The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-05
A DEAL IN Rum.
Suspicious Of Free TippllnE Aroused by &
Critical Customer.

Suspicious Of Free TlppllnB Aroused by Q
Critical Customer.
Into one Of the large upper Broadway
grocery stores noted for its wines and
liquors q middle aged man strolled the other
day. To the clerk he said he had heard that
| the firm had in stock some particularly fine
old Jamaica rum. Might he taste II?
The customer was exceedingly well
dressed, wore gray spats. carried q cane and
had every appearance Of q man Of leisure.
culture and wealth. The clerk was charmed
to serve him. r
IF you don't mind coming down into the
| cellar he said, @I'l draw some Of It right
| from the barrel"
Delighted" was the reply, and DOWN into
the cellar they went and threaded their way
between long rows OF barrels dirnly shown
by ~incandescent lights that Rlowed red
through the dust covered globes, until they
reached a barrei with a strange mark. The
clerk turned the spigot.
Fiji 'er up, young man; all 'er up" said
the genial visitor, and she was filled to the
brim. --.
He shifted the run critically; he held ii
In front Of q light; then, m~oistening his lips.
he quaifed 1t at a gulp. : Thoughtfully he
drew a sharp, sibilsnt breath and smAoked
his lips, then he turned toward the stairs,
assembled them, walked through the store
and out into Broadway without eayfng an
other word.
Two days later the same man came in
same handsome suit, same spats. same
cane, same appearance Of q man Of leisure,
culture and wealth. Again with a digni-
fed air he asked the clerk II he might try
their Jamaica rum. which a friend had
recommended. Again they went TO the
cellar. Again thejvisitor said: sFin 'er up,
young man" Again he gave those mani
~festations Of connoisseurship and departed
In silence.
On the following day he appeared again
at about the same hour. The clerk had
begun to wonder II he were a CRATER. His
appearances Of prosperity and refinement
argued against the theory. but the perform
ance was repeated In the cellar. and the
man departed noe more without saying a
word about buying or making any excuse
for not doing 50.
sIf that blooming .pephandler comes
here again. said the clerk to himself. 'In
But he hadn't decided just how he'd do it.
In his uncertainty he came upon n OF the
pr~oprsors and. told him about the visitor
who wa sampling the fine old Jamaica
rum, ,..
Hell be here again. no doubt. said the
proprietor, and will keep on coming until
we let him know that we are on to him,
Send him to me the next time"
Two days later he was there.
Young man. he said, Il haven't quite
decided on that rum yet. 1 suppose I'm
BRaasStssya b PaISsaGu taste Of Of KoSH cont min III
Certainly, the clerk didn't mind. That's
what he told the Visitor. So the glass wal
AnaI opl tha attan nar apiHad AVID aottfptaI
and drained It with his usual apparent
! Don't you want to buy some Of itf'
asked the clerk.
well; III tell you the man began. but
the clerk interrupted and said:
Wouldn't you like to meet Mr.. r."
naming one Of the proprietors.
Il should be delighted said the stranger
cordially.
Il understand that yon have been tastz
ing our old Jamaica rum began Mr.. T.,
who was rather taken aback by the Wis
itor's appearance Of prosperity n re-
flnement but was determined to stop his
"rYes," said the stranger, and I tell you.
sir, it is the finest ] eve drank"
"A fine jolly" thought the proprietor.
!"Just what expected He was about to
say something cutting, when the stranger
How much OF 1t have you in stock.
Mr.. TT" ~
About ten or twelve barrels, / think"
well, I wish you would send II all up
TO my country place ut Thimbly's Park.
And II you can get any more like 1t, Please
hang onto il for me-
Still thinking that perhaps the stranger
was but carrying out the rest OF a blum,
Mr.. T. asked for his name and address.
When the stranger gave 1t, MIR. T. nearly
fell out Of his chair. The tippling visitor
was the president OF o manufacturing
company and a rich man. Jocularly he
told him OF the clerks and his own sus-
pioions. When the manufacturer had paid
FOR the rum he said. s2-
Now, Mr.: T., won't you come down and
have one with mel
The clerk was siding away. and the
manufacturer urged hkp to,jofn them
Not In working houfs, sir, thank you"
be said. and then added to himself Nov
wasn't that thoughtful Of me to be. 50 proper
j. After Mr.. r. and the manufacturer had had
their drink OF the manufacturer run in
Ihe Ueiiur the oioIs went down - PIT tAS
on the barrels.
Yes. Il Is Just possible that he had one
on himself.
s