The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-01-14
Taking the Edge OH.

SATURDAY. noon a sort of a slouchy
looking, hungry-eyed, cadavcrous fellow
stepped into a restaurant on Fourth stree
aud said he wanted a cap of coffee and
piece of bread and butter. The waite
told him that the place sold noth'n:
shoit of n complete dinner, ond the price
was fifty cents. SAID the stranger
! /" Well. Won see, amt real hungry, ant
I only want little coffee and bit o
bread"
Waiter-It makes no difference W.
sell a whole dinner for fifty cents, ant
nothing else.
I Stranger-You give hull Dinner TO
fifty cents?
Wai,.r-Yes, whols dinner roas
meat, potatoes, succo'a>h, bread, butter
pie, pudding, coffee and tea.
Stranger-WelI, ! s'pose you give ;
man all he wants 10 eat
Waiter-Oh, yes we fill You up to-
fftv cents, aud give you a solid, good
pain meal.
Stranrer-Well, I've halfa mind TO ea
with ye. The fact is the ole wom'n give
me half loaf of bread and piece OF
cold corn beef for a bite, and eat tha'
UP at Carpenters les now with glass OF
beer. thought Id like good cup oi
coffee and a little bread and butter 1"
kind O. wash the thing down but ye say
We can't CINE that!
Waiter-No, sir. Well give you, a
| I've said, selid, square moal for nifty
cents. You can eat as little or A. much
us you please.
The strangers eyes opened and look
ed thou h:tul for moment, ard thch,
striking his list on the table. he excIalm
ed, /" BY gum | b'leeve III take II.
amt right real hungry, but bring on yer
roas' beef and tatcrs, sockithash, tea,
coffee, bread, pie and puddln' Bring
EN- on. By gum, I'm in tor a square
meal, and my fifty cents worth In"
waiter hurried to respond, and the way
that strangers knife and fork played be
tween his mouth and the plates was
caution 10 CREASED H. hlning. 1t beat
half dozen pair of castincts, and sound
I'd more like one of Billy McAilster'
bone solos than anything else we ever
heard. The waiter sthod aghasi, and
W hen lie turned up with the third plate
of roast beef the proprietor, pale as mar
bic, from Vermont quarry, called hiln
aside behind the bar.
"For Gods sake, who is that fellow!
said he; "he eats victuals az fast as n
threshing machine swallows straw. The
strangers plates were beginning to show
bottom again, and hi- eyes were run
ming up aud down the room tor the wait
err. He did not stop in his eating, but
simply turned his back end let fly against
the wall with his heels.
"Gi' me s'more roast beef and tater's,
he shouted.
The landlord raised his hands in hor-
ror.
Great heaven, James, "hc'll clean
us out" said he, AS the waiter sprang
for the kitchen.
"Ain't ye got morn wun kind OF pie!'
inquired the stranger.
"Oh, yes" said the waiter.
Well, then, bring il on, and give
sum o. that pud'n, TOO. Jcmimy, + |
WAS only hungry, how I'd clean We out
Bring me two cups OF coffee and a cup
of tea, too, amt only jls bcgi: ming to
eat"
The landlord listened with dismay,
and stopping the waiter, AZ he entered
the kitchen for the fifteenth time, walk
ed solcmnly up to the stranger, and
SAID:
"See here, we amt got enough in the
house to feed you. Just go on now, |
will call il all square. You needn't pay
u cent for what you'So had.
The stranger became indignant and
declined, saying that his appetite was
just coming, and winding up with Il very,
very emphatic:
Hanged if will"
A bright thought struck. the landlord, |
as lie walked of in mental agony. Hast
cning to the bar, he jerkcd open the Till.
pulled out halt dollar, and, rushing up
10 The stranger, placed it in his hand.
"Here, here" SAID hc, "tak. this and /
20 right up TO the Holly Tree Inn, and
dean EN- out. Go on. They'll ieed you
ill YOU basi for fifty cents"
"Well," said the stranger, as he grad
lallv arose and stretched himself, at the
same timc putting the scrip into his vest
pocket, al don't mind eft do take it.
lint very hungry anyhow. | only want
ID a cup of coffee and piece OF bread
md butter, when | come IN, but I'm jis
IL well rs satisfied. | guess /! III buy the
bid mare como oats wait until get
lum 10 finish up" and he left.