The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-02-11
THEY HAD TO EAT
By George AIDE
~ A HMAC, old friend, I'm glad to see

NJ AC, old friend, I'm glad to see
n you now, If 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. II didn't want to
eat until you came. In fact, couldn't
eat until you came"
"Great Scott! Are you broke, too?"
Listen to my tale Of woe: The laundry
boy came in to-day and tookeverything
had except II cents. That's why I'm
going 10 dine with you this evening""
"If you dine with me you'll have
seven courses OF Chicago atmosphere.
Your IL cents is priucely fortune
compared TO what have"
"What happened to you?"
swell, had 81 saved out. thought
1t would tide me over until tomorrow
night. To-day Mr.. Harvey suggested
in the IN st casual way that he would
like to have the dollar which l bor-
rowed three weeks ago. lie was lit
tie sarcastic and insinunted that was
unreliable, so got mad and paid him
the dollar"
"Thats 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 1
may have to go without dinner"
"You can't eat on me, that's certain.
What are we going to do?"
"There's only one thing to do. Well
wait for Barney and accept his invita-
ton"
!. "This will be the one ight when Bar
). ney doesn't come home"
ooh, don't take such discouraged
view of the matter. Here! Here's half
Of the evening paper. Improve your
mind while you wait. Besides, I
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
a la something, whitebait, flet, mignon,
punch, quail!' Think of it, Jim. Com
mon, ordinary house-movers eating
quail at the Auditorium, while we, two
of the most intellectual things that
ever happened, are dying of hunger in a
hall bedroom"
"Would you change places with any
housc-mover?"
"Well, of course, house-mover docs
not rank with any member of my noble
profession, but II waver at times
when l reflect that oil of the stupid
men, these earthly creatures, so to
speak, with pink jowls and conical
heads. are going against truffles and
champagne, while us geniuses are
lined up at the dairy lunch calling for
siniers."
"Plain living and high thinking, my
boy"
"Yes--thinking how you're going to
get the plain living"
clark! Methinks hear Bernard"
Barney, the third member Of the COM
mune. had been with them for three
weeks. He and Jim had gone he 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 yawned into
couch at night. by having three in the
room there was a saving all around. 1t
had been agreed that the money thus
saved should be expended on books.
After three weeks the nucleus OF the
library consisted of copy of '"rhe
Prisoner of Zenda," which Barney had
bought at secondhand store. He
agreed 10 read it aloud TO Jim ard Mac.
All went we'll until he came to page III,
and then the story jumped abruptly to
page $50. The commune held a meet
ing and denounced the bookseller.
1t was Barney coming upstairs. AS
he entered the room the two fell upon
him.
"Preserver!" exclaimed Jim.
"How much have you got?" asked
Mac.
"rll bet know what you're limiting
about" said Barney.
Jim-fou must be a mind-rea6cr
Come! No concealmcnt of assets
Have you on or about your person a.
the present moment any money or
moneys OF the total equivalent of one
dol|orO