Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-21
SLEIGHT-OF-HAND TRICK.
L Performance in LedEerde main
Which Ended Unexpectedly.

In a restaurant where patrons who wish
to dine quietly away from the rush and bus
tie on the lower floor go upstairs two gen.
tlemen were lunching a few days ago.
Both were talking very animatedly and
were apparently oblivious to their sur
roundings especially to the colored waiter.
If they knew that that individual was on
EARTH much loss in their immediate pres
ence, their attention to his whereabouts
gave no clue to their knowledge
One of the diners was a young man Of
powerful build. He was evidently the host.
When the waiter laid the check down on
the white table cloth and stepped back and
watched them carefully, as is the custom
of walters who scent a tip, he carelessly
reached in his vest pocket, and, without
appearing to look at the servitor, placed
both check and a new barknote side by
side, without a break in the argument.
In few moments the waiter re-entered
carrying a silver salyer in the center of
which lay a 10-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 termina-
ton. The young mans eyes swept the i'm
movable face of the walter with a curiously
searching glance not unmixed with amaze
ment- Then he whispered a word to his
friend whose eyes also scanned the face
that impassiveiy returned their chances
There was an eloquent silence. The young
man D6cROneU the waiter 10 MS sac
You are slick one he said quietly,
but there was a ring in his tones that did
not augur well for one of the party. Just
hand it over, please"
Hand over what, sir?' asked the waiter
innocently, and with a pronounced rising in
Election.
The change
There it is sir" indicating with sweep
of the hand toward the 1O-cent piece.
Part of 1t; L want the rest"
Deed, that's all that is coming to you,
sir. You gave me 81 bill. and your check
was 90 cents"
The young mans features broke into a
smile that made the lines of his mouth
mold In manner in which determination
and amusement struggled for mastery.
THAT was $50 bill gave you" he said.
Because it was rolled tightly and We APP
peared TO be so absorbed in our converse
ton that you thought did not notice you
reduce It, after securing the change to a
one. / will give you ten seconds to deliver
UP the balance or l will choke the life out
OF you and have you arrested for theft.
Come, I will count one-two-three-four-"
deed, boss, you is mistaken. That was
a one spot"
en-eight-nine-tenr"
You is certainly mistaken, boss. that
The young man was on his feet as he
counted out the waiter. He seized the lat
ter by the throat, and with a quick move
DaeDt forced the man to the floor.
Here It is, hossr cried the waiter in ter
rified accents. For the Lawd-a-mussy
sakes. boss. don't pinch so hard,'
He extracted from his coat pocket $40 In
bills. which he eagerly pressed in the left
hand of the young man who stood above
him. The latter released his hold. and
counting the bills. passed out of the room
with his compa MON with not SO much as a
second look at the amateur prestIdigitator
kneeling on the floor ruefuily rubbing his
neck
The young man is member of the United
States secret service, and he knows the an
pearance OF government currency better
than most hank teiiers. rolled or unrolled