Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-03-26


him as he sat down. AS the man
didn't rise up and wipe the floor with
the kicker Mr.. KAISER decided that the
pair knew more about each other than
they seemed to know. Presently all
three were engaged in conversation,
Mr.. KAISER answering all their ques-
tions about himself with a confiding
smile and accepting gracefully his new
friends invitation to smoke a 25-cent
cigar. The other two men had drinks
and the friendly man paid for them.
Then said he to Mr.. KAISER:
You don't drink anything, see, but
L guess you're out for a good time,
eh?"
A slow, warm smile overspread the
westerner's placid face.
Il thought So" cried the other.
There's little game running uptown
very quietly and l can put you next.
Say. my friend" he added to the man
on the other side Of the table, do you
play cards?"
wy, shoo-err-rr!" growled he OF
the protrusive law.
Come On, then; we'll all go there
and have a little friendly game" said
the friendly man. blithely.
He started to rise, but felt Mr.. Kas-
sers hand on his shoulder, and saw
Mr.. Kasser's beaming smile very close
to his own face
Have you got a pencil?" asked Mr..
KAISER.
Pencil? Why, certainly. What do
you want of it?"
Il want you to write your name on
this piece of paper"
What for? / won't do it."
The smile disappeared from the face
of Mr. KAISER. His hand slipped along
the shoulder of the friendly stranger
and settled on his collar. The friendly
| stranger hastened across the floor to-
ward the office, not because he particu-
larly wished to, but because very
muscular arm was propelling him. The
third member of the trio came behind,
caying hoarsely:
Leave i'm go. He's me trent. Leave
i'm go or I'll soak yer!"
Mr.. KAISER landed his man in front
of the desk and addressed tho clerk.
Does this man live here?"
No"
You're liar, then" said Mr.. Kas-
ser to his captive. The captive strug
gled
Ever see him here before?" Mr..
KAISER asked the clerk.
Yes he's been loafng around here
for some time"
You're a bunko-steerer and thief"
said Mr.. KAISER to the stranger.
Then he relaxed his grip and his
fists made a plugging sound upon the
plump features of the stranger. That
friendly person Topped over the desk
and conveniently placed inkwell
caught the life-blood that flowed from
his displaced nose.
Meantime the proprietor of the pro-
truding jaw and the striped shirt was
standing in the middle of the corridor
looking uncertain as to what he had
better do. He was quickly relieved of
all uncertainty. Mr.. KAISER reached
him in a jump, grabbed him by the
shoulders, whirled him around, and
planted heartfelt kick. Thereupon
the man solved for a fleeting moment
the problem of aerial navigation. He
rose and scared. When he landed and
got his feet going there was a current
of air in his wake that blew Off the
hats of two men who stood near by
Upon returning for the other man Mr..
KAISER discovered only crimson trail
that led out by way of the cafe door.
Some two dozen men who were scat
tered about the lobby crowded around
Mr.. KAISER and wanted to testify to
their appreciation by buying him
| drinks and cigars, and the head clerk
came around to thank him for Kidding
the hotel of the bunko man.
When a Sun reporter saw Mr.. Kas-
ser yesterday and asked him about his
adventure, that gentleman rubbed his
chin and said he shouldn't think a lit
tie thing like that would be of any in
terest in big city like New York. He
admitted, however, that he had en-
| joyed himself, and said that the cigar
presented to him by his departed friend
was very excellent one.
Il have got a little property of my
own" said he, mot very much, but a
little; and suppose those two thought
they could get $4,000 or $4,000 out OF
me. l am a simple-minded western
man." he added, and paused contem-
platively. "A simple-minded western
man, but" he concluded, smiling be-
nignantly at the toe of his right boot,
81 have been in New York before. =
| New York Sun.