The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-01-02
the street looking for hats y

the street looking for hats"
Burton hesitated. Had he been al.
lowed to hesitate longer he would have
/ realized that Altman could do any num-
Der of lumbermen without hat or book.
But he was not given time to think.
Henderson suggested that it was after 4
o'clock and that Burton would lose his
bet by default if he didn't start, so he
borrowed Alman's hat and left with
! Lanam.
Burton's studio fronted on Washing
ton square. Burton and his escort
walked through the square and up
Seventh street. A large crowd of men
and boys were cheering extravagautly
in front of bulletin board, Just below
Chestnut street, where the baseball
scores were being posted. Burton and
Lanam stopped long enough to ascer-
tain that the Phillies were ahead. As
they turned to go on again they ran in
to one of the men who was staring at
the score. One of the hats was on this
mans head. 1t was a counterpart of
the one Burton had said "was the only
one in the CITY," The escort laughed
and looked at Burton in triumph. The
latter looked puzzled. He said:
"Queer coincidence, isn't itp"
"Just what told you," said the es-
cort, still laughing.
They walked up Chestnut street on
the south side. The people they passed
were not of the elite of Philadelphia, for
those who attend the assemblies do not
walk on Chestnut street in the after
Moons if it is possible for them to keep
from it. But there were the others.
Not another one of the hats was seen in
the next five squares. Burton was be-
ginning to look more comfortable than
he had at Seventh street, and the escort
did not look so pleased.
At Twelfth street, however, man
carrying satchel stopped them and
asked the way to the Reading Termi-
nal. He was told and he started up
Twelfth street on run. He wore one
of the hats.
"Well, I'm d-d!" Burton said,
standing stock still and looking after
the man. "Fate has conspired against
me. Did you ever hear of such luckP"
The escort smiled. 1.-TWO and two
make four" he said to himself. Gill
ian has great head"
AS they started back down the street
after having walked up to Broad they
noticed by the big clock on the corner
that it was half-past 4. Neither of the
two said much, but they kept their eyes
rowing over the crowd which passed
them.
When they crossed Thirteenth street
for the second time a colored newsboy
with an enormous bundle of paper un-
der his arm attracted their attention by
the unintelligible and inimitable cry
oh ho fhn ho
had for sale. cry which was q cross
between a fish woman's call and that of
chimney sweep.
He wore one of the hats.
"Ye godsi" This from Burton.
The escorts smile broadened.
Come on; let's hurry" Burton said.
chance more, but know that have
lost !"
They walked rapidly past Twelfth
street, Eleventh, Tenth, Ninth, Eighth,
but another one of the hats was not
seen. The escorts smile had died away,
and Burton's face wore smile of joy.
The crowd which had blocked Seventh
street in front of the bulletin board was
larger, but it was silent-the "Phillies"
were losing. The man who had worn
OuC VI Gu0 AdlS WAS uOb LucEcs
Il guess Pm $15 richer than l was
when started out this afternoon" said
Burton as they walked down toward the
studio. He consulted his watch. you've
just two minutes to fetch out your other
hat" said he, "and it isn't likely you'll
do that before we get to the studio.
Think soP"
The escort shook his head obviously
and said he was afraid there was little
chance of running across another. He
said that he feared they had not looked
about them enough while they had been
on Chestnut street.
"You know the conditions" said Bur.
ton, Struggling his shoulders. II was
to be shown four hats like mine. viii
you drink bottle with me tonight"
"No," said the escort. II have piece
of work want to push through"
They had reached the door of the
building in which was Burton's studio.
"We will wait here till the Independ-
ence hall clock strikes"
1t began to strike as Burton spoke
and he started to count. "One-t-"
An instant before the second stroke a
peddler, carrying a basket of small
plaster casts, issued from the door of
the sLuQlO DullOlng.
And he had on one of the hats.
BurGon's face heightened and the es-
cort's face broadened. Burton looked
at the man twice and then said:
"I'm glad you did not accept my in
vitation to bottle. Let's go upstairs. :"
In the studio sat the same men who
had been present the night before in
Gillian's studio. They we're lounging
about the room. making themselves at
home. On table, in plain sight, lay
the hat. The men jumped to their feet
as the two bettors entered, and Gillian
asked:
"Did you win or lose, BurtonP"
Lost, confound it all! You can give
the stakes to the other fellows, Brown" :"
Then he told how it all happened and
wound up by saying: Il don't care a
rap about the money, but to think that
that beast of an Italian should have
come out of my studio, you might say,
with one of those hats on, just as the
time was almost up and after I had in
vited Lauam to drink wine with me.
That's what breaks me all up"
$50 you confess that you are un-
donep" questioned Brown.
"Of course, and I'll give the blooming
| hat to anyone who wants it,"
"Now, my son." said Gillian, 81 would
lecture give unto you. The next time
you get anything you think no one else
can get and everyone will be envious of
don't crow over the other fellows. You
have won the money, but the beers are
on YOU"
Burton's face wore an expression Of
blank surprise.
what do you meanP" he said.
"Just what I say"
But l saw four hats like mine"