The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-01-17
An ARTISTIC HAT.

BY trading his derby for it my friend
Burton became the pOssessor of the hat
of a West Virginia lumberman, whom
he met in a small all-night restaurant.
He had tried for week to get one like
it-had visited every hat store in Phila-
delphia-but without success.
Burton was an artist. He traded be-
cause the hat struck him as being an
ideal artists hat, and his heart was set
on it. 1t was large, soft black, with 4
large brim and a crown carelessly
deuted in. 1t was exactly like no other
hat
The day after the trade Burton wore
his hat to one of the weekly gatherings
of the artists of his class in the studio of
man named Gillian. 1t was away up
under the roof in one of the old build
ings downtown on Walnut street. He
displayed it TO the dozen men present
as great find, and expected them 10
grow green with envy.
Gillian saw this in an instant and
after casual glance at the hat said:
Bah! That's nothing new. I've
seen half a dozen of those hats in the
city"
80 have Il sad henderson.
Yes; I've seen few of them, too
only a few tramps are wearing them, )"
cried Lanam.
4 don't believe it," said Burton in
dignantly.
We'll, you don't have to-" laughed
Gillian, but It's a fact
Burton was silent for moment, and
then be said:
"I'll tell you what I'll do: I'll bet all
three of you s. apiece that in a day ;
walking over this city you can't find
one of them, in store or on a head"
We don't want your money. It's
not right to bet on Il certainty" the
second speaker said.
Rot, YOU know you're wrong"
why, Burton. " said Gillian, If you
are so anxious to bet wen all take 50
worth OF that, and tomorrow afternoon
between / and ) o'clock we'll show you
four hats like your great and only one. "
Gillian called Brown to hold the
stakes and he deposited the necessary
50 with him. Burton put another 3
on top Of it and held two more bills
ready for the other defamers of the hat
TO put up their stakes. They were hes
itating. Artists are careful about their
bills, for they come to them only at
lengthy intervals and are equivalent to
five models OF much paint and canvas.
Burton was the exception. Gillian at
tractcd the attention of the two and
winked AT them. They knew that a
joke was afoot and put SlOinto Brown 5
hands.
Gillian and his two companions in the
bet lived in the same town. They
walked out Chestnut street together.
when the meeting broke up.
DO you know where to get four of
the hats Gillian WAS asked.
NO. Didn't he tell lis That he has
tried every store in lhe town without
being able to find even one of them?
And you know that you have never
seen another one"
Il thought YOU wished to ietus know
that you could get them" exclaimed
Henderson.
All, my sons. don't be too inquisi-
tive. All you have to do is to walk up
and down Chestnut street with Burton
at the appointed hour. and you'll see
the hats I'll be busy with that por-
trait so won't G able to 90 with YOU
But mind you, don't make any mis-
take. Leave his studio at exactly + and
don't let him come back till D. Walk
slowly and keep your eyes open"
But what" asked I.anam.
There are no butts in this, my sons.
We shall drink wine this week"
At 800 o'clock next afternoon Burton
and the two who were to be his escorts
were sitting in Burton's studio silently
watching the hands of the clock as they
crept toward I. The hat was on Bur
tons head.
We might as well start now he
suggested risin"