The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-10-08

W. "UiO w Speuu bue nlBnb. we re-
ported ourselves at the eommissary
bureau, where had the good fortune
to find good. natured acquaintance in
the officer in charge. In the course of
conversation, told him how l and my
.companions had been robbed by The
Shark proprietor few days previously.
know the fellow" said he.
"There have already been good many
complaints about MIN; but have de-
tarmined 10 send him as many of my
| billets e5 l can with any show of JUS
ticc in that way one can, perhaps, get
even with the rascal"
"Ah, an excellent idea /" I cried.
"Send me and my comrades to him
that is, if you can"
"Why not? Eight men-yes, Ger.
tainly I can seud you to him. The fell
low is rich /; the other houses are full,
and he has only three or four Bavari.
ans. Yes, I'll send you to him for to.
night"
Fifteen minutes later our wagon drew
up before the door OF The Shark. On
the way had unfolded little plan to
my companions, with which they were
delighted,
When orr worthy host saw us he was
radiant with delight, and his satisfac
t1on was apparently increased when we
excused ourselves for troubling him
again so soon, and begged that he
would have our tired horses well at,
| tended to.
ooh, you are very welcome, gentle.
men," he replied, rubbing his hands
with sort of satanic glee. "You dc
my little house great honor - "Here
have the eight ounces again." he
thought to himself.)
We made ourselves as comfortable as
possible, and, in our endeavors in this
direction, we were ably seconded by
our host. When he asked us how many
rooms we wished, we modestly replied
that we were by no means particular
how many we had whereupon he has
tened to allot to our occupancy eight
rooms in q row, up two flights of stairs,
which, he assured us, were as comfort.
able as any rooms in his house, and ]
have no doubt that, in making the
statement, he was not very wide of the
truth. OF ordering our supper, we
made equally light work, leaving the
selection of the bill-of-fare entirely to
him. Yes, we even went SO far in evinc
ing our confidence in his judgment and
discretion as to allow him to select oul
wine for us.
Perhaps shall put bottle Of
champagne on ice ?" he suggested. 81
hope Messieurs les Prussiens found my
wine to their taste the other evening""
If you choose, you may put two or
ice" replied.
Perhaps three, messieurs.
"Four If you like"
"Bon, let us say six"
"You are very kind, monsieur"
4" Ny duty, my duty think know
what is due to such guests as you are,
gentlemen"
And so we continued to compliment
each other until cur jaws were busy
with supper, which, thanks to the gen
erosity of our host, was truly Luculliar
in its character.
Our host watched our glasses witt
Argus-eyes, and hardly were they empty
when the walters, in obedience to hi;
wink, filled them again this we gave
him an opportunity to do very fire
quently, especially when he brought OF
the champagne, which, to do the Sharl
justice, l confess was very good, and
unlike his claret, had not been watered
We swallowed with heroic courage
whatever was set before us-and it is
astonishing what eight healthy, willing
fellows can accomplish in this dire ctior
under proper encouragement, after {
hard days march, especially if they
have been on plain fare for few days
We repeatedly drank the Shark health
an honor the significance of which ht
was destined not to learn until the mex
morning. Finally, at late hour, will
heavy heads and timber knees, leaving
formidable battery OF empty bottles
behind us, We retired to sleep the sleel
of-the avengers.
The next morning, bright and early
late as it was when we went to ou
table enjoying our cafe az lait, and il
all the better humor in consequence o
the success of our little plot. 1t wa
with sort of triumphant satisfaction
that I watched our host, as we dranl
our coffee, making a copy of wha
seemed to be an lnteYminable list o
entries in big account-book befor'
him.
"Now ne is slaughtering u.s."
whispered to my comrades, just as on
of our drivers, a stalwart Pomeranian
presented himself at the door, ant
cried out, "The wagons are ready
gentlemen y
Before our landlord could recove
from his astonishment, We were out 0
his house and in our seats. But he wa
close upon us with his bill, which coul,
have been measured with yard-stick
L glanced at the sum. 1t was, as W
intended it should be, larger than tn
previous one.
"What is it you wish ?" L asked wit
all the naiVete 1 could command.
"The amount of my little bill, mes
sieurs, if you please" repeated tn
Shark, in his blandest tone.
"Your bill how? why, we wer
quartered with you"
"Eh wh-What qua-quartere
with me ?" he stammered, and at eac
syllable his under jaw fell lower an
lower.
Certainly Is it possible that
forgot last evening to give you our bil
let? Why, here it is now!" and
drew the document from my pocket an
handed it to him. 81 beg thousan
pardons, mon cher monsieur Driver
go on !"
And away we drove, laughing hear
lily. The Shark, however, did not seer
to relish the Joke. AS long as we wer
in sight he stood still, "with murde
in his MEN," looking now at us, an
now at his little bill"
/ he.