The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-13
This Drink Worth $500.

From the chicago 1T1DuQe.J
This is the story of a man who was
paid $500 for one drink of common rye
whisky and few kind words thrown
in on the side. The man who got the
money is a Chicago bartender. He took
the $500 and put it in a safety deposit
box. 1t has become the nucleus of his
little fortune, and he says he never
will part with it until he gets married.
He figures that marriage might have
a disastrous effect on his accumula-
tons, but as he doesn't intend to get
married he thinks he is pretty sure Of
holding on to the money. The $500 bill
has been Withdrawn from circulation,
but it is put on exhibition when any
body doubts his story.
The man is employed in a downtown
resort. Every known device to extract
free drinks from an unwilling bartender
has been worked on this man during
a long. career as a drink mixer. But
he had a .'hunch" this time, and he
won out. This is the way he tells the
story, and his friends know it to be
true:
Il wouldn't refuse any good fellow
drink if I really thought he needed it,
but am against dead ones. especially
when they are professionals. Once in
awhile a bartender does run into a real
case of need, where a drink of whisky
will save a life. Then I hand over the
bottle, and on this occasion it made me
money.
"One evening about two years ago a
man came into the barroom and tried
to hobble up to the bar. The man was
a German, and had a little difficulty in
explaining his business He seemed to
be suffering, crippled-all done up, in
fact He was fairly well dressed, but
said he was broke. He impressed me
as all right, and 1 gave him good stiff
drink of whisky. Then l had him Sit
down in one of the wine stalls.
He could hardly walk, and told me
that one of his legs was swollen to
twice it's natural size. He said he want
ed to get into some institution where
he could get treatment. / happened to
be a good friend of the night clerk at
the County Hospital, so l telephoned
him. The night clerk agreed to look af-
ter my German friend if he would come
out. I gave car fare, and told MN now
to reach the hospital He hobbled out
of the place, and never saw him again
for eight months.
lone afternoon while was doing the
day trick a finely dressed man, wearing
a silk hat and kid gloves, came into the
buffet and stepped up to the cigar cOun-
ter he ORDERED some 9e1isr II on
the counter. He requested the manager
to have cigar and requested that join
HE asked me if remembered him. I
said ! did not have the pleasure We'll,
ago. 1 am the man whom you got into
the county hospital. | have been under
treatment ever since, but am now we'll
man. 1 just came in to thank you
II congratulated him on his recovery
and he then went to say that things
had changed with him since the first time
he met me. had some money left to
me in Germany he said. In fact, by the
death of a. relative, I have fallen heir to
$4,000. | am going back to Germany to-
morrow
Il Congratulated him again and he or
dered a bottle of wine-no cheap game
for him. We had quite a little talk. and
then he said: Well. good-by. But we
will shake hands He put out his hand
and I grasped it in mine.
st cOYaof6inU sticking TO nalrn
after he had hurried out. I almost fell
dead when I looked at the bill: 1t had
big figure FIVE on it and two ciphers, and
there was no period, either between, the
five and the ciphers. I couldn't believe
it was on the square and hustled over
to the bank.
THE cashier said he would like to have
street car full of such money. Then l
put it away. I say that just because 1
got the best of this little deal that is no
sign that I am going to give away drinks
to every fellow that comes along. You
can't win the big prize in the lottery
twice in succession. But, take one on the
house this time. and don't forget US when
you're passing this way