The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
FIFTEEN AN HOUR.
The Mystery's Marvellous
Capacity.
FORTY BEERS IN AN EVENING
A Queer Individual Who Ships a large
Load But Does Not Grow
Joyful.

No one seems to know who he Is or wha
business engages his attention. Further.
more, his appearance Indicates that it is
nobody's business but his, and whoever iu-
duiges his curiosity and so far forgets his
good manners as to inquire will meet with
no mild rebake.
| One thing is evident. however. He, who
ever he may be, is the thirstiest man IN the
city of San Francisco. and the pleasure he
| flnds In Quenehing is eQualed only by the
frmness Of the thirst ITSELF But no one
ever saw him manifest the least signs Of in
| toxication.
The Mystery" as he is known to the
1requenters of a well-known Bohemian re-
sort on Bush street. is tall, fine looking
man, about So years OF age. fully feet 8
inches in height, straight as an arrow and
remarkably well built. He dresses in the
height OF fashion. and. from appearances, is
man Of independent means. No one would
ever suspect from his light, clear complexion
and Tine eyes that he was a heavy driuker
But his capacity for beer is something mar
vicious. and he evidently INDUCES it to the
fullest extent.
He always enters that saloon at a certain
hour every evening and he Is invariably
alone: No one ever saw him speak TO any
oouy In the place but the waiter. He never
sits at any of the numerous tables, nor STAYS
IN the saloon longer than is absolutely me-
cessary. lie always leans his left elbow on
ms bar and faces the door as if to escape
the curious gaze OF the habitues of the
place.
AS soon as "The MISERY" appears a per-
fect hush falls over the barroom. The ar
gument over the last hand Of whist ceases
the checks at the poker table are no longer
RATED, and the general hubbub that prevails
III crowded barroom sinks into a silence
Intense a oil eli txir
together sound like the crashing of plate
glass. Every one watches 1.-THE Mystery's"
movements with breathless interest, for his
marvellous beer-drinkirg is one of the at
fractions Of the place.
The walters never ask "The Mystery"
what he will have. Ii Is always "the
same" and they all know what that is. He
rests his left elbow on the bar and thrusts
MS right hand into his pantaloons pocket.
wblie me oarkeeper picks up three beer
glasses OF the ordinary size and draws one
Sehiltz, one Weiss and one Cumbach. He
places these on the bar IN front of the cus-
toner. turns the handles toward him, rings
up 80 cents on the cash register aud stands,
towel 10 hand, ready 10 polish off the bar
when his patron leaves.
The Mystery" always picks up the
Weiss first and slowly drinks third Of II.
stopping occasionally to look through the
glass SO that he Will not take more than the
desired quantity. BE places il ON the bar
same deliberate manner. Then he takes the
ScblItz and drinks the same quantity OF il.
lie pouIs half Of the remaining Culmbaeh
INTO his Weiss aud the other half into his
SchlitZ
He drinks half of each. pours the con-
tents of both glasses into one, sIashes It
around time or two 10 mix IL well and
ihen very slowly drains this glass with the
deepest satisfaction. He catches his breath
WIN prolonged "ah-h, gives his well
trained mustache wipe with fine silk
handkerchief picks up his change and
strides rapidly out
When he disappears through the swing
Ing doors the buzz Of conversation is re-
suined. Sometimes he crosses TO the
California Hotel, and again he walks down
hearny street few blocks, but he always
returns soon and drinks three more glasses
IN exactly the same manner, and with the
same satisfaction, never varying the per-
Torrance In the slightest detail.
de repeats the performance every few
minutes from then on until exactly mid
night. when he drinks his last three glasses
Tor the night and strides out after his
fortieth glass OF beer with as steady aud
elastic step, as when ne entered the place.
that he was drinking beer like medicine
for his health, But he does not take it like
medicine. Every drop of 1t seems to tickle
his palate. il tastes good all the way down,
and the taste stays in his mouth exactly fl
teen minutes.
The walters apparently do not know who
or what be is, except that he is a good Gus
toner. IL they know they will not tell,
and. when questioned, discreetly shrug
their shoulders, as If TO say: That is his
business. and We do not care TO lose his
trade by divulging It, Mar do we want TO
lose your custom BY informing you that il
is mono of your business"
How much beer do you think he could
drink without getting intoxicated?" was
asked one of them.
"Vat you mean, kegs?" was the laconic
reply.