The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-11-06
BROKE In FRISCO.

NElbS The HIeb itW CndBbcib Va Nhob CSoN
I've had in mind for a long time past
Towns I've Been Broke In remarked
a New Yorker, who is now a sedate and
settled citizen. The information I've
picked up at first hand on this topic
ought TO make readable and instructive
stuff for young fellows possessed OF the
restless spirit.
There are q lot OF mean towns in the
United States for a man TO go broke III;
but for real cragginess and hopelessness
and no-way-out-ness just try going broke
in San Francisco and see how near you II
get to taking the hop off the pier.
the reason is that it's so hard TO break
away from the place. You see. that bunch
Of mountains between San Francisco and
the Mississippi river is there TO stay.
"You can't walk over 'em, either. It's
q case OF ride when you want to leave san
Francisco, and it's case, likewise, 81
paying for your ride. II you don't hap
pen to have the little pasteboard when thu
conductor comes around and looks you
in the eye, off you go, and you're pretty
liable to get ditched in a patch OF cactl
or a section of sagebrush or bit Of desert
Just about 272 miles from nowhere at all.
Inc conductor uOtsh Iait ava JSNh
sensibilities at all Conductors who run
oyer-the-mountains-a and deserts trains from
San Francisco are real cruel, heartless
persons, 50 they are. They don't mind
it in the least if they have to passaby
your bleaching bones, where they've
dumped you, 1865 days in the year.
They're calloused to all that.
you can generally stow away on one
Of the Panama boats, but then it's case
OF coal-hesving when the purser nails you,
and then you're dumped when you get
down to the isthmus. It's pretty hard
to stow away on one of the up-boats on
the other side of the isthmus. | ought
to know, but that's part Of another nara
tive.
"The last time found myself broke in
San Francisco was about u years ago.
| don't believe ! was ever worse broke
in my life. There came an evening when
| walked along Kearney street with about
the most stupendous desire to eat that
I'd ever known up to that hour The
restaurants certainly did look warm and
bright and glowing TO me that evening.
IL walked around aimlessly until |
passed the Palace hotel. | looked into
the brilliant cafe Of that hosiery and saw
chaps loling back in their places, the glow
of the candles on their faces and the
petals Of the roses falling gently to the
tablecloths.
81 think said TO myself, that
shall take dinner this evening inside here.
The Palace is good enough for me
80 walked into the cafe of the Pal
ace. I objected TO several places thu
headwater picked out for me- thereby
showing that naughty individual that
knew what was what and gaining his re-
spcct from the jump. ] told him that
wanted the right kind Of a waiter, and he
picked out the best man on his stan
and sent him TO me.
81 went through that Palace cafe menu
from soup 10 nuts, and there weren't any
wines on the card that suited me. Tha.
IL, | intimated to the headwaiter, after
samplng nearly all of the wines, that the
Palace seemed to be pretty shy on good
vintages.
am be within the shelter OF the Five
Courts IN something under half an hour
| reflected with great complsisance wheh
| had ordered the waiter to bring me three
Of the best Reina Vict0rias in the house
for dollar, and had just finished the
last pint of champagne, and stood ready
for the coffee and cognac. But ! was
liable tove turned up there sooner or
later, anyhow, and the Five Courts is
pretty good old sort of jail to strike with
a replete stomach.
The waiter brought me my cognac and
coffee and cigars, and ] lit one OF the
reinas and started in TO smoke peacefully
Il s'pose it'll get into the papers, I
mused about the chap with the iron nerve
who walked into the Palace cafes and
consumed about $23 worth Of solids and
liquids and then cheerfully admitted his
inability to liquidate for the same and,
on the whole such was the pleasant in
Buence OF that swell feed the contempa.
ton seemed to me to be rather diverting.
81 was pursuing this thought with all
OF the ease in life, my waiter meanwhile
standing at q respectful distance, wait
ing for me TO ask for my check and toss
him couple.dollar bill as a tip, when
/ noticed fellow with Vandyke beard
seated at table about 30 feet 10 my
right, gazing pretty hard at me. He
looked and looked and looked at me.
That fellows probably the house de.
tectiye,' | thoGght, and he has .Gmblel
20 the fnct that / am about to swing the
house for some s23 worth of viands and
drinkabes. However, let him detect II
doesn't make any difference to me wheth.
err I'm yanked TO the Five Courts by
hotel detective or by "a
Just as ! got this far the man got up
from ais table and walked over TO mine.
His face gradually lighted up as he drew
closer 10 me, and il was one broad grin
when he held out his hand and called ma
cordially by my front name.
81 knew him then right away. He was
a chap I'd known in New York number
Of years before The last I'd ever seen
Of him was when I'd gone on his note for
$500 at a time when he got mixed up IA
a tsngle with his firm on account Of gam.
bling.
He'd jumped without ever making the
note good, 30 that when il came due I'd
had 10 pay it myself I'd always fel.
pretty sore on him for that job, and I'd
had II in mind for number Of years to
do several and divers things 10 him II
ever | met UP with him again
Under the circumstances, however,
received him with calm cordiality, and he
Immediately began % explain TO me about