The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-13
AN UMBRELLA PROTECTOR,
Ingenious Stratagem of a California
Barkeeper Who Had a Great Head.
From the Alta Californian.


Barkeeper Who Had Great Head
From the Alta Californian.
The barkeeper called his attention TO a
printed card which hung several feet
above the rack on the wall 1t read as fol-
lows:
ANYONE attempting to steal the umbrella
is expected to set EN- up"
The card hung so high on the wall that
casual observer would fail to notice it.
The barkeeper, with an eye to business,
had all these preliminaries fully arranged
for the first rainy day of the season. II was
early in the morning that his initial victim
appeared. The humid clouds We're distill-
ing q drenching shower as an able practi-
toner of the law appeared for his morning
cocktail He drank the liquid contradiction
with infinite relish, and then, buttoning on
his coat, moved toward the door. The UNI
brella caught his eye. 1t was raining cats
and dogs The downpour was prodgious
He cast furtive but hurried glance over
his shoulder at the barkeeper. That ingen-
ious worthy was giving his whole attention
to his glasses Then the lawyers hand went
out swiftly to the alluring umbrella. He
tonched the handle-the alarm rang out
clear and dstinct-the barkeeper turned his
luminous eyes on the culprit.
derness, ''just read that card above your
head
The lawyers glance took in the situation,
and he returned to the counter.
"What shall it beF he inquired, with all
a lawyers effrontery.
"Well, replied the barkeeper, las you and
| are the only persons present, reckon you
will have to stand a small bottle
''Set it up
The wine was drank and then the disci-
pie of Blackstone, true to his calling, an
nounced his attention of remaining a few
minutes to see what the next customer
would do.
Evenas he spoke, a bustling, active broker
put in an appearance.
Whisky straight, pleasel It's an awful
wet morning."
And, scarcely waiting for his change, he
was hurrying out, when suddenly his feet
seemed glued to the floor. A swift glance
was cast back at the dispenser of drinks,
and then his nervous fingers closed firmly
ON the handle of the umbrella. The warn
ing bell rang out its signal, and the bar
keeper and the lawyer gazed in astonish-
ment at the pilferer.
''You had better look at the card on the
wall, suggested the gentleman with the
white apron.
The broker looked, and came back slowly
to the bar.
81 guess we'll have a bottle on this, but
I'd like to stay here a while and see some
other fellow caught"
And he did. There was constant influx
of visitors, and the warning bell rang almost
incessantly. Every man staid to see some
other culprit caught in the act. The house
never did such thriving business And it
has kept it up ever since, A mysterious
rumor went abroad that something out of
the ordinary way was to be seen at tine place
i nquestion, and every day since the saloon
has been invaded by eager crowds The
rainy weather has kept the trap in active
operation. And as those who go in and are
bitten remain to see who will be the next
unfortunate setting 'em up for the crowd
becomes a very serious business. Occasion
~ the man pleads poverty, but they make
him leave his watch or diamond ring while
he goes out for the money to redeem it,
There is no backing down. The man had
rather treat than to be thought a thief in
earnest and this is the only loophole he has
fot escape.