Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-07-04
THE COCKTAIL BUG
A Weird Performance by an insect
That Disappeared at viii.

A Weird Performance by an Insect
That Disappeared at VIII.
"It wouldn't have happened if It
hadn't been for the freshness and III
volity of the bartender" said a young
cotton man who has a Well-earneu
reputation as a practical joker. "one
morning, two or three weeks ago.
dropped into the place where ne
works and ordered cocktail. ne
made it and, as was about to PICK II
I'D from the counter. CHANGED to look
into the glass and was HORNED 10 see
a huge, hideous bug of a species IN
known to me. 1t had purple head'
yellow body and gray legs, and less
active monster | never clapped eyes
on. 'Here! said l, pushing the glass
toward the bartender, do you put
these things in your cocktails now IN
stead of cherries" What things?
said he. Why, things like this chro-
matte kissing bug in my glass; said |.
1 can't see anything he replied, smil-
ing significantly, and by jove! when |
looked the second time l couldn't see
anything myself. The creature had
vanished.
Il was so startled could hardly find
my tongue, and the bartender contin-
ued to grin in meaning fashion.
I'd take my OATH said l, that saw
horrible purple and yellow bug in that
glass not ten seconds ago!' Yes, I've
seen EN- myself said the fresh bar
tender. I've even had 'em come up
out of the glass and make faces at me.
It's a sign you ought to change your
brand of whisky | ignored his I'M
kind inuendo and was about to leave
the place, with badly Jared nerves,
when the solution of the mystery sud-
denly 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 pat
terms, 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 magnified
by being seen through the convex bot
tom of the glass.
4 said nothing about my discovery
at the time" continued the cotton
man, but next day dropped in again
and ordered a drink. Seen any pur-
pie bugs this morning? asked the
fresh bartender, sarcastically. Not
yet, said |. At that he gave me the
cocktail, and l quietly shifted 1t to the
right spot. 'Merciful heavens!' l
yelled, what does this mean, anyhow?
is it a joke or put up job to murder
me-? The bartender looked into the
glass and turned ashy. Great
snakes!' he gasped, how did that get
in there?' 1 don't know said |, but
it's brother OF the bug | saw yester-
day, and | believe you keep 'em in
stock. He grabbed the glass and
dashed its contents in the slop bucket.
Then he made me a new cocktail
which | drank and walked out.
i let several days elapse," the story
teller went on, chuckling, land then
sauntered in again, at a time when the
bar was crowded. When the fresh
bartender mixed my drink he watched
me narrowly, but by curious chance
he deposited the glass directly over
the mosaic bug. That's a nice con-
lection to serve in cocktail said to
man at my elbow. Good Lord!' he
exclaimed, getting green about the
jaws; what kind of brute is that?'
1 don't know said I; some brand of
candied microbe, guess; they serve
II TO me here regular now, although
I've never asked for it in my life Ey-
erybody at the counter crowded I'D to
take look and everybody was horror.
struck. The bartender was distracted
and as soon as possible he seized the
cocktail and threw it away; but hts
reputation as careful mixer was gone
with that crowd.
We'll, l don't want to bore you with
unnecessary details, so suffice il to saw
that have done my great bug special
ty four times since and have decided
to call it quits. Between you and me
have commenced to notice a wild
look in the eye of my victim when
come into the place, and as it was no
part of my plan to land him in a pad.
ded cell | think it is about time tn Iet
up and whistle off the bug. | don't
Know what he'll do when he finds out
the truth. Ii it was me I'd get an axe
and leave an aching void the size of a
bug in the top of thdt counter New
Orleans Times-Democrat.