Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
SHOT CRAPS FOR HIM

1.-THE only time I was ever actually put
on the dock iand made an article OF BAR
ter" said a Washington actor who came
back home for rest the other day, HAP
pened at a hotel in, New Orleans last win
ter. The shoW was in New Orleans for 9
week. 1 went to q small but weli-man
aged hotel. not in the downtown district
that had been recommended to me. The
two walters in the hotel dining room who
attended to the corner where 1 decided &c
sit were a pair ofsivery black young Eel
lows. Nose and Zeke. Nose caught my eye
first when I took my first meal in the
hostelry, and from then on he waited OF
me splendidly. He was one OF the bes'
walters ever saw. was Nose. and the way
he jollied the cook into giving me extras
was something wonderful. / am not In the
habit OF tipping walters promiscuously
when on the road, but l always do the
right thing by waiter who has taker
good care Of me at the wind-up OF my stay
In hotel. 1 told Nose that I'd fix him
out all right If he'd go on treating me
right, and he grinned and renewed his Ell
forts to give me good deal more tnan
was legitimately coming to me. AS the
week wore on Nose did better ana peter
embarrassing. in fact. Zeke. the Other
waiter who attended to the corner OF the
dining room in which sat. eyed NOSE en-
vfously throughout most OF the week
Zeke's tables were filled with countrif1ed-
looking folks. who didn't look as II they
ever heard Of such thing as tipping a
waiter, and it was easy to see tnat Ieke
had 1t all figured out that l was liable to
prove good thing, and that ne was Ia
menting his fate that he wasn't taking
care of me. Nose in his turn would grin
triumphantly at Zeke every time he passed
him. and altogether it was funny TO VII
ness the little play between the pair OF
walters
II was to leave the hotel on Saturday
evening. and 1 had decided that l would
give Nose a 81 bill-a pretty sfzaDie tip
cept the attentions of colored attendants
largely as matter of course, ana rarely
think of tipping them.
Il was surprised when sat down at sup
per-the last meal I was to take at the
hotel-to see that Zeke was In charge OF
my table. He bent an attentive ear to take
my order, while Nose. looking the picture
of sheepishness and misery, stood some
Whats the matter with Mose?' l asked
Zeke. He's not sore on me. hope:
No, sub. he ain nuthin lika dat, sun.
as to why Nose had passed me up, as IL
were.
but why isn't Nose waiting on me as
usual? 1 asked Zeke.
Lehe oIllS STlIlHeu III IePy, anu wa
mystified.
You tell Nose to come over here-I
want to see him. l said to Zeke Eek,
grinned still more amply and beckoned to
Nose. Nose came over to my table. drag
ging his feet after him in a dismal sort of
way, and for the soul of me couldn't make
out what allied the man.
Nose said l. what's the matter with
you? Why are you not waiting on me?
'Mose, continuing to look the picture OF
despair. replied:
Bekase All dun lost yo' out. suh.
Lost me out?' said l. still more mysti-
fled. What do you mean by that
'Ah dun lost yo' all out tub Zeke. sub.
said Nose, sadly. We dun bin uh-shootin'
crap TO yo' all dis mohnin', an Zeke he
dun win yo all out. sub. OATS all
Il couldn't help but let out a laugh that
caused everybody in the dining room to
turn around and look at me. When l de-
clined to abide by the arbitrament of the
dice and handed Nose his s. bill he was
the most notwithstanding darkey l ever
clapped an eye }on and Zeke seemed to be
grateful enough for, the quarter / gave him
to placate him.. But m afraid there may
have been a razor-piay OF so between Zeke
and Nose when they got together off duty.