The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-20

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bearing the legend: /" Doughnuts
and Coffee, cents"
8...I move we proceed" he said, impa-
t!cntly. .'Thcrell be nobody else here
tonight; all the stcw-bums have lined
up at the bakeries for free bread say,
old man. you pull the trigger and were
off! I've got n two-dnys handicap on
my appetite and won't do thing but
mako an Asatic ostrich OF myself"
..I'll back my stomach against yours
said the man with spcctaclcs. who sat
opposta,him. "L'll bet could eat a ton
OF slnkers and barrel OF this brown
paint. I'm for rounding up the grub
myself. I'll be eating the oilcoth OH
this table pretty soon
The proprietor OF the dngy little res
tnurant turned to them from the counter
In front, where he had been arranging u
b bile OF vet plates and an exhibit OF
pastry In preparation for the next morn
ing's breakfasts. Wlping his hands on
his apron he said with a Cockney accent
which proclaimed his birth, limited a. by
Ibis -iflorid cpuntennnce and muttonchop
whiskers:" II sye, gents. II yer DON'T var" want
10 wyte, yer know bloomln well wot yer
kin do, an that's git art! Strike me
mink IL yer amt gort a gall Yer pit
comm on, gents. If yer don't mind me
swim. It. / told yer I'd give yer an a.
feed II yer'd Only wyte for another bloke
10 show up. and he nin't ere yet, is e?
Leakwisc, II lis. don't see 'iu'.'
He took on his apron, nevertheless. as
ff he. too, were anXiously cxpectant,
and he cast repeated glances at the door
where painted on ..:sa iwindow$in white
letters were the words: "Colfee John 81
Then he left the range behind TIC coun-
ter and came across the sahGeo moor
10 tho single oil lamp that lighted the
Two men who were his last patrons for
the day.
THE younger. he with the red sweater
lad a round, jocund face and merry
rolling eye that misfortune was power
less 10 tame, VagLbondia. 4, @
"whos your interesting but mysterious
friend?' he asked. YOU'RE not expecting
lady, i hope'' and he glanced ut his
coat. which, though it had the cut OF q
fashionable tailor was an atrocous mar
leouin OF spots and holes.
II don't know who's a comm no more,
,vnu do,, Coffee John replied. But sea
:cre,u and he pointed with q blunt, req
Gnpor nj an insurance calendar upon the
vail. "Dyer cop that there numero! ~
x tha 18th Of October to-dye, an they u DC
comply all right. They alius Is, the l3th
OF October
.,ypell YOU rope him, and We'll brand
d him. !, remarked the other at the table,
man of some twenty-five years, win
4typically Western cast Of countenance'
high check bones and an anu'l'he 1lus ...
IIis owes we're grny-bluc behind rusty
steel spectncles II hope that stranger
viii come pretty durn pronto, he added,
n1,herell be something a-doln' before
II give yer my word. I'll eat this ere
h,oomin, pile o. ELytes II they ANTI"
Coffee John asserted.
Scarcely had he made the renalK when
q the clock rang out, ending his sentence
like n string Of exclamation points ana
Immediately tho door burst open and
man sprang into the room as though nc
were n runaway from hell.
In his long, thin, white face two black
cyes. Set near together burned With ter
ror, His mouth was open and auivertns,
his hands were flercely clinched. Under
n battered derby hat his stringy black
hair and ragged beard played over ms
paper collar In q fringe NC wore =
cutaway suit green and shiny with age
which divorced Mt the waist. showed
ring OF red flannel undershirt. He crept
Il IN to the counter like kicked spaniel.
For Gods sake, gimme q drink o
Il coffee, viii you?" he whined,
'Wot's bltin' yer7" Coffee John IN
aulrcd without sentiment. Don't yer
ask mo to chynge a 'undred dollar pl4l
fur I RELY can't do It'll
II lost my nerves. that's MI" he said,
looking over his shoulder, apprehcn-
sivcly, Then, turning to the two at the
table, he gazed Mt them over the top OF
thick mug of coffee. Lord! That's
good I'm better now" he went on, and
wiped off his mustache with q curling
tongue, finishing with his sleeve. III
should narrate to you the experience
which has Just transpired, gents, you
wouldn't believe It,"
nsee hore!" cried the lad In tho
sweater, not too unkIndly, Suppose you
tell us about It some other time! We've
been waiting for you many madsolpe
moons, and the time Is ripe for tho llar-
vest, If you are as hungry as We are
and want to- be among those present at
this function, sit down and you'll got
whatever Is coming to you. You can
ascend the rostrum afterwurd. Wc We're
Just looking for one more and youre r."
h Tho vagabond locked lnqurinnsy at.
Coffee John, who. lil response, pointed to-
n chair. why a certainly tho new
conner said. removing his hat, u must