Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-21
"POOR SAM"

How it came about was this: I had
eaten a pretty fair dinner at my accus-
toned eating place, which was on a prin-
cipal thoroughfare of New York, after
a fair days work, and was on my way
home, with intent to rest and be thank
full.
From my accustomed eating place to
what | call my home-in other words, the
place where l ~sleep-there are several
routes. and the route which | took on
that particular evening lay through a
bright and cheerful street, where there
were boarding houses and furnished
apartments in plenty.
On a doorstep stood two young men in
evening dress, with their overcoats open.
They had just come out of that door, for
l heard it close the moment before, and
they were evidently celebrating about
something when l came up.
The right is more lucky" l heard one
of them say.
TIE other said:
who told you that? It's always more
luck to turn to the left. Don't You know
that much?"
Then ,uey whispered. Then one of them
dashed down at me like a hawk.
Excuse me. sir he said. May 1
speak to YOU
1 stopped, thinking they were going to
make me their arbitrator in the question
of left and right.
"What can | do for yOu?' | said.
"Woll.' said the other one-a stocky,
smooth-faced youth-''it's a little out-of-
the-way, perhaps, on so short an ac-
quaintance, but the fact is, we want you
to come in to dinner
The young man who had first seized me
laughed and began making an apology
for his companions abruptness.
All this was hpfora had rapnNarpl
from my establishment enough to say
anything.
How do you know I began, that I
am respectable enough? How do you
know anything about me? And, if it
isn't an impertlnent question, who are
you?'
"Oh. that's all right the stocky one
answered quickly. I'VE are old birds,
you know; we could see you We're all
right. If you'll just step inside-it's
rather chilly out here-We'n explain the
whole thing to you
Needless to mention here that I had
some misgivings about stepping inside.
gang of desperadoes, and their aim rob~
berry and assassination. l dom know
why | stepped inside, but | did.
You see,' began the taller one-he
with the blonde mustache-"it's like
this
HCIt SolHS away loilOlloW, lle
stocky young man interrupted.
It's a farewell party
"A lot of the boys, o know, and just
the two girls
That's our sisters-'
THE old people are gone on ahead.
They started this morning."
so the two girls and we just con-
cluded to invite the whole gang in a
bunch.''
"Te of them
Yes. And then poor Sam"
YES said the stocky one, shaking his
head, poor SAM, you know, at the last
moment
What happened to poor sam?" I
asked.
What happened to poor SAM" the
tall one repeated slowly after me. THAT
is just what we don't know
We've waited for more than an hour"
said the other.
rather think he's drowned"
Don't say that" the stocky one inter-
rupted quickly.
Then turning to me, he said, entreat-
ingly:
You will oblige us, won't you. If YOU
won't, we shall have to sit down thirteen
at table, and that would be awful-at our
farewell dinner
This dialogue went on with beWilder-
ing rapidity. ] must have been dazed by
it. l was quite conscious of a strong sus-
piclon that these were lunaticS. "Old
BIRDS as they described themselves.
don't go out into the highways of New
York and bring the halt and blind into
their family circles when they-the 'old
birds"-are in their sober senses. And
yet l felt myself yielding to their en-
treaties. In another minute had yield
ed. That is why l say | must have been
daZed.
You will have to mako apologies for
me to your sisters" I said. as we as
end the stairs together like three old
friends. I'm the first place I am no,
dressed for dinner in civilized society,""
ooh, that's all right" they both inter
rupted me.
And in the second place." I went on,
Eve just had one dinner"
"Ncver mind that" said the one with
the blonde mustaChe. Just forget it,"
1t is hard to forget a Inner of three
courses, including shad roe, half an hOur
after you nave eaten it But as soon as
my escort opened the folding doors and
ushered me into the reception room on
the second floor I forgot everything. The
room was full of young men in evening
dress. I counted nine of them-all clus-
/ tnro6 about fuy0 n,p1c 1Tho ,,. .z-