The Winslow mail., 1899-05-27
THEY HAD TO EAT
BY George AIDE
ID A HMAC, old friend, I'm glad t. see

ID MAJ, Old 1flenO, m SlaC - see
~ you now, if l never was before" ;"
said Jim, as his roommate slammed in
and added his overcoat to the sprawl
ing heap of garments on the trunk
nearest the door. Il didn't want to
eat until you came, In fact, couldn't
eat until you came"
"Great Scott! Are you broke, too? ?"
"Too? l don't like that word too
Listen to my tale Of woe: The laundry
boy came in to-day and tookeverything
l had except II cents. That's why I'm
going to dine with you this evening""
IF you dine with me you'll have
seven courses of Chicago atmosphere,
Your II cents is princely fortune
compared to what have"
"What happened to you?"
"Well, had 81 saved out. I thought
it would tide me Ger until tomorrow
night. To-day Mr.. Harvey suggested
in the most casual way that he would
like to have the dollar which l bor-
rowed three weeks ago. He was 4 lit
tie sarcastic and insinuated that was
unreliable, SO l got mad and paid him
the dollar"
That's very foolish. Never let your
temper run away with your judgment.
It's all right to be Indignant. but don't
be indignant TO the point Of giving up
money, especially at crisis like this.
Just for that one rash performance /
may have to go without dinner"
"You can't eat on NE, that's certain.
What are we going to do?"
There's only one thing to do. Wen
wait for Barney and accept his invita-
ton"
This will be the one night when Bar
ney doesn't come home"
"Oh, don't take such a discouraged
view of the matter. Here! Here's half
of the evening paper. Improve your
mind while you wait. Besides,
was reading in q magazine yesterday
that most people eat TOO much and too
often"
Speaking Of eating, the first thing
see in this paper is the menu for the
banquet of the House-Movers' confer
ence at the Auditorium tonight. Just
listen to this: Blue points, consomme
la something, whitebait, filet, mignon,
punch, quail!' Think of it, Jim. Com
mon, ordinary Aouse-movers eating
quail at the Auditorium, while we, two
of the most intellectual things that
ever happened, are dying of hunger in
hall bedroom"
Would you change places with any
house-mover?"
well, Of course, a house-mover Goes
not rank with any member of my noble
profession, but II waver at times
when | reflect that all of the stupid
men, these earthly creatures, so to
speak, with pink jowls and conical
heads, are going against trutt1es and
champagne, while us geniuses are
lined up at the dairy lunch calling for
sinkers."
''Plain living and high thinking, my
boy
"Yes-thinking how you're going to
get the plain living
"Hark! Methinks I hear Bernard"
Barney, the third member of the com
mune, had been with them for three
weeks. He and Jim had gone the prim
rose college path together. Inasmuch
as Barney's salary did not encourage
him to indulge in the luxury Of a hall
bedroom Of his own, it had been ar
ranged that he should come into the
room with Jim and Mac, sleeping on
dropsical sofa which yawred into
couch at night. BY having three in the
room there was saving all around. 1t
h. 4loS l l. hIJC
saved should be expended On books.
After three weeks the nucleus of the
library consisted of copy of THE
Prisoner of Zenda," which Barney had
bought at a secondhand store. He
agreed to read it aloud to Jim and Mac.
All went we'll until he came to page III,
and then the story jumped abruptly TO
page $50. The commune held meet
ing and denounced the bookseller.
1t was Barney coming upstairs. AS
hesentered the room the two fell upon
him,
''Preserver!" exclaimed Jim.
"How much have you got?" asked
Mac.
I'll bet | know what you're limiting
about" said Barney.
Jim-You must be mind-reader.
Come! No cOncealment OF assets.
Have you on or about your person at
the present moment any money or
moneys of the total equivalent of one
dollar?
Barney-Well, gentlemen of the hold
up committee, have this to say in re-
sponse to your very earnest and signifi-
can't welcome. Ny total wealth is now
represented by one fve-cent piece
commonly called a nickel, and four one
cent pieces, sometimes improperly
designated as pennies. I walked home,
rather than waste any part of my es-
tate on car fare, having it in mind that
if | missed you | would at least retain
enough of the legal tender to buy what
ever you can get for nickel. AS for
the other four cents, | suppose there
are places at which one may obtain four
cents worth Of food. but l maintain