The representative., 1901-05-16
Mixed-Drink Mystery of a Marble Bar
In the Crescent City.

at couldn't have happened If it hadn't
been for the freshness and frlvolity OF the
bartender said young cotton man who
has well-earned reputation as a practical
joker. "One morning, two or three weeks
ago dropped into the place where he works
and ordered cocktail. He made it, and
as l was about to pick 1t up from the
counter l CHANGED to see a huge, hideous
bug, of specie unknown to me- It had q
purple head, yellow body, and gray legs
and less active monster I never clapped
eyes on. 'Here!' said I, pushing the glass
toward the bartender, do you put these
things in your cocktails now instead of cher
ries? What things?' said he. why, things
like this chromatic kissing bug in my glass;
said I. I can't see anything, he replied
smiling significantly. and by jove! when
looked the second time l couldn't see
anything myself! The creature had van
ished.
Il was SO startled could hardly find my
tongue, and the bartender continued to grin
In meaning fashion. I'D take an oath, "
said l, that I saw horrible purple and
yellow bug In that glass not 10 seconds
ago.! Yes. I've seen 'em myself said
the fresh bartender; I've even had 'em
come up out Of the glass and make faces
at me. It's sign you ought to change
your brand Of whisky l ignored his un-
KIND lnnuendo and was about to leave the
place. with badly Jared nerves, when the
solution of the mystery suddenly appeared
before my eyes. You see, the bar counter
is made Of that spotted, variegated marble
in which you can find all kinds of queer
patterns, and right there, before where
stood, was my bug in natural mosaic. My
cocktail happened to be directly above it.
when l noticed the thing and it was, OF
course, somewhat magnifed by being seen
through the convex bottom Of the glass.
II said nothingl about my discovery at
the time, continued the cotton man, ''but
next day I dropped in again and ordered a
drink. Seen any purple bugs this morn
ing? asked the fresh bartender, sar-
castically. Not yet,' said /. At that he
gave me the cocktail. and I quietly shifted
it to the right spot. 'Merciful heavens!' l
yelled. what does this mean, anyhow?! Is
1T joke or a put-up job to murder me!
The bartender looked into the glass and
how did that get in there? I don't
know, said I, but it's brother Of the
bug saw yesterday. and I believe you
keep 'em in stock He grabbed the glass
and dashed its contents in the slip bucket.
Then he made me a new cocktail which
l drank and walked out.
II let several days elapse," the story
teller went on, chuckling, ''and then l
sauntered In again. at time when the
bar was crowded. When the fresh bar
tender mixed my drink he watched me
narrowly, but by luxurious chance he de-
bug. That's a nice confection to serve in
a cocktail, said to the man at my ell
bow. Good Lord!' he, exclaimed, getting
green about the jows, what kind of brute is
that?' I don't know. said I, some brand
Of candied microbe, I guess; they serve it
to me here regular now: although I've never
asked for it in my life. Everybody at
the counter crowded up to take a look,
and everybody was horror struck. The bar
tender was distracted. and as soon as pos
sible he seized the cocktail and threw it
away; but his reputation as a careful mixer
was gone with that acrbwd.
"Well, I don't want to bore you with
unnecessary details, SO suffice it to say that
have done my Ereats bug specially four
times since, and have decided to call it
quits. Between yod and me. 1 have COM
menced to notice wild look in the eye
Of my victim when come into the place.
and as 1t was no part Of my plan to land
him in padded cell think it is about time
to let up and whistle OF the bug. don't
know what he'll do when he finds out the
truth. If it was me I'd get an ak and
leave an aching void the size of a bug in
the tcp Of that counter."-New Orleans
Times Democrat