Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-04
The Story of Two Dinners and a Gold.
Headed Cane.


Headed Cane.
From the Chicago Tribune
Two men went into a restaurant on
Dearborn street last Sunday evening.
One was tall, pock-marked pilgrim
who wore heavy ulster. The other
was a short, heavy-set man, with gold.
headed cane and an eye-glass. They
took seats at different tables.
| The tall man called for cup of coffee
and doughnut. He ate slowly and not
| at all like hungry person.
| The other person put his cane care
fully down through the back of his
chair behind him, inspected the bill of
fare and ordered antelope steak, frogs
legs and champagne.
Before be was half done the other
man finished his doughnut and coffee,
sauntered slowly past him, paid his bill
at the cashiers desk and went ont.
The fat little man ate his dinner as if
he enjoyed it, and fingered long and
lovingly over his champagne.
But at last he finished, picked up his
check, gathered up his hat and overcoat
and looked for his cane.
1t was gone.
Then he strode to the cashiers desk,
full of wrath, and asked for the pro-
prietor.
That functionary was summoned and
he opened out on him:
"DO you protect your guests sir,
from spoliation and robbery?"
'What have you been robbed of p"
inquired the proprietor.
''Of a gold headed cane, sir-a fine
gold-headed cane!' exclaimed the fat
little mrn.
II am sorry such thing has happened
in my establishment" rejoined the pro-
prietor, "but we are not responsible for
the loss of anything of that kind. You
can see the notification to that effect by
looking at one of the framed signs on
the walls"
eyes, sir, see them, and the notifi-
cation is that you are mot responsible
for hats, overcoats or umbrellas |
didn't lose any hat, overcoat or UNI
brella, sir! I lost a gold-headed cane
that cost the friends who presented it
to me $40 bill demand payment for
that cane, sir! Your head waiter saw
me come in with it, sir! It's goneW
The raised voice and excited gestures
of the indignant guest had begun to
attract attention, and the owner of the
restaurant tried to quiet him, but with
out effect.
mo, SIR" he shouted, 'I don't 20 out
of here without redress, or III spend
$1,000 in suing this esta 5lishment, and
I'll carry the case to the highest court
in the land!"
Don't make any further fuss, nv
FRIEND" said the proprietor, much wor-
ried. "What's the amount of your
check ?"
otis beggarly $4."
"Then let's talk business. How will
you compromise? 1 don't think we
ought to suffer for your own negligence
in losing that cane, but I'll meet you
half way. Will you give me that check,
take dollar and call it square ?'
"Sir, l will. 1t has cost me S. to
patronize your place, but you have acted
like gentleman, all things considered.
Good EVENING""
He surrendered his check, picked up
the two half dollars the cashier pushed
toward him. and went out OF the
restaurant with the heavy dignity of a
man who knew his rights, and knowing,
had dared to maintain them.
AS he passed the corner block and
half away he was joined by tall, pock-
marked pilgrim in long ulster, who
handed him long, slender thing that
looked like a gold-headed cane, closed
his hand over something in return that
had metallic clink, and the two went
on down the street in solemn silence.