St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-06-23

/ Performance In LegefAenaaH
which Ended In an UAex.
Dectea Manner.


wish to dine quietly away from the
rush and hustle on the lower floor 60
upstairs two gentlemen were lunch
ing a few days ago, says tho Washing
ton Star.
Both were talking very animatedly
and were apparently oblivious to the
colored waiter. If they knew that
that individual. was on earth, much
less in their immediate presence,
their attention to his whereabo~ts
gave NO clue to their knowledge.
One of the diners was a young man
of powerful build. He was evidently
the host. .Whsns the ssaiter laid &le
check dow 81 the white table cbth
and stepped back and watched them
carefully, as Is the custom of wait.
ers who scent tip, he carelessly
reached in his vest pocket, and, with.
out appearing to look at the servitor,
placed both check and a new bankncte
side by side,. without . break in the
argument.
In a few moments the waiter re-
| entered, carrying q silver salver. in
the center of which lay q ten-cent
piece. Then he stepped back again.
his glance alternating between the
salver and the man who paid the bill.
The argument came to an abrupt
termination. The young mans eyes
swept the immovable face of the wait.
er with . scurionsly searching glance
not unmixed with amazement. Then
he whispered word to his friend,
whose eyes also scanned the face that
impassively returned their glances.
There was an eloquent silence. The
young man beckoned the waiter to
his side.
aYou are a slick one" he said,
quietly, but there was a ring in his
| tone that did not augur well for one
of the party. "Jnst hand it over,
please" ,r3-
"Hand over what, sir?" asked the
waiter, innocently. and with q pro-
nounced rising infection.
"The change"
"There it is, sir" indicating with .
sweep of the hand toward the ten-cent
piece.
"Part of it; want the rest"
Deed, that's all that is coming ia
you, sir. You gave me one-dollar
bill, and your check was 30 cents"
The young mans features broke
| into a smile that made the lines OF
| his mouth mold in a manner in which
determination and amusement strug'
gled for mastery. <fRtf1kk
THAT was 500 bill I gave you.' ne
said. Because it. was rolled tightly
and we appeared to be absorbed in
our conversation that, You though: ]
did not notice you reduce it, after Sc
curing the change, to one. I will
give you ten seconds to deliver up the
balance or 1 will choke the life out
of you and have you arrested fcE
theft. Come, will count one-two-
three-four-" ssh. -
"'Deed, boss. you is mistaken. That
was a one spot"
Five six - seven - eight-nine-
tent"
"You is certainly mistaken, boss
that"
/ Inc young udu was oh hAS 49, -
he counted out the waiter. He seized
the latter by the throat, and with
quick movement forced the man to
the floor.
"Here it is, boss!" cried the walter
| in terrified accents. "For the Lawd.
a-mussy sakes, boss, don't pinch g
hard!" .rt.s a.. :.
He extracted from his coat pocket
| s19 in bills, which he eagerly pressed
in the left hand Of the young mai
who stood above him. The latter re
| leased his hold. and counting the bitli
| passed out of the room with his com
| panion with not SO much as second
look at the amateur prestidigitatol
kneeling on the floor ruefully rubbing
| his neck.
The young man is a member of tha
| United. States secret service, and h<
knows the appearance Of government
currency better than most bank tsll
| era. rolled or unrolled.