Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-09-18


Then he darted toward me: ''T1l take
you'll You're engaged Dye hear7 Hey9
HeyYT
/ was perplexed-stupefed In my
CONSERVATION | made a feeble effort to
think or reason. out Of the inscrutable,
how my vicious promise 10 eat him out
Of house and home could determine this
benign effect, my engagement. But the
effort was vain. In my deranged condi-
ton | could only nod with my head
accomplished that
"Goodl Goodl All right You're
engaged But. say, you lied; said you're
a small eater. You did lie-did your
didn't you?-hey? heyy'
"Oh." | answered, when | could catch
MY breath. "that was a joke"
"Joke? No joking-in business. Bust
ness is-business."
"Yes, sir / said, ''that is a maxim /
have heard before, somewhere; and
shall not again forget it.. Then, in a
doubtful voice, and ready on the instant
to recall it, for / was by no means GER
tain | understood him, I added, 81 will
eat all you want me TO-"
"You will? Goodl goodl All I want
hey? hey?'
Il WILL" l answered plIcidly; for !
was treasured.
"Goodl goodi You're engagedW Then
making another dart ut me and ram.
ming his hands deeply into his pockets,
he continued, "How much-a week
hey? hey2 how much?" After saying
which he withdrew his hands with moth
ing in them.
Now what, besides eating, do you de-
sire that 1 should do siry' | asked.
"Do? Eatl Nothing elsel Eat-all
day long-and deep into-the night"
mo waiting on tho tables, no dish
washing, no cleaning or scrub
"Nonsensel MOI Got people for that
-easyl Blamed hard though-get good.
looking-girls to eat. Been fourteen
here 'snorning-all small e~aters-you're
first one-big eaterl You're engaged!
Hey? hey? Are your
Now | began to have a glimmering of
my Importance. So animated, | aslled:
How much do you pay, sirY'
PAY you-mindl you're engaged
pay you-four dollars-per week. You're
engaged-are you? Hey2 hey2'
Il am engaged to you, sir" | com.
placently replied, "tf you viii make it
six"
TOO much. Can't do it. Four
1 had moved toward the door. lie
bounded to it, and again put his back
against it.
"stopl stopr" he cried; blamed hard
All right. Make it SIX"
''Six dollars Il week, sir" | replied,
secures my services; to eat being my
duty" Then, in view of the odd, the
seemingly fabulous nature of this bar
gain, my caution, of which | possess a
stock, prompted me to add, If paid
weekly aud in advance"
advance? All right. You're en-
gagged
"And when, sir, if you please. am to
beginy'
"Nowl Sit here-this window-I1l
ring. Waiter comes. You order. Here's
a Lii of fare. You eat. Go out. Walk
around Il block. Come in. Order. Eat
again. Go outcome in. Eat-keep it
up"
He touched a bell, . waiter appeared,
I ordered something and ate it. He
the fierce little proprietor of the restau.
rant-again retired behind his gaudy
partition, aud then his head and shoul-
ders reappeared in the little window
where they spent the day. During its
course he, with my efficient aid, engaged
(at four dollars a week and not paid in
advance) three additional girls, whc
joined me in the arduous employment
assigned me.
1t was his plan to obtain customers foi
his restaurant; by demonstrating to the
public that he did some business, he
hoped to attract it Gal do more. lie hai
opened the place just q week before
came, and had spent the week, as he af
terward informed me, in devoting the
contents Of his little heaG to the elabora
ton Of "A plan to possess himself of the
only thing lacking in the restaurant
custom.
He kept us four coming in, eating ant
going out. He had u friend and conf
dant Il couple of blocks away, with whom
he left an assortment Of hats and wraps
we went there and changed our appear
ance between eats" He enforced thii
routine: 1t was eat, go ont, change cos
tune, come in, eat, go out-all day anC
evening. 1t was a brilliant scheme o
intricate conception and Of masterfu
execution. but for all that it failed 0
its purpose. The sheriff closed Us up il
four weeks.
l did as | pleased, pretty much, while
it lasted; only he stipulated that I SHOULD
allow nc love making on the part of tn
walters. And / never did. But he made
love to me, and | allowed that; for, il
spite Of his ferceness, he was a dear, sof
hearted little fellow, who obliged an,
favored me in all | asked Of him.
And that IS how lat least helped
eat "A man out Of house and home.-J.C
Lavalliere in Pittsburg Bulletin.
Ills Appetite U%nimpaired.