The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-02-05
TAXING THE EDGE orr

Saturday noon sort Of slouchy.loot.
hungry-eyed, cadaverous fellow star,ro5 !.
to restaurant on Fourth street and =,
he wanted a cup of coffee and a r;aco :,
bread and butter. The waiter told him a..
the place sold nothing short of cop1rls-.
dinner, and the price was fifty cents. ssi5
the stranger, well, you see, amt ro.l
hungry, and only want little coffee o,s
| a bit of bread"
Waiter-It makes no difference; W. ssn
! whole dinner for fifty cents, and notbi,,
else.
Stranger-You give hull d1nnerfor sf+-
| cents?
waiter-Yes, a whole dinner roast r,a,.
| potatoes, suceotash, bread, butter, pie, pu5.
ding, coffee and tea
Stranger-Well, s'pose you give ma,
| all he wants to eatS
Waiter-Oh, yes; we fill you up for fftv
cents, and give you solid, good, plain
| meal.
Stranger-Well, I've half mind to ca.
with We. The fact is the ole womin giva
me half loaf of bread and piece q;
| cold corn beef for a bite, and 1 eat that I'D
! at Carpenters jes now with glass of beer
1 thought I'd like good cup of coffee and
little bread and butter to kind O wash
the thing down but ye say ye can't gim's
! that2
waiter-No, sir. Wen give you, as I've
said, solid, square meal for fifty cents
You can eat as little or as much as you
please.
The strangers eyes opened and looked
! thoughtful for moment, and then strik
ing his fist on the table, he exclaimed
| 'cBy gum. 1 b'leeve I'll take it amt
right real hungry, but bring on yer roas'
beef and taters, suckithash, tea, eofea.
bread, pie and puddin'! Bring 'em On.
BY gum, I'm in for a square meal, and ny
fifty cents worthi'' The waiter hurried "a
respond, and the way that strangers knife
| and fork played between his mouth and tbs
plates was caution to CREASED lightning
1t beat half dozen pair Of casJinets, and
sounded more like one OF Billy McAlister's
bone solos than anything else we ever heard
The waiter stood aghast, and when he
turned up with the third plate Of roast bezf
the proprietor, pale as marble, from
Vermont quarry, called him. aside behind
the bar.
"For Gods sake, who is that fellow"
said he; che eats victuals as fast as .
threshing- machine swallows straw The
strangers plates were beginning to show
bottom again, and his eyes were running up
and down the room for the waiter He did
not stop in his eating, but simply turned
his back and let fly again5t the wall with
| his heels.
f'Gi' ne s'more roast beef and tater's,"
he shouted.
The landlord raised his hands in hor-
! ror.
Great heaven, Jamss, "hen clean Us
out said he, as the waiter sprang for the
| kitchen.
"Ain't ye got morn wun kind OF pie
! inquired the stranger.
'fOh, yes said the waiter.
"Wel, then, bring it on, and giv's sun
o that pud'n, too. Jeminy, f 1 was only
hungry, how I'd clean We outi Bring me
two cups of coffee and p cup of tea, to,
1 amt only jis beginning to eat
The landlord listened with dismay. and
stopping the waiter, as he entered the kitoh-
for the fifteenth time, walked solemnly up
to the stranger, and said:
"See here, We amt got enough in the
house to feed you. Just go on nov, 1 VIII
call it all square. You needn't pay cent
for what you've had.
The stranger became indignant, and de-
clined, saying that his appetite was just
coming. and winding up with a very, very
emphatic:
Hanged if 1 will"
A bright thought struck the landlord, as
he walked off in mental agony. Fastening
to the bar, he jerked open the till, pulled
out half dollar, and, rushing up to the
stranger, placed it in his hand.
sHere, here,'' said he, "take this and 60
right up to the Holly Tree Inn, and clean
'em ont. Go on. They'll feed you till you
bust for fifty cents
"Well," said the stranger, as he gradually
arose and stretched himself, at the same
time putting the scrip into his vest pocket
''I don't mind eff 1 do take it. 1 amt very
hungry anyhow. I only wanted a cup OF
coffee and a piece of bread and butter,
when L come in, but Tn jis as wei as sat
isfed. l guess I'll buy the old mare some
oats; wait until get hum to finish up
| and he left.