The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-07
WORKING The LUNCH COUNTER
4 TOUR Of THE BIG HOTELS THAT
SATISFIES THE APPETITE.
Costs Nothing to the Hunsr, Thespian
Who Knows the Ropcs-Frcc Ham. Fish
Cakes. Turkey Hash, Roast Beef
Lobster salad and Cheese But Re.
ware Of Tom O'Rourkes Deia, an

They were sitting on a bench in Madison
Square one day last week The weather was
cold. but still they sat talking earnestly
One was a tall. thin man, with black mus
tache and goatee, whose clothes we're shiny
from constan wear, whose rusty silk
hat had numerous cracks in the crown
His hair was long and shaggy. bur Re wore
clean collar and bright red necktie
his companion was shorter and coarser
His face vas red and a stubbly growth Of
uhiskers made the need Of razor apparent
70 the casual glance, His clothes were
shabby, bur the trousers were neatly
creased and the shoes had been we'll polished
before coming into public Wow.
IL was nearly 4 O'Clock as he two men
sat there and talked Within 100 yards
of them was busy Broadway with he after
noon parade in full swing. gildcd youth
with canes swinging and cigars sending up
fragrant fumes, and women. logged out
in their latest fnery Through the throng
the two men presently walked with hurri, q
step and chances unabashed Az they
stepped up on the sidewalk in front Of the
fltth Avenue Hotel several persons stopped
for a moment 10 glance az them.
Il guess the ham is on by this time.
Henry" said the tall, dark man, glancing
down through the corridor Of he hotel
i guess II is, Charles" replied the short
man, smacking his lips. We might as
we'll 60 in
They went through the revolving Goor
in jlfiy. The corridor was crowded With
business men, politicians, turfmen, states
men and loungers. Through the assem-
biage the two marched into the cafe. In
another minute they had forged to the
front Of the little gathering abou, the lunch
counter, where juicy sugared ham, a
huge cheese, bowl OF olives, a platter of
Saratoga chips and other dellcscles had
just appeared.
Henry whispered the tall man. ner.
vously, "cut me a slice of ham,
henry seized the carving knife and
slashed of piece Of ham the size of which
made the bystanders gasp. he picked
up the piece cn the tip Of the knife and held
1t out to his long friend who, holding il
M L Ike piece of asparss gus, droI ped II
slowly into his caverrous mouth, Next
Henry cut OFF another chunk Of ham for
himself, put il between two crackers and
stuffed IL quickly between his teeth. Then
each took handful Of olives, a piece Of
cheese and some chips and walked ma jes-
ticaly out through the corridor into Fifth
avenue.
On to the Hoffman House" exclaimed
the short man, Charles, it is your turn to
do the carving
They stalked into the Hoffman House
with wide-open mouths. The barroom
was crowded The lunch counter was so
situated that it required much crowding
oIIN SdHuWlCIles Dan, eJdCO-
lated the short man. But step in. Charles.
just the same"
Charles picked up four sandwiches and
gave. two to his companion. Then the
Dutch cheese was attacked vigorously
and 80 were the olives. Suddenly the tab
man stopped chewing.
Henry" said he. we have neglected TO
call at the Albermarle And this is the day
they have lobster salad
They we're in the Albermare within a
minute. The lunch counter wa~ surrounded
but the two were not at all embarrassed.
Henry. picking up two plates, filed them
with salad. He took up two forks and,
holding out plate to his partner whis-
pered.
Charles. this IL the real thing
They ate the salad leisurey and walked
out unobserved. A few steps up Broadway
landed them at the Victoria. The cafe
was crowded, Charles led the way to the
lunch counter and raising the lid Of the big
chafing dish. exclaimed:
Fish cakes! Gosh. and they are big
and fat
They forked out the fish cakes. hxed thom
up with pepper and must ard and devoured
them with such evident relish that the
waiter in attendance shocked them with
the remark:
will you have some more. gentlemenp'
Yes, . few morel' was the joint reply