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

they had found the panhandler eetablished
near another restaurant and actively at
Work apparently trying to make up for the
tIIne ne mad lost In eating what he did not
want. They watched while two or three
victims gave him something In response
70 his assertion that he was hungry, and
then the piaywriter strolled toward him.
Even professional hungry man must
nave some satisfaction from good meal
' Perhaps 1t was this that made this beggar
4 even less wary than usual, for he PROMPTLY
tackled the playwriter There was an air
OF confidence about him as If he made sure
he stepped up to the playwriter and said:
I'm terribly hungry, sir
Bless my SOUL" exclaimed the bcnevo-
lent play writer. That's too bad. Come
meat meat along with me and I'll get you
The artist and the other 'Staycrs. watch
| ing from friendly doorway not far away,
| could SEQ the change of expression that
came over the face OF their victim. and their
hearts were filed 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
and some one offers you food there is no
excuse you can make Tor 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
81 the bill OF fare 10 make his selections.
FIRST there was a bowl of thick, heavy
| soup with great cup OF coffee and pile
| OF bread. The panhandler met IL like a
major. II II struck him at first that there
! was anything suspicious in the singular
/ coincidence OF two men buying him the
same sort OF a meal at the same restaurant
| on the same evening, he did not betYay II.
lie 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. strolling by the window just
| az 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 mad already eaten as much as three
men ought To eat. But IL was business,
| and. besides he was man of high courage.
| he set TO work, and the smiling play
writer watched him with the feeling of
having done 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.
4
CURED 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.
IL was such n short time since he had
| served for another gentleman just such
meal to this panhandler. and had seen
with astoRishment the panhandler dis
| pose of IL all. that he was completely over
come at the second order. BY the time
| ia had brought fba sepnpd Staak hnWpNpr
he had recovered sufficiently 10 have II
strike him as his duty To warn the gentle
man that the object of his benevolence
was professional beggar who was victim.
| izing him. With furtive gesture and
what he intended TO he meaning looks. he
strove to convey his warning 10 the play
writer. Never was man so obtus9
1t 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 to
strike through his overfed consciousness
that he was being made a victim of some
sort Of joke His msiised stomach rebeleo
at the pie. But he made last gallant
effort to cover his retreat. Two or three
bites he took, and then;
I'm afraid. sir. he said, that was not
really as hungry as 1 thought l was. 1t
had been 80 long. though, since had had
| anything to eat-but cannot eat that pie"
Then he got up from the table. all the
time thanking the play writer iSs ao he almost aim st
was so eager to get away that he did not
with joy. Already they had met the enemy
on the fair field Of fight and given him more
than he could stand. II remained only "a
give the coup de grace:
| The doctor was selected unanimously
for the third turn. They gave the fellow
time to get his second meal little settled
and then the doctor set out after him.
Sure enough, he fell. He had gone back
to work on Sixth avenue, not far from the
| place of his earlier discontinue. The
lurking "Stayers- saw him watch the
, doctor for some time as the doctor walked
| slowly I'D 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
for an instant. and then on the principle,
as he said afterward. that one good lie
! deserves another, he replied:
You look it. my man. Come with me
and III buy you 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
fool this victim II, all, was To, simulate a
Willingness 10 go along. and see II some.
thing would not turn up by which he could
| get away. So they started.
| The doctor had said that he knew res
taurant down the street where the man
| could get Just the sort Of a meal that no
! would enjoy When they turned into
broadway again something In the manner
/ of the panbandler made the -Stayers who
were following think that lie was about to
| try TO lump. But he didn't He hung on
| until they act ually went into the restaurant,
| where he had already eaten enough for four
| men. He sat down, too, with the doctor,
! and II was evident that he had made up his
! mind for supreme effort. AT least that Il
! what the .Stayers- thought.
/ But they were all fooled this time The
panhander had realized that he was the
! victim of a conspiracy. His anger rose,
| not only because he had been taken in. but
| because Of the two enormous meals he had
been compelled to eat when he did not want
! them, And now here was third about to
he offered to him. He sat quiet while the
| doctor ordered n bowl of coup. ,he same
SOUP he had already had. Then lie stood
| IN and picked up his hat. The astonlshed
| waiter stood spcechess. waiting TO see
| what was going to happen. =,
| The doctor was ready for anything, he
knew il was beyond the possibility Of hu-
I thar meal Thsa