The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-26

aeo ioot III tdtulk Wflht he Olu not
want. They watched while two or three
victims gave him something in response
70 ms assertion that he was hungry, and
then the playwriter strolled toward him
Even a professional hungry man must
nave some satisfaction from a good meal
Perhaps 1t was this that made this beggar
even less wary than usual, for he promptly
tackled the playwriter. There was an air
OF confidence about him as II he made sure
ne was about 10 get something good. as
ne stepped up to the paywriter and said:
I'm terribly hungry. sir"
Bless my soul" exclaimed the bcnevo-
lent play writer That's too bad. Come
right RICH, along with me and I'll get you a
The artist and the other "Stayers," watch
ing from friendly doorway not far away,
couid see the change. Of expression that
came over the face OF their VICTIM and their
hearts were filled with glee.
Inc play writer turned down the street
Toward the very restaurant the panhandler
mad Just left The panhandler could not
protest. When you say you are hungry
ana some one offers you food there IL no
excuse YOU, can make for not eating, The
beggar followed the play writer with an
AIR OF determination to do or die.
INTO the same restaurant the play writer
TOOK his victim. As chance had ii, he got
the very same table. He needed no study
OF the bill OF fare Ia make his selections
FIRST there was bowl of thick, heavy
soup, with great cup of coffee and n pile
OF bread The panhandler met il like "a
major. II IL struck him at first that there
was anything. suspicious Ia the singular
coincidence OF two men buying him the
SAME sort OF meal at the same restaurant
on the same evening. he did not betvay II.
Tie went AT the soup with what show of
energy and hunger he could make, but
having learned little wisdom by his former
experience. he dallied with the coffee. and
The bread was slow in disappearing from
the piled plate. But at last the soup was
finished. and then came another big sirloin
steak, with a great dish of potatoes and
more vegetables.
The artist. stroling by the window Just
~ that moment, declared that he saw either
despair or murder in the look with which
the panhandler received this ration. IL
was enough for two men at any time, and
ne had already eaten a. much as three
men ought To eat But II was business
and. besides, he was man of high courage.
He set 10 work. and the smiling play
writer watched him with the feeling of
having done a good deed. He smoked
his cigar with an approving conscience
and regarded the struggling panhandler
with benevolent good humor.
The beggar made strenuous efforts to
dispose OF the steak. There was little
attempt at conversation on his part now
He recognized that the work before him re-
quired all his attention, But II he failed TO
furnish the play writer with all the amuse-
ment that gentleman had expected. there
was new source which the play writer
had not anticipated That was the waiter
Ii was such short time since he had
served for another gentleman just such
| meal to this panhandler, and had seen
with astonishment the panhandler dis
| come at the second order BY the time
| he had brought the second steak, however.
| he had recovered sufficiently TO have il
strike him As his duty to warn the gentle
man that the object of his benevolence
was a professional beggar who was victim
! izing him. With furtive gesture. and
what he intended TO be meaning looks. he
strove to convey his warning to the play
| writer. Never was u man obtusa.
| II was the pumpkin pie that broke the
| beggar down. He had worried through
| the second steak. and the potatoes. bread
and other things. but had managed TO get
| of with only one cup of coffee. Then
came the huge slab of pie. Ii began &c
strike through his oyerfed CONSCIOUSNESS
that he was being made "A victim of some
SOFT Of joke. His misised stomach rebelleo
! at the pie. But he made "A last gallant
/ effort to cover his retreat. Two or three
1 bites he took. and then:
| I'm afraid. sir. he said. that l was not
! really as hungry as / thought l was. 1t
had been so long. though, since had had
anyt hing to eat-but l cannot eat that pie
Then he got up from the table. all the
time thanking the play writer He almost
ran lttO tliS 'StdNci- tit sio'I put Hc
was so eager to get away that he did not
notice The -Stayers" were ready To dance
with JOY. Already they had met the enemy
/ on the fair field Of fight and given him more
than he could stand. 1t remained only &c
| give the coup de grace.
The doctor was selected unanimously
| for the third turn. They gave the fellow
| time to get his second meal u little settled
| and then the doctor set out after him.
| Sure enough, he fell. He had gone back
Styth NOT fa from Ia.
| place OF his earlier discontinue. The
lurking "Stayers" saw him watch the
! doctor for some time as the doctor walked
| slowly up toward the restaurant. Then the
| panhandler made his play. He stepped in
| front of the doctor. 50 as to stop him. and
got of the simplest of his games, saying
, only:
I'm hungry
The doctor looked the man over critically
| for an instant. and then, on the principle,
| a. he said afterward. that one good lie
! deserves another he replied
You look it. my man. Come with me
and I'll buy you a meal
The panhandler was plainly disconnected.
| This was the third time in one evening
| when he had been cornered, and he was,
| as the doctor only too well knew, quite
beyond his usual means of defending him
self from such an attack. But the only
! thing for him To do, II he meant to try To
fool this victim al all. was to simulate a
Willingness W 10 dipiiG' anu
thing would not turn up by which he could
get away. So they started.
The doctor had said that he knew res
ta,rant down the street where the man
could get just the sort Of a meal that he
would enjoy. When they turned into
Broadway again something in the manner
of the panhandler made the -Stayers who
were following think that he was about TO
trv to Jump. But he didn't. He hung on
until they actually went into the rest aurant,
where he had already eaten enough for four
men. He sat down, too. with the doctor.
and il was evident that he had made up his
mind for a supreme effort, At least that Is
what the -Stayers- thought.
But they were all fooled this time. The
nanhandler had realized that he was the
victim of conspiracy. His anger rose.
not only because he had been taken in, but
because of the two enormous meals ne hau
been compelled to eat when he did not want
them And now here was third about 10
be offered to him. He sat quiet while the
doctor ordered n bowl OF r0np, tlie same
soup he had already had. Then he stood
IN and picked up his hat. The astonished
waiter stood speechless, waiting TO see
what was going TO happen. =,
The doctor was ready for anything. he
knew il was beyond the possibility Of hui
man endurance To repeat that meal: Inc
aphandl.r leaned over TO him and said,
with the emphasis OF intense convictions:
You think you're damned smart, don't
you:" .e.-r ,.. :.