The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-08-11
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I Me MAN FROM ALASKA1
By LOUIS wEsLYN JONES
& Copyright, 1898, by The shortstory Pub. Co. \
(Ail rights reseryedD
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leaned against the short counter In
the front part of his little restauran,
and allowed his fearful gaze to- wan
der out into the street over the boiled
crabs. juicy beefsteak and wine bot
ties which adorned his show window
One thing was certain. he thought tC
himself--that, If he would continue as
proprietor OF the Louis dOr French
Eating House" assuredly something
must be done Immediately toward i'm
proving business. But what could he
do without capital with which to back
his operations? Mechanically he
opened the cash drawer and peepeC
in. What he saw couldn't have of
fered much encouragement. for he
closed 1t quickly. and, with deer
sigh, once more gazed out into the
street After all, he thongh,, what
was the use of longer continuing the
everlasting struggle for success
Here he was. with the same little res
taurant, in the same little side street
Offering to the public the same excel
lent cooking as when he first started
In business fifteen years beforehand
vet how different was everything
now! Many other restaurants had
sprung up In the neighbOrhood, and
alas. there wasn't enough trade to &c
round.
"Sapristi. San Francisco is filed
with eating houses" groaned the little
Frenchman, 'and SO many poor, cheap
affairs. too. My old customers have
deserted me. What care Americans
for good cooking? The American at
mOsphere affects even my own cOun
trymen. who also pass me by. Bah !
they think me old.fashioned; they be
lieve me not fin de steele. Had | but
thousand dollars what couldn't | do?
| would make the Louis dor so at
tractive that none could resis, it.
But alas. I've nothing--nothing. Tn
less trade improves | must surely
close up in another week. fear
that | must ask Pierre and Jean To
wait few more days for their wages
poor. honest fellows. they are the
only ones that have stuck by me. -
And mine host had hard work To keep
back those glistening, rebellious tears.
Just then cab was driven up
alongside the curbstOne directly in
front of the restaurant
Surely II won't stop here" thought
Francois.
But ii did stop there: and a big
giant OF Il fellow clambered ont of il
with great deal of unnecessary
noise. and, handing the driver five.
dollar gold piece. dismissed him and
his vehicle. Then the big man. who
was dressed in "A rough but well.ft.
ting suit OF brown Scotch cloth. open.
ed the door of the Louis dor" and
stepped inside. He drew "a large gold
watch from his pocket and noted the
tine as he inquired in IA stentorian
voice that admirably suited the rest
of his general makeup, Five o'clock
am | too early for dinner la
carte?"
Francois answered no-that, al.
though Monsieur was the first guest
of the evening, his dinner should GER
tainly not be delayed, nor In any way
inferior, on that account.
Good" shouted the big man, seat
ing himself at the large table in the
middle of the room. ''If you're ready.
why then. by George! | am, too.
Bring on your menu" .
Pierre at once appeared with the
bill of fare, Faithful Pierre, he
was the only waiter left now. But
then, as Francois had argued, such
modest little restaurant with such
II very slender patronage didn't re-
Quire more than one waiter.
The big strangers large blue eyes
swept the cardboard at "A glance.
Then he stroked his luxurious brown