The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-12-29
Jim Toland. ~ VEGAS.

Last evening about seven o'clock {
man staggered into q fashionable res
taurant on Sixth Street, and seating him.
self at . table, shouted to a waiter
Gimme . steak and smother it with
onions. Iwant to eat" The man wore
broad-brimmed white SLOUGH hat, q
red wooden shirt. brown canvas trousers
and a great woolen knit comforter around
his neck. He sat at the table with his
hat on. and from his unsteady, swaying
figure it was quite clear that the gentle
man had made frequent halts on his way
from the Union Depot. ''Gimme q
steak; dye hearP" he shouted to the re-
luctant waiter. ''and l don't want to
wait till its druv in on the hoof neither,
dye understand? And l want them
onions brown. dye understand?
''Shall l take your hat. sirP' asked
the waiter.
''Naw, you needn't take nv hat.
Safest place for my hat is on my head.
Gimme that steak quick. Mebbe yer
don't know who am. I'm Jim Toland.
o. Vegas. and Jim Toland allus heeled,
dye understand"
Here the waiter retired; but at q
sign from the proprietor went to the
counter. Then he again approached
Mr.. Toland 90 Vegas"
'Price of a steak and onions is $3.50.
sir, in this house-the proprietor says"
added the waiter, hesitatingly.
II don't care what it is" said the
gentleman from New Mexico. .Gimme
it mighty quick. My name is Jim To-
land, o Vegas. an if that grub amt
here soon there'll be music in this She
bang. You hear me talkin' to you.
Jim Toland's alters heeled-you mind?"
What's the matter here?" asked the
stalwart proprietor, as he advanced
quietly toward the table. Whats all
this noise about? And if you want
meal in this house you must take off your
hat. We don't allow people to sit at
our tables with their hats on
Mr.. TOland 20 Vegas" seemed par
alyzed with establishment at such de-
mand. He glared at the proprietor and
then sneeringly asked: "Who the deuce
are you?'
I'm the proprietor of this place." was
the reply, land l want you to behave
yourself or get out. Fact is, want you
to get out anyhow. You're not our kind
of customer. Never mind that order,
waiter. Here. you Ito the gentleman
from Las Vegas) leave"
At this point Mr.. Toland lowered his
voice, and with the look of one who was
about to impart q dumbfounding secret
he leaned on the table and said: II say,
mister, you don't seem to know who
am. I'm Jim Toland. o Vegas, an l
alters go heeled. come up here with
o steers, and I'm on a time.
You mustn't fool with Jim Toland. mis-
ter, or I'll cut yer ears off an plaster 'em
agin the wall; d we understand? Waiter,
gimme that steak. I'd like to see the
hash-slinger as I'll give cheek to Jim
roland. Here you." to the thoroughly
scared waiter, "gimme that" In
the flash of an eye the chair came out |
from under the gentleman and something
struck the floor with a "dull thud." It |
was Mr.. Toland. O. Vegas. The same
instant the stalwart proprietor had him
BY the collar with a vise-like grip. "Open
he door," he said to a waiter, "we'u
dispose of this fellow mighty quick"
The gentleman from Vegas tried to
struggle. but the steel grip and twist
,hoked him and nearly started his eve
,alls. Once in the door the proprietor
fitted his right foot and with one mighty
Effort he planted No. 10 boot with the
orce of a pile-driver where it would do
he most good. and Mr.. Toland came
Town on the Sidewalk with a jar that
made the gas-lamps jingle. While the
Gentleman from Vegas was gathering
lis scattered senses it seemed to his
lazed vision as if all the stars in the fir.
had concentrated into one
mighty comet. and that comet had in
he neighborhood of seventeen tails.
When Mr.. Toland recovered himself he
till proclaimed that he was "heeled,"
nut had forgotten about his beefsteak and
Louis Globe Democrat.