The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-05-04
HIS STRICT INTERPRETATION.
How an Irishman Got Free Meal In
Kansas City Restaurant.

HIS STRICT lNTERPRE TATiON.
How an Irishman Got Free Meal In .
Kansas City Restaurant.
He was Irish, so of course the first
thing he looked for on the bill Of fare
in Heidelberg was potatoes. Why an
Irishman should go to Heidelberg for
his luncheon does not appear, but his
name was O'Flaherty, and he was in
the Hotel Baltimore. He was entirely
unprepared to say what he was going
to eat, and his eye swiftly passed
Young Sage Hen, $780," and "Roast
Young Chicken, 49," A second later
he saw the word Free and nearly
tipped the table in excitement. Who
ever heard Of anything being Stree"
at the Baltimore? And in Heidelberg,
too! But there it was in good black
type.
The waiter brought him napkin, but
ter, bread and a glass of water, and
paused expectantly for the order.
You can bring me some plain boiled
potatoes" said the Irishman, spreading
a piece Of bread and munching it with
relish.
Anything else, sirT' inquired the
waiter.
"Not right now" said the Irishman.
"Look out that those potatoes are nice,
will you? Get mealy ones-you know
the kind"
The waiter brought him two excel
lent specimens and he began his meal.
"Why, yes; bring me an order of
mashed potatoes-see that they're good
with lump Of butter melting on
them, don't you know
The waiter looked trif1e dismayed
and finally inquired with tinge Of sar-
casm in his voice:
won't you select some dessert?'
The Irishman had something of a
twinkle in his eye as he scanned the
bill Of fare again, and he was smiling
to himself as he remarked:
eyes, you may bring me some Of
that old-fashioned potato cake. Mother
used to make that fine, and / always
was fond Of it. Funny they don't have
it more at these restaurants"
The waiter stepped back as if he had
confronted hoodoo. and he almost
ran to the kitchen. When he returned,
the guest had dispatched the other po-
tatoes and he fell hungrily on the po-
tato cake when it was placed before
him.
Anything else, STRIP ventured the
waiter, timidly.
"I'll take finger bowl, please"
And when he had lighted his cigar,
the Irishman pushed back his chair
and moved toward the door. The
waiter was before him in an instant,
and the guest discovered check un-
der his nose. It read: plain boiled
potatoes 20, mashed potatoes 20, potato
cake 20, total co."
He looked at the waiter severely and
handed him back the check.
Something wrong here" he said. 81
don't owe you anything. This check
must be for someone else"
mo, sab; that's yourn. That's for
them potatoes you-all had"
Potatoes? That's all had, wasn't
it?D
Eyes, sab; but
"Well, you don't expect man to
pay for potatoes, do you?"
"We certainly do, sah."
"You do? Well, why do you adver.
tise them as free on the bill of fare?
I'll never pay"
"Oh, them is only free with meat or
ders, sah," and the waiter grinned COM
passionately on the guest.
"It don't say so, and you'll never col
lect from me. Just read that"
He pointed to the line that had at.
tracted his attention on the bill Of fare.
It read:
Potatoes, Plain Boiled, Mashed. or
Old-Fashioned Cake. Free"
While the waiter was studying the
card, the Irishman helped himself to a
toothpick and walked out. The bill Of
fare still read that way yesterday
Kansas City Star. .se;4.-