The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-05
A BARROOM INCIDENT

and so on, bartender can take the belt. Just
twig those two gents crossing the street yonder
and steering for tho door OF my ranch, and tell
me how you'd size em up"
"A pair Of rather promising customers" was
the reply
"Ay. but the particulars. mean. I see in
em n Bourbon straight and either n hot
Scotch or spced Jamaica. with stamps on the
nail and more to spare"
At this moment the customers entered the
saloon and designated decoctions near enough
to the bartender's prediction to justify II side
long glance In my direction as no served them
and made change with customary experiences.
Know 'em ?" he continued rs we were once
more left together. why. 1 know 'em the
minute plant my eyes on 'em Good. bad. and
Indifferent: treater or treat beggari flush. hall
broke. lone dime in pocket. or Hat busted;
noisy lush or silent booze; grum. or frisky;
sponge or spread; hanger UP or shelter out
their fist. or even touched the bar, rail. All,
The asst remark was elected BY tho coughing
and wheeling, awakening Of 9 queer little
Ed VII M wey
in his seat behind the stove on an up,
holstered bench that ran along the wall opp9-
Entrance" OF the liquor saloon Tho bartender
hastily mixed splrtuous compound. carried
him somewhat sorrowfully as he silently but
tremulousy drank it of, and again lapsed into
Tnsa ne ippea hi n
to his duties without receiving amy equivalent.
eqs wad only an st1es a ar Hike ySq
G Ga books an an SSsSTaP %Ss
soied counter with an energy indicative OF
sudden discomfort with his no1-literary
Sny ack deaa asn me- soH owe SH with tRq
Frightening look. and tossing the cloth under
the Solrter thGts No W,r rs9S2 2, 10 Why we
thing chi, Mine too. and here's, looking at
you. As | was a-saying-No. ma'am. not at
broken-nosed pitcher Go round to family
nH the boy take yGqr, ord ha
eI never womnm anI phsr d
appeared, how improper i. is to I'll their or;
ders right over the public counter. Glad
man, who suddenly sided in from the street;
rfspeeiidaIy showing to him an , Tnsolie led
timc2 You can expect me up at the Club some
time this evening; Don't want anything; and
iSrl9ra.loeEinss ST street psdalsr; acc9mpanyins
the Injunction with y threatening glance and
an ominons cienchng Of the band An An
who, craylcd bcseechngiy forward as the
ssddSr ds@ppEarsd Trq5t for drink sih
here. not. GIVING it away; Bounce
Now here;n turning around as the AN, Trctehed
story story could be writ up about. Regular
heightened and flush not long ago, but gone
oil to pieces with rum. lottery tickets. an, pol
much as twenty dollars week over this bar
year in and year out Completely busted now.
Weak in upper story. too.
Broken down in both body and mind p
suggested.
prise. Mustn't he be- loony to suppose I'm 60
ing to give him drink for nothing. list be-
hi f MS hers
to the queer little old man, who again dawned
out of awatery unconsciousness on the bench
oe ed ,rh the sl9ye' with preliminary cough
ri, suppose remarked when Gratuitous
old man to the dreamful shores. which, per:
haps. seemed to him like his native land. Il
s Widely " that ne Of aRs
How2" the barkeeper asked in apparent
The, policy dabbler. the lottery ticket
victim" explained; the imbecie. who could
spent his foolish twenty dollars, a week here.
year IN and year ont. you know" ,,,.,,.
Pop yonder. as they all call him. is different
S% tH h onx
OF under obligations besides-d'ye understand?
His story. too. might be writ up. if you'd like to
Some moments elapsed before an expressed
desire TO hear i could be, gratiied. for Just
sudden squirt OF biz" as he called it, and what
with setting out and taking in bottles and tum-
blers, dispensing lager beer. answering calls
from tho family entrance. replcnishing the
cheese and cracker dish. and soppng up the
whiskey slop and beer drppings, together with
The, qualification OF thirsty, policemen at the
queer little old man. whose last exile to dream
land had not been of satisfactory duration. he
returned tothe interview so much out of breath
and disconnected that ut once set EN- up"
in my turn, and redirected his active mind to a
ccnWSder@tion Of PSpPpy about tho svs Of II.
said lie. leaning far over on his elbows and
lowering his voice to confidential whisper.
with pneumonia net a or sdmethiSg OF the sort. an
liquor g about the only thing that keeps him
s His w d st 'ha, %hst the s bo
sets. and there he's been settin' every day
f 1Yr month or two and Isuppy the stimulant
It's really good of you" I observed. But
then then ! snpH9se the former obligations you
That's jist it: I'm a payin' 'em of in this
desen w oa She ans
brings the old fellow here. while she's out at
washing or floor sscruhping, and leaves him
home in the evening. for Pop himself is all but
helpless I,s almost time for her to come for
clock. which Indicated a quarter to six.
writes w s nn sSSa q glance s dcs he
appeared exceptionally uneasy. with lqbored
breathing and tremulous starts. as though
mu'eIy supplieatins for a return Of the native
supp9se the Woodworking old wife is likewise
grateful to YOU"
Well, she is, an then again she amt" said
the bartender. Hold on u minute. He needs
another stiflener, I'm a-thinkng."
Pony was accordingly aroused sufficiently
to imbibe another drink. which ultimately sent
him to sleep, yet not without n fit of convusive
but feeble coughing. followed by sundry deep
and piteOuS signs.
oh he's been as bad as that before" said
the bartender in answer to the writer's look Of
concern as he again edged in behind the coun-
ter. Yes, the old woman's feelings toward
me that's the oldest thing of ALL" he contin-
ued. The doctor has told her what Poppy re-
Quires To- be kept from sinking. you see, and
she's willing for me to take care of him In this
way while she's out AT work. But then she's
awful pious and strictly ON the temperance
howl herself; dye see Z"
nodded. and there was fresh interruption
by reason OF another squirt" from the street,
during which the representative man almost
came to blows with an inebriatcd coal HEAVIER.
who rendered five cents instead Of ten for a
beverage, but afterward settled it by permitting
the coal HEAVIER to owe him the difference. Then
travel stained minstrel, with a harp on his
back and desire IN his soul to exchange mu-
sic Tor whiskey. had to DO led out by The ear;