Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-01

y
ment, or some other mob"
There was a spare chair at our table,
and the person thus irrevorently allud-
cd to, after some time spent in mental
~ estimating the relative merits OF the
other vacant chairs, appeared to prevail
on himself to take It and sit down.
"sprcc, last night he condoscend-
cd 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 fcllahs we saw Hanson wait
ing outside doctors door, and we
chained the mans cab to an iron post. -
"Man cuss muchP"
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 yen liquorp" inquired my
American friend.
"No; pom m word, you know
you'll allow me. Waiter, n bottle OF
champagncr'
oval. reckon I'm not particular, so
as we du liquor. Original Champagne
Charlic,'O the American whispered to
me.
The swell put his hand in his breast
pocket and carelessly 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 il / was in yure place | would
take care of thoce notes and not keep
, em in breast pocket, nor yet flash
EN- about
"Oh, said the swell, 81 always car
ry them So"
Then may be you don't live in Lon
| don, sir?'
"Oh, bay Jovc. 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 came to have
ilutter in town"
"Then yeu'll excuse me, once again,
but if was in yure place wouldn't
iluttcr my notes, and the American
appealed to me for justification. Eye
see yeu never know what company yeu
may be in
thought | knew what company /
was in; but / didn't say so.
"Awl for that matter. said the swell,
81 know ! am always safe in the COM
pai.y of gentlemen
That's correct. But hcow do yeu
tell gentleman from coon?"
"Well, think mans 4 gentleman
aw-if he's got money in his pocket
"Happon you're right But heow
much money must a man have in his
pocket TO prove him a gentleman?n
Nothing less than five pund, said
the swell.
oval. dunno. But fcc my part /
shouldn't like yeu to think yeu were
talkin' with any one but a gentleman
as far as I'm concerned" " and my Am
crican friend produced his Purse.
Jaw, said the swell, before he opened
it. ebay jove, I'll bet you a new hat
you haven't got five pund in your
arse"
Done with yeur' said my esteemed
friend. And on exhibiting his purse,
he showed nearly thirty sovereigns as
well rs could Judge.
Jaw, then I've lost, and | owe you
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 bet my friend
here he hasn't got five sovereigns about
him?' II nudged me again.
"Ya'as, | will said Mr.. Church, !
IL often do it for lark !
am generally about right twice out Of
three times"
said that didn't bet.
law, well, some people don't. / |
wouldn't persuade anybody IN sure.
Sure to lose in the long run. Bay Jove, |
| know do. But Just for the sport Of |
the thing, got five pund about YOU? /
Your friend shall be a witness. It's all |
right you know, among gentlemen"
| produced my purse. II contained !
about seven pounds in gold and silver.
also had about me a gold watch and |
chain a ring or two. and a shirt pin. l |
observed just the faintest sign OF an in |
terchange Of intelligence between my |
"Ah. lost again" Mr.. Church re-
marked; ''well, can't be helped! An
other bottle Of champagne"
This bottle my American friend in
sisted upon paying for. l drank very
little.
Really. You know" Mr.. Church re-
marked over the new bottle, ''most
singular thing-aw-th fellahs, per-
feet strangers. should meet like this
and all Of us strange to London. Bay
JOve. You're from the North Q had
told them so, which was true). I'm
from the East, and our friend and Am
erican brother, aw, If may call him
so, is from the West. Tell YOU what. As
soon as ever the lawyers have done up
my business, you shall both come down
to my place in Essex and see me. Jolly
good welcome and deuced good shoot
ing. You shoot? 'course?' turning TO
my American friend.
''Sheutc? Wal, a small piece. /
was Lieutenant in General Sherman's
army for three yeeres. and very pretty
sheutin' we had. Concleude yeu mean
rifle shcuiin'P'
"Oh, no; shooting game" Mr..
Church explained.
"feu don't du rifle sheutin', thenP'
"Bay Jove. no. only shoot pheas-
ants and partridges and ali that sort Of
thing"
Reckon yu're a good shot, per-
hapsP"
"No, nothing uncommon.
oval, how many times d'yu con-
cleude you'd hit the bulls eye out of
twenty with riileP'
"Oh, aw. Iguppose sixteen" said
Mr. Church.
"Bet yeu ten dollars yeu don't hit it |
fourteen
done"
.Nerv rnoh. sir. NV friend here