The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-15
A VERY GREAT SCHEME.



Possible Inconvenience.
II was In Chicago some weeks ago, {"
said well known man about town,
land had some business with friend
away on the outskirts of the city, FIVE
miles or so from my hotel. During
the transaction of the business we had
occasion to enter a small cafe near by.
While we were there a fine looking
man, gray whiskered and bearing a
strong resemblance to the late Roscoe
Conkling, came briskly into the place
and called for the best rye whisky. II
was set before him. He poured out
gentleman's drink. He had the glass
half way to his lips, and as he was rails
ing it nearer he slipped his other hand
into his trousers pocket A queer ex-
preston came suddenly into his face.
He put the glass down.
" i beg pardonr he said to the bar
tender; i don't want the drink
with that he hurried out.
I" Crazy said the bartender, or else
he didn't have the price
Il returned to my hotel soon after
ward. An hour or so later / was pass
ing out to take the train on my way
east, when | met the gray whiskered
man who had so suddenly changed his
mind about taking the drink at the
cafe. He came into the hotel, looking
jaded- If I'd had time I'd have salts
fed my curiosity about the man there
and then. But didn' and hurried on
to catch my train
The other day dropped into the
Bohemia on Broadway, and you may
imagine my surprise when l saw the
handsome gray whiskered hero of the
incident at the out-ofway cafe in Chi
cago sitting at a table with a Jolly
group, of which he seemed to be the
life. / was introduced to him. He
proved to be one of the most jovial of
all the genuine old time actors.
couldn't help telling him at once under
what peculiar circumstances | had
seen him in Chicago, and asked him if
he remembered it.
should say sor he replied; and
it was all because of my not having
a quarter instead of ninety cents.
Seems funny, doesn't it2 But, all the
same, I'd have had that drink if I'd
had quarter in my pocket, but with
the ninety cents couldn't get il. It
was this way. Some weeks ago | had
a sudden inspiration, and | said to my
wife that from then on I'd never
spend another ten cent piece, but that
every one got I'd keep for the chill
dren to put in their savings banks.
Ny wife thought that would be toll
erably correct measure, and it was
adopted at once. 1t had been in force
but few days when you saw me in
Chicago. | was playing an engage
ment there at the time. The day of
the little cafe incident l had gone out
to that jumping off place on business.
Just before starting l found had no
money In my pocket, and | got a
silver dollar from my wife. The
street car conductor gave me nine
ten cent pieces and a nickel in
change when l paid my fare. / ran
about for two or three hours out there,
and when | got through | was tired
from head to foot, and if ever /
yearned for a large and juicy ball it
was just then. / spied the little saloon
and struck a bee line for it, tossing my
nickel to a blind beggar as l went.
That drink you heard me order was
going to taste better than anything I'd
had for many moons. AS Twas dally-
ing with it in joyful expectancy felt
for the money to pay for it. You
may have noticed the shade of sorrow,
of disappointment, of hopelessness that
swept over my face at that moment.
1t was born of the suddenness with
which the awfulness of the situation
struck me when my fingers came in
contact with the nine ten cent pieces.
Instead of four or five fat solid nickels,
| had but paltry ninety cents, and
I'd have checked on the drink if I
had used a single ninth part of
the sum to pay for it. That was why
l returned the cup to the bartender
and refused to look upon it when it
was red, and went sorrowfully but
hastily out. l rushed for street car.
1t was not until the conductor came
around for his fare that came to N.Y.
self again. Again the fatal nine ten
cent pieces arose before me, and sup
pose the conductor also thought was
crazy or broke the way l got off that
car. | tramped the five miles back
home, and suppose l was just drag
ging myself into the hotel as you were
going out. But it's great scheme
concluded the actor A fellow can
save lot of money by holding on to
his ten cent pieces; but he wants to
have couple of dollars with him to
spend while doing it, if he doesn't want
tolgo dry and walk. New York Sun.