St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-03
ONLY AN OFFICE BOY,
But He Knew Good Liquor When
He Saw 1t.

But He Knew Good Liquor When
He Saw 1t.
Nav Y DIRK Tribune.
James is an apple-faced Office boy.
He was looking intently at big, dusty
bottle which had stood for long time
Oh one corner of his employers desk.
He had often before wondered what
was in the bottle, but this time curiosity
seemed to have become so strong that
he could no longer resist it. No one
else was in the room. He stole up to
the bottle and, with an effort, pulled
out the cork. ''Whew! if it isn't some
thing gOodw
Quickly he looked toward the door
and listened. No sound. Then he
raised the bottle to his lips, took lin
gerng drink and put it down again.
"I'll bet my old hat that's currant wine.
My! amt it good, tnough?'
James replaced the bottle, looked at 1t
a moment, then went away and brought
back a cup of water, which he poured
carefully into the bottle until it was full
again. Then he went home to supper.
The next day James heard Mr. IhOmp-
son calling him. He appeared at his
employers desk trembling with fear
and looking toward the floor.
flames, | am going to be away for
two hours. Tell any one that comes in
that will be back by IL O'clock" and
Mr.. Thompson picked up some papers
and went out.
The heart of James rose rapidly. His
eyes rose at the same time until they
rested OH the dusty bottle.
Now, Tad Roy and Billy Peters and
Fred Appel are good fellows and they
might like a little of that stuff, too"
The three Office boys from across the
hall were quickly brought in and in five
minutes the bottle was empty. "Pll
have to fill it up with water again."
James decided. aud he did it. Then he
sprinkled some dust over the top OF the
bottle.
When Mr.. Thompson came back he
had friend with him. "Sit down, old
fellow" he said when he got in. Il was
telling Mrs. Thompson only yesterday
that | didn't know what had become OF
you. Why, | haven't seen you, Tom.
Since the night we had the jamboree
when we left the college in IT. See
here, there's bottle of old currant wine
up there that was given to he four or
five years ago, and we'll use it to cele-
brate your visit with. Two glasses,
James. You can almost see the sparkle
through the dusty bottle. Now see the
light Shine on the juice as it comes out
of its prison. Why, tit looks thin
| and colorless, doesn't it?'
''Rather-rather watery, l should
say"
''It doesn't seem to have any O dor,
and-and it has no more taste than
water either. Now, that's mystery.
ought to be able to explain it, too, for L
used to dabble in chemistry. The cork
is slightly porous you see, and the al
cohol. being volatile, has passed out
in to the air by the aid of exosmosis. car
rying the body of the wine with it. That
looks reasonable, doesn't it??''
Mr.. Thompson's friend thought it
might look reasonable and the two went
out together. James slipped out. too,
and going across the hall whispered to
Tad: 1.-The boss doesn't suspect us a
bit. He's just told a man that some
body what he called Moses took it,
| The dusty bottle still stands on Mr..
ThompsOn's desk. He frequently ex-
plains to visitors the strange passage of
the wine through the neck of the bottle.
In conformation he uniformly offers a
taste OF what is left, which cannot be
disting uiShed from water.