Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-03-19
PEGDOTvS GREAT SCHEME
A Plan to Do Philanthropists Who
Have Doubts.
1t Was the Result of an Abundant Supply
OF Food and Great Scarcity Of
Drink-More Happiness In
n ( wE PanhaRdler's Row. .N.fE"

PanhanGiers' row has new method
of outwitting practical philanthropy,
which is not the variety for which the
panhandlcrs sigh. 1t is the invention
of Pegdot, whose wooden leg is one OF
the stand~bys of that part of Park row
which used to be called Chatham street,
and its mother is necessity. For some
weeks and luck and Pegdot had
been strangers, and, though he
had been more than well sup
piled with food, drink had been very
scarce, a peculiar combination of cir
cumstances wherefrom he evolved his
great scheme. About the period of the
merry Yulc-tide pegdot's wooden mem
Der slumped it's irregular way into the
Imperial restaurant and cafe, where the
royalty of the row is fed at prices rang
ing from ten cents for half stew up to
fifteen cents for 90 extra steak. Know
ing the visitors reputation of old, the
cashier, who also acts as bouncer, cast
a glance behind him to make sure that
his club was in easy reach. and said:
Buy yer chips here er y can't git
inter this game
"Ah, Jim, good afternoon" said Peg,
with the easy elegance for which he was
famed. Il dropped in here to have a
little talk with you. I've got a little idea
I'd like" ....
Have you got t'irteen cents?" de-
manded the cashier, putting strenuous
emphasis upon the set price of the I'm
perial's justly celebrated table d'hote
dinner.
With an airy wave of his hand Peg
dismissed the question.
Is ''What l came to see you about is
this" he explained. Il have thought
out a little scheme"
I'm onter yer little schemes. "
don't go on the outside of any Table dote
meals here on thn stren'th of a divvy yer
goin' ter get tInorrow."
"Not at ALL" replied Peg, with dig
nifty, though an expression of pain
fitted over his features. II have no
such intention, assure you" ~.
"Ner y don't slide in on me like y did
wen v give me tn song an dance
about Skinny Miggs settlin' fer yer
grub, an then put in yer three square
meals with Skinny, beside yer putin in
more than he cud pay fer on his own
hook, let alone squarin' fer youse." 81.
IF you are unwilling to let bygones
be bygones," began Pegdot, with gath
ering wrath. on his brow; ''if you're
looking for trouble and won't listen to
gent who wants to explain something
to you"
A minatory wave of the wooden leg
suggested the conclusion, and the CASH
ier-bouncer hastily stepped back, for
Pegdot had been known to throw him
self on his back and rotate from his own
axis with such effect that those who en-
countered the wooden leg in it's fight
went to the hospital in an ambulance.
Don't git google-eyed, Peg" said
he, in conciliatory tones, at the same
time laying his hand on the emergency
club. Put some ice down yer collar,
an sing yer tra-la."
Thus adjured the veteran panhandler
propped himself up against the desk.
and Jim hastily closed the cash drawer,
an involuntary tribute to his character
which in nowise discounted the visitor.
you observed me in here last week
several times, JIM" began Peg.
Yep" was the answer. ''Y' was
here till l fought y muster give up
drinllip fer Twin an taken ter eatin'."
You may also have observed" pro-
ceeded the visitor, that each time |
was brung here by gent who paid for
my dinner, and then went away"
''Y' had good ting in tow every
turn outer tn box" assented Jim.
-Four of those last week." said Peg
dot. reflectively, land couldn't touch
one of them for cent. Nothing but
meals. Jim. do you understand why
those gents came here and blew me OIL
to square,"
"Repitation of tn restyrant," said
Jim, CHANGING proudly at an Aubrey
Beardsleyish sign informing hungry
public through the medium of writing
letters in sanguinary hues that "punkin
pie" was to be had for "three sents q
slise."
Those gents, Jim, were philanthropy
lists"
II fought they was soft marks"