The age-herald., 1899-08-17
STORIES OF THE STREET AND TOWN

that my best friend told her. Yonder he stands now. He's friendly to me, but can't ever feel the same to him"
 He was the white head waiter in an all- night restaurant. I, one of the unfortu- mates who must patronize them In this particular restaurant there is also clerk and the head walters assistant who Is @ big, black negro, than whom no better blow hard was ever spoiled than when he was brought into a restaurant. At the par tieulaP hour when I visit this restaurant the three employees are never all asleep at one time. I must be considered patron to whom more than the ordinary amount or homage must be paid for one or the other always stays awake to talk to me. Some times one will relieve the other for few moments, but the talking always con- tinues On the morning I call to mind it must have been the head walters turn to entertain me.
 q did a little speculatin'," he continued, ''but it wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't told her, and I have been friend to him. have taken my girl and him and his girl out to the lake hundred times and always paid for the whole shooting match. I'll never"
 "Got anything good to eat this morning?" I ventured to ask.
 "Yes, yes. Hang that nigger, he'd go to sleep eatin' water melon. George! George!"
 George didn't budge.
 "Of course if I had been a down-right gambler he would sorter been justified in telling it. was just sorter speculatin'. read in a paper the other day that when a man won he was only pushing a good en- terprise, but when he lost they called 1t gamblin tell you she's a tip-top girl, too; none O your shoddy kind and" '.I believe I'll take broiled ham sand wieh and cup of coffee," put in a little nervously.
 "Yes, yes. It almost slipped my mind. Georgei George! That nigger would sleep if Dewey turned the 'Lympia on him. Georgei George!''
 The noise was so great the night clerk awoke long enough to suggest that some of the guests might be disturbed. George came and took my order. looked at the clock and made mental calculation as to the amount of trouble that could be poured into my ear before the sandwich came I heard the order given in the kitchen. George went to sleep again and the head waiter sat down across the table from me
 Gan you get me glass of ice water?" said, meekly.
 "Yes, yes, sure thing. About that gam blin' business. got to shootin' craps. Lost all my money. Put my ring and stud up Lost all that and then my job But 1t wouldn't a gone so hard with me if that feller hadn't peached to my best girl. She didn't do thing - -!' "Old man, you forgot the ice water, didn't your"
 He went and got the water, but he didn't lcse any time in taking up the thread of his narrative.
 "As I was about to say, the girl didn't do thing to me. As told you before. lest my job and decided to leave town. Of course had to give my girl a farewell visit. I put my trunk in soak and per- suaded the uncle to let me keep out my best suit to wear to see the girl" I heard a bell ring in the neighboghood of the kitchen. knew that meant that my ham had gone through the broilins process and was ready to be served. I started to suggest this, but the head waiter had caught his breath and jumped on h.s story before had time.
 Well, when walked in, things resem- bled the Klondike. There. was cold wave coming from every direction and a centerin round me. She gives me the marble heart. I'm man. but blame me if tears didn't come in my eyes, was so took off my feet I told her we'd never meet again, and she kinder softened."
 The bell in the kitchen rang again. I asked if that did not mean that my lunch was ready.
 Now. just look at that nigger!" replied the head waiter. Hes dead already. George! George!'
 George started for the kitchen.
 Course after so long time she told me what had been told her about my gam bln'. Then the feller told her a pack o' lies about my bein' run out of place be. fore come here. had proof in my pocket to prove this part of 1t was a lie, but couldn't show it to her. You see I'd been correspondin' with a girl up there, and had some of the letters in my pocket. I didn't want to show them to her because she would think was runnin' on with girls everywhere I went"
 George came with my sandwich and cof- fee. I asked for napkin, and 1t was given me. The head waiter did not seem the least fatigued He was determined that should hear him out
 "I told her about being broke, and the girl actually cried Then she took off that 'dia- mont ring I had given her and handed it to me. Sell it; you will need the money she said. I needed dough mighty bad, but it hurt me to take back that piece O jew elry. But she made me do it. She told me could get her another if ever got able tell you the honest truth, I was trenholm like leaf when I left her. pawned the ring and left town the next day.
 CT didn't have no luck away and I came back on the freights. It took me four days to come hundred miles. Every hound of a conductor turned me down and I had credited 'em all for grub Haven't been about the girl. She gives me the cold shoulder. I don't care much about Twin only to show some folks that I can get on