Rufus took them, returned after a moment with the drink; and Doc carefully returned the keys to his pocket.
    "Now, I'm warning you, Sloan. You shouldn't take that drink. You're going to wish you hadn't, and you'd be a lot better off without it."
    Jeff Sloan nodded. "I don't doubt you a bit, Doctor," he said, and he swallowed the drink at a gulp.
    Doctor Murphy shoved back his chair and stood up.
    He strode out of the room and out the front door.
    Bernie bowed his head at Sloan in a gesture of appreciation. "Nice going. A very nice act. Doc's thoroughly convinced that you're about to suffer the agonies of the damned."
    "And does he love it," grinned Sloan. "I'll have to do some more eye-fluttering and sweating for him. If I play it just right-suffer in just the right amount-I may be able to make him for three or four more shots."
    "You're positive you didn't swallow any of the antabuse?" said John Holcomb. "It doesn't take much of it to-"
    "You're telling me," said Sloan. "I've had that stuff before. Couldn't sit down. Couldn't lie still. Couldn't get my breath and my heart kept fluttering and stopping. I wasn't sick, you know. Just so damned uncomfortable and uneasy that I wished I could die and get it over with."
    "But I thought Doc watched you take it?"
    "Oh, I put it in my mouth all right. But I tongued it into my hand when I took my drink."
    He demonstrated the trick, while the Holcombs and Bernie looked on admiringly.
    Then Gerald glanced meaningfully at John and the two of them glanced at Bernie, and all three stood up.
    "If you'll excuse me, Mr. Sloan…"
    "Oh, sure," said Jeff easily. "You fellows go right ahead. I'm feeling no pain, for the moment."
    The brothers murmured appreciation for Sloan's tact and understanding. Bernie Edmonds felt constrained to explain the situation.
    "We-the Holcombs, I should say-have less than a quart. As long as you can get it out of Doc, you'd probably better do