Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-11-12
BAD FOR THE APPETITE.
The Effect Produced on Two Country
Boys by a Dozen Prime Grabs.

The Effect Produced on Two Country
Boys by a Dozen Prime Grabs.
Il haven't got but fifteen cents.
What can get the most of for that
amount of money!" inquired a some
what seedy-looking man Of a waiter in
cafe.
Pork and beans," replied the youth
Of white aprons and dude hair.
He'd better try soft-shell crabs, p"
said McGough in an aside to n reporter
who was liquidating, in twO-fold
sense, for lunch. "There's nothing
like soft-shell crabs for satisfying a
mans hunger. I've seen men lose their
appetite before they d taken a mouthfuI
o. crab
"And thereby hangs a tale3" said the
reporter. inquiringly.
''You ought to have been in here and
seen it, and you d aided a-laughing |
can't half tell Il to you, but I'll do the
best caL," responded McGough.
''It was the week OF the races. A
couple OF young fellows came in hero,
sat down at the table over there in the
corner, and IA the walters were all
busy went over to take their order.
They were looking at tho bill Of fare
and one of them said;
"Jim, did you ever eat any soft-shell
crabs?'
No, said tho other; what are
theyP'
"I dunno. Let's try 'em.'
"'All right
"'Giye US some soft. she'll crabs, says
the biggest fellow TO me.
elbow many?' says !.
"Ue glanced at the other fellow, but
didn't want to give himself away, so be
spoke up promptly.
"a dozen
"Pd iust received some big fellows
and, upon my word. they cost me two
dollars and ninety cents dozen be-
sides the express charges from New
York was selling them at forty
cents apiece and making nothing Oii
them at that suppose | ought to
have told them how much their order
would cost, but twas none OF my bust
ness only 10 fill the order and get my
pay for IL | sized the fellows up and
made up my mind that they had got the
money. They looked like a couple OF
| farmer boys. but didn have much hay
seed in their hair and wore store
clothes. Anyway. / thought I'd take
my chances But for ten-dollar note
/ wouldn't have carried those crabs over
/ 10 the table. / sen. them by one Of the
boys and got behind the ice-box, where
! could laugh and keep an eye on them.
- Herel Just look at the size Of these
crabsl Big as your head, every one OF
theml When the boy set a big platter
full down in front Of those two fellows,
their eyes fairly LG!sed out They
stared at the platter and then at each
other, but didn't say a word. Then
they looked around 10 see II anybody
was watching them, but lodged be-
hind the box.
4" 'dos much Is the bill?' said the
| biggest fellow TO the waiter
g The boy came to the bar and asked
for a check ought 10 have charged
them four dollars, but 1 didn't stab
them hard; sent them a check for
three dollars aud fifty cents They
stared az that harder than they had at
the crabs. and they began TO 60 down
In their pockets guess Il about
cleaned them out, Tor they got down to
nickels and pennies. but they paid like
gentlemen"
A" How many crabs did they eat?''
" Not a CRAB! ! was out there by the
cigar case when they passed out, and
asked them 10 have a cigar"
:" We don't smoke"-DetroH Free
Press