Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-03
ONE DRINK.

Chicago Tribune: This is the story of a
man who was paid $500 for one drink of
oonM1on rye whisky and a 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 dis
astrous effect on his accumulations. 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 with
drawn from circulation, but it is put on
exhibition when anybody doubts his
story.
The mar is employed in a downtown
resort. Every known device to extract
free drinks from an unwilling bartender
mas 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:
i wouldn't refuse any good fellow a
drink il | really thought he needed it, but
l 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 l hand over the bottle, and
on this occasion it made me money.
lone 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 ex-
planning his business. He seemed to be
suffering. crippled-all done up, in fact.
He was fairly we'll dressed, but said he
was broke. He Impressed me as all
right. and I gave him a good stiff drink
of whisky. Then ] had him sit down in
one of the wine stalls.
"Ha cul11 ha r11v walk and tol6 mo that
one OF mis- legs was swollen to twice it's
natural size. He said he wanted to get
into some institution where he could get
treatment. 1 happened to be a good
friend Of the night clerk at the county
hospital. SO l ~telephoned him. The night
clerk agreed to look after my German
friend if he would come out. 1 gave him
car fare, and told him how to reach the
hospital. He hobbied out of the place,
and [ never saw him again for eight
months.
zone afternoon, while I was doing the
day trick, a finely dressed man. wearing
a silk hat and gloves, came nto the buff
fet and stepped UP to the. cigar counter.
He ordered some 'three-for-a-half'. cigars,
and threw a twenty-dollar bill on the
counter. He requested the manager to
have a cigar, and requested that I join
him.
He asked me if 1 remembered him. 1
said l did not have the pleasure. Well
he said, you saved my life eight months
ago. | am the man who you got into the
county hospital. 1 have been under treat
ment ever since, but am now a well-man.
/ just came in to thank YOU.
Il congratulated him on his recovery,
and he then Went on to say that things
had changed with him since the first time
he mc. me. L had some money left to
me in Germany he said. In fact, by the
death of a relative 1 have fallen heir to
$50, 1000. I ann going back to Germany
Tomorrow
81 congratulated hin again, n he or
dered q bottle-of wine-no cheap game for
ltnn. We had quite a little talk, and
then he said: 'Well, goodbye. But we
will shake hands. He put out his hand
and l grasped it in mine.
Il felt something sticking to my palm
after he had hurried out. I almost fell
; lead when I looked at the bill. 1t had
a big figure five on it and two ciphers. and
there was no period, either, between the
five and the. cipners. I couldn't believe
it was on the square,, and I hustled over
to a bank.
1.-THE cashier said he would like to have
a street car full of such money. Then
put it away. I say that because l 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"