Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-01

Ex-Alderman McGroarty keeps a
house of eating and drinking in Brook
lvn. It is feature of ex-Alderman Nc
Groarty's management to place on the
side table as early even as six o'clock in
the morning splendid free lunch. The
writer saw,this lunch and was amazed at
its variety and substantially. It con-
sisted of huge dish of olives, nicely
vinegared, dish of onions, ditto,
bowl of fresh crackers, one plate of
corned beef in slices, and one plate of
ham ditto.
''That LIS an excellent spread" said
the reporter.
''Yes" answered McGroarty, conpla-
Gently coming to the tahel bearing a
huge dish of chicken'salad fresh anu juicy
eyes we always set lunch every day,
and this afternoon in addition there will
be three big dishes of sandwiches and
some clam-chowder.
Whats that, hey2," said voice at
the other end of the store, uttered by q
man who had just entered"
He was tall cadaverous- looking man
IN seedy black coat and tall hat.
81 hats that, hey?"
Il say that we always set lunch
here" replied McGroarty, "and that
this afternoon, beside this, we shall have
three big dishes of sandwiches and some
clam chowder."
''Oh, indeed" said the long man.
Certainly; "a very good idea, indeed;
very good" Saving which he walked
to the counter and took up TIE MORN
ING JOURNAL, but he didn't call for any
thing to drink.
Mr.. McGroarty went behiud the bar
again and resumed his business of wash
ing glasses, fixing up the bar, etc., etc.
The tall man eyed him furhvely for q
moment or two, aud then edged toward
tho side table. Presently the wooden
fork was deep into the olives, then it
plunged into the onions, anon into the
chicken salad. As an additional relish
he took an occasional nibble at the ham
and beef, only by way of refresher.
The proprietor didn't notice him. He
was busy with his glasses and things,
and was keeping npa desultory CONVEX
sauion with the reporter while still at
work.
"You set quite fine lunch here"
said the tall man. "Oh, yes" said the
unsuspectlng McGroarty from the other
end of the bar, "we find it pays to be
liberal"
"Of course it does, said the other en-
Enthusiastically; 'of course it does. With
which he walked up to the lunch table
and began again to ply his fork.
But McGroarty said nothing. He was
MS innocent as a child unborn of what
was going on. "What time did you say
the sandwiches came on?" said the tall
man. looking up nervously at the clock.
''Oh, in the afternoon some time"
IN drop In" said the tall man.
eyes, do, said McGroarty, giving an
extra flourish to beer glass, and hold
ing it up to the light to see that there
was not a speck Oh it.
That's excellent ham," said the tall
man, with a choice morsel at the end OF
his forkI
Gle had got TO the ham, now, exclu-
sively. The vegetables had gone.)
Eyes, 1t is" answered McGroarty.
1--WE always get our hams at the"
He stopped short. His eyes rolled all
over the lunch table. His mouth opened.
His ears tapped. His halr stood on end.
He couldn't speak. His knees shook
beneath him. He came round that
counter like rickety locomotive going
round bad curve. He glared at the
tall man. ''Sa-yp said he, after re-
covering the power of speech.
Where's those olives?" shouted Nc
Groarty il an awful voice. The tall man
sailed pleasantly. HAT hal' he
laughed, "Very good; very good, indeed.
By Jove. Bunnell the museum mall,
would engage you"
''BunneH be hangedi" roared Nc
Groarty. Where's the olives? where's
the onions? where's-yes, by Jove,"
he screamed, as he noticed another abb
sentee; "where's the beefY with which
he made terrible rush at the long mans
coat-tails, expecting that the viands
were concealed about his person.
So they were, but not outside. The
tall man bore the inspection with great
calmness, sucking piece OF cracker out
of a hollow tooth the while.
Then McG Groarty fell back and assumed
an oratorical attitude.
The tall man was evidently panied at
Mr.. McGroarty's agitation, and left pre-
cipitately.
THAT settles it, said the ex-Alder-
man. "Not scrap-not o snlfter of
anything to eat-does anybody get here
after, tins until the afternoon, if lose
all the trade I've got"
Various old friends of the proprietor
have sought to change the projectors
mind, thus far, but without success.