Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-15
ght in our own country, l yielded Ike

| able place where wines are drawn
| from the wood. Small round marble
tables and light chairs are dispersed
| about the shop for the convenience OF
customers. Here my companion COM
pounded drink of soda water and gin
and lemon and ginger, of which he
wished me to partake. l declined the
mixture and took a glass of sherry.
We might have sat five minutes, when
a tall and important looking parsonage
loungcd into the wine-shop. As he
entered he cast supercilious look
| upon all the occupants Of the tables;
| then, raising his head, he removed his
cigar and emitted a long column of
smoke from bis lips as contemptuous
verdict Of lofty disapproval on the so
ciety he had joined. He was well
dressed-ireproachably, so far as the
| quality and cut of his clothes were con-
cerned; but they seemed to assert that
| that new clothes will assert over per-
son who has been up all night. His
black hair and small mustache were
scrupulously well arranged. but his
eyes blinked in the daylight, seemingly
| for want of a night rest.
He sauntered up to our table and
emitted another superior column of
smoke over our heads.
know this swell?'' my Yankee
friend whispered
shook my head.
Thought he might be member of
yure Congress, or tailor's advertise
ment, or some other mob"
There was a spare chair at our table,
and the person thus irrevcrently allud-
ed to, after some time spent in mental
ly estimating the relative merits of the
other vacant chairs, appeared to prevail
on himself to take it and sit down.
"Spree, last night" he condescend-
ed to say, presently. "Champagne
supper and things till all was blue"
VERY pretty tipple," said my Amer
lean friend.
"Ya-as. Then coming home with
some fellahs we saw Hanson wait
ing outside doctors door. and we
chained the mans cab to an iron post. "
"Man cuss much?'
by Jove, ya'as. Doctor damning
the cabman and swearing he should be
late, cabby cutting into his horse like
forty thousand, and couldn't tell what
was up"
"Will yeu liquor?" inquired my
American friend.
No; pom m word, you know
you'll allow me. Waiter, a bottle on
champagne''
oval, reckon I'm not particular, so
as we du liquor. Original Champagne
Charlie, y the American whispered to
me.
The swell put his hand in his breast
pocket and earelessly drew out roll of
notes, one of which he changed to pay
for the champagne.
My American friend nudged me and
raised his eyebrows.
You II excuse me, stranger he said,
"but if ! was in yure place | would
| take care Of those notes and not keep
EN- in a breast pocket, nor vet flash
| EN- about"
''Oh. said the swell, II always car
ry them so.''
Then may be You don't live in Lon
don, sir9'
"Oh. bay Jove. no. The fact is my
uncle died lately and left me fine prop
erty down in Essex, and till the law
yers have settled up l came to have a
| tlutter in town."
Then yen II excuse me, once again.
but if was in yure place l wouldn't
| tlutter my notes, and the American
appealed to me for justification. "Ye
see yeu never know what company yeu
may be in.
l thought l knew what company l
| was in; but didn't say so.
"Aw! for that matter" said the swell,
Il know l am always safe in the COM
pany of gentlemen.
That's correct. But heow do yeu
! tell gentleman from coon?"
well. think mans gentleman
aw-if he's got money in his pocket"
Happen you're right. But heow
much money must a man have in his
pocket to prove him a gentleman"
Nothing less than five pund," said
the swell
wal. dunno. But for my part l
shouldn't like yeu to think yeu were
talkin' with any one but gentleman
| as far as I'm concerned" and my Am
cIicdu lTlcuu pIOuuccu Ills IuIsc.
LAW. said the swell. before he opened
it. bay jove, I'll bet you a new hat
You haven't got five pund in your
purse.
Done with yeu!'' said my esteemed
friend. And on exhibiting his purse.
he showed nearly thirty sovereigns as
well as could judge.
Jaw. then I've lost, and / owe you a
hat. Aw, here is my card" He handed
it to us both. Frederick Church, Es-
quire.
was impressed with the notion that
the faces of both these men were some
how familiar to me.
The American nudged me again and
bestowed upon me an encouraging
! wink.
Reckon now yeu won't bet my friend
here he hasn't got five sovereigns about
him." He nudged me again.
..Ya'as, l WILL" said Mr.. Church.
languidly. Il often do it for a lark. [
am generally about right twice out of
three times"
said that didn't bet.
law, well, some people don't. l
wouldn't persuade anybody m sure.