The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-11-11
Looking for the Treasury.

As Washington Star reporter cross
ed Twelfth-st. the other morning on
his way up Pennsylvania-ave. a man,
like a hundred men one can see in
Washington any day in the week, and
who can not always be detected until
they name their play, stopped him.
Excuse me-" he said, with half
familiar air, as if he had been used TO
asking people to excuse, "but can you
tell me where the treasury building
is ?n
1t was such relief to the reporter
that he was not to be held up that he
softened at once.
YOU'RE going the wrong way" he
said; sit is back up the street"
"Well, I'll bedinged," laughed the
man, and turned around. III reckon"
he added, 'that you wouldn't mind
letting me walk OH the same side of
the street with you and kind of pipe
me off when we get to the joint? /
wouldn't know it if saw it."
This was a style not agreeable TO the
reporter, but he couldn't well refuse
civil request like that.
Certainly, you may walk on the
same side with me-" he said, and start
ed walking faster, the man half trot-
ting after him.
81 reckon" he said, "there amt any
places along down here where a hun
CRY man could get bit of victuals, is
there? haven't had nibble since last
night at supper"
The reporter knew it was coming,
and he wasn't surprised, but he
thought to be struck for whole meal
was asking rather much of stranger,
so he hedged.
There's place up street here two
or three blocks where you can get
cup of coffee and a sandwich for a
dime," he said tentatively.
''I've wondered good many times
why it was a man had to go hungry in
this world" said the man, ''when he
could get a filling for dime or even
less. Or go dry when beer was only 5
cents glass"
This was also to be expected, but the
reporter couldn't exactly reconcile the
philosophy and the beer.
MAY be-" ventured the reporter, sit
is because they haven't the price"
"There may be something in that"
he admitted with apparent reluctance,
and then carefully ran his fingers
through his vest pockets as if feeling
for last weeks salary.
''Don't you think that most of those
who have such hard luck deserve it,"
said the reporter, who felt that if he
was going to pay the bill he might as
well get something for it.
''I suppose they do; and still it amt
every poor devil that starves because
he ought to-" and he hitehed his trou-
sers at the belt and made as if he
would get little closer to the reporter.
AihNC ypu tNSi pctu Huuetys nc
asked with a wolfish suddenness.
The reporter sighted a lunch place
ahead and got his dime ready.
"Well, no." he said. 81 can't say
that have been that hungry exactly"
"Well, 1 am right now" laughed
the man, ''and I'm going straight up
here 10 this hotel and get four dollar
breakfast. Come and go along with
me. guess I've got the price" and
he took roll of bills out of his inside
pocket three inches in diameter, and
the outside one had a capital C. on it,
which made the reporters eyes pop
out so that he forgot all about the dime
he had ready.
The reporter thanked him and de-
elined.
'Ta, ia, then" he said as ne disap-
peared toward the breakfast. ''I reck-
on that treasury building will stay
where it is till come back, but just
the same I'll not hurry on that ac-
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