The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
SON4E "REMINISCENCES =
q, WM. DAWSON. AMHEEy
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Along about midnight one cold day
in the latter part Of February last Daw
son and I left the house of our mutual
friend jim Hammond together. We had
passed very pleasant evening. begin
ming with a dinner at o'clock, served
in the true Hammond style. which
means that from the claw feet of the
mahogany table up through the menu
10 the last niccty of service everything
went of TO perfection. and ending up
with a rubber or two at bridge. in
which Jimmie and Mrs. Jimmie won
enough Of the circulating medium from
me alone to foot the bills for the whole
affair and leave a balance of cash in
hand large enough to purchase Mrs.
J.mmie's new Easter bonnet.
What superb taste the Hammonds
have" ventured at length as we
passed down the avenue
The very best" said Dawson. with
as much enthusiasm as he ever allows
himself
I don't know when have sat down
20 more beautifully appointed table"
went on. The napery was exquisite,
and as for that new silver service of his
-gad. Billy, did you ever see anything
10 beat it?"
Nope" said Dawson. Mere royalty
wasn't in it for minute in its table
trappings. It's too bad. 1t will be
dreadful shock TO Mrs. H."
Shock 1 retorted. shock to pos
sess stun like that?"
No" he laughed. shock not to pos
sess II. Shouldn't wonder II she came
down with nervous prostration over it."
What have you been drinking.
Billy?" said l. ANY little thing on the
side that didn't see:
Not a drop" replied Dawson.
Then what the devil are you talking
about! Hammond owns his plate,
doesn't hep" I asked.
He most certainly does,' said Daw-
son.
Then what do you mean by the
shock Of not possessing it?" I asked.
Merely this Hammond is going to
lose II, was DawsOn's startling reply.
I stopped short and in the light Of
corner lamp gazed hxedly in Dawsons s
face II was perfectly fmpassive. only
his eye twinkled a bft as he observed
the effect Of his words upon me.
Hammond is going to lose it, is he?"
] demanded.
Yes" said Dawson with a chuckle.
Not permanently, perhaps. but long
enough to give him a jolt"
You don't mean that he's been spec
ulating and may have to SELF" I began.
No. indeed" said Dawson. Nothing
Of the sort. Hammond is the real sure
thing man. His balance in the bank is
so big now that it's there 10 stay. He
can't lose IL.
What then?" I asked.
The midnight marauder." said Daw-
son. III lay you a hundred OF the best
Havana perfectos 10 bunch o. Pitts
burg stOgies that before two weeks
have passed you viii read in the news
papers that the home Of J. p. Ham
mOnd Esq, the crude oil magnate and
yachtsman, has been burglerized and
that a portion If not the whole of his
wonderful plate has turned up mis-
sing"
HIM said J. We'll, perhaps that is
the natural fate of such a possession
and ordinarily a bet Of that nature
would be a bad thing to take up-the
thing is so likely TO happen at one time
or anOther-but your time limit at
tracts me. Two weeks. you say?"
Two weeks-or sooner" said Daw-
son
III go you, Billy" said ].
Better not, old man." he answered
with a laugh I'm betting on a sure
thing. I know"
Going TO steal EN- yourself?"
asked.
No. but I know who IS" he replied.
We'll, I'll risk IT," said I. "One hun
dred Havanas against bunch Of sto-
gies."
Wait and see" said Dawson.