The daily morning Alaskan., 1899-12-19
A MIX UP IN HATS.
A RESTAURANT EPISODE WHICH IS
 NOT AT ALL UNCOMMON.

| rAtntc beyonu Mcaaufc Nhe nah
 Who Was Sure He Was Getting the
 Worst of the Deal.
 When the modest looking man with the black string necktie entered the restaurant. lt was with an air of one accustomed to the place. He stripped or his rain coat and hung t on a vacant peg. placing his golf cap on another peg by the side of gray fedora hat with a black band that top ped short covert cloth overcoat. Then he looked around him. The table at which be bad evidently intended to sit was occupied by a stout, baldheaded man with a black mustache. dropping with an Inward turn tO the corners of his mouth. whose napkin was tucked under a broad. double chin. He was talking with pale person with a blue striped shirt decorated with large diamond.
 As the newcomer hesitated the head walter beckoned with a graceful and dlgnlned uplifting Of hls hand and placed a chair for hlm at the other side of the room. He seated himself and ordered his dinner
 When be had finished his meal. be walked over to the peg where he had hung bis coat and. taking down that garment. struggled Into lt. Then he took down the fedora hat. put it on his head and was about to walk out when a sharp Hey" from the stout man halted hlm.
 "No. you don't" said the stout man. rolling hIs head in a threatening way.
 The man with the string tie looked bewlldered. Evidently he supposed that the stout man must have been some Jocular acquaintance whose face for the moment escaped his recollec- ton. for a smile of the seml-ldiotic character proper to such occasions spread over hIs face. and he advanced doubtfully toward the table.
 There's nothing to grin about" said the stout man. Put that hat back where you found it."
 The man with the string tie became Instantly serious and. removing the hat. looked at it earnestly.
 Tt ain't no golf cap. You see lt amt, don't youy'
 The man with the string tie seemed to be suddenly overwhelmed with this conviction. for be made a quick step to the rack and secured his own head covering. restoring the fedora. As he did SO a crimson Hush overspread his face. extending to the tips Of his ears and the back of his neck. He turned to the stout man.
 ''I beg your pardon. I'm sure" he said. 'l made a mistake"
 "I seen you made a mistake" said the stout man. with whitening Irony.
 "I want to explain. You see, l"-
 "You don't need to explain. It's all right SO long as you didn't take my hat I've known people to get Into trouble that made them kind of mistakes"
 "See here"-
 "See here. You put your cap on your head and pass along don't want no argument about this"
 Why. hang lt." exclaimed the man with the string tie desperately. "l didn't want to take your hat. man! See here" be continued. addressing the interested audience Of diners "l put on a cap today because it was rain Ing He stopped to shake on the ex- postulatory hand that a waiter had laid on his arm. "I usually wear hat that looks exactly like this man's-the walter here can tell you that-and | took the wrong one without stopping Co think about having left mine at home. When l get back. do you know what am going to do? I'm going to stick lt Into the stove. wouldn't be caught wearing a hat that a hog like thls wears. I'm ashamed that | ever dld wear it."
 He rapped his knuckles on the stout mans table as he said this and looked the stout man steadily in the face. The walter laid hls hand on his arm again. and he strengthened up. still glarlng defiance at his insulter. Then be pulled the golf cap down over bis forehead and walked stlfly out Of the restaurant
 "Did I understand you to claim that hatY' inquired a young man at the next table. addressing the stout man.
 "Yes. sir" replied the stout man, little less aggressively. That's my bat"
 "I was under the impression it was mlne." said the young man as he stir rcd bis coffee carelessly. SIou don't want two hats. though. and perhaps you'd just as soon let me have the one on that chair beside you"
 The stout man looked down at the chair. and his face grew as red as that of the man with the string tie few minutes before. There was a hat on the clIalr. and lt was a pearl gray fedora with A black band. Chicago Record.