The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-12-09

head and saw Il seedy looking individ-
ual beckoning him from the sidewalk
near the Tombs. New York. Coachy
pulled up beside the fellow and asked
him what he wanted.
Drive me to the w. hotel on Fifth
avenue"
First must see the color of your
coin"
so l do not look worthy of credit?'
You look worthy Of the attention of
a policeman"
The ragged man chuckled with evil
dent satisfaction.
You would not know me for a multi
millionaire. would your he said
Il would know you for jailbird."
The cabman started to drive on.
Hold on said the seedy man. 81
am in the way to realize handsome
sum. How would you like to divide it
with me?'
Cabby looked incredulous.
See here" said the seedy man, APP
preaching the driver and assuming
confidential tone. II can't succeed
without your assistance or that of
some cabman and am willing to pay
well for it,
what do you wish me to doy'
Let me explain. l am John Cold
have made a bet of $500 with man
at the w. club that. dressed in these
rags. will eat good dinner at one of
the principal hotels ia New York. l
wish you to arrange the matter for
me with the manager of the W."
II arrange the matter for you. How
can do that?"
Drive me to the hotel. | will ;alight
while you stand beside your cab with
bowed head and hat in hand. | will
60 into the cafe. and take seat You
60 to the manager and let out the Sc,
cret that am MIR. Gold. that l have
made bet of $500 that will dine at
his hotel and that if he will permit
me to win you shall be the gamer by
half the winnings"
The coachman sat looking at the
beggarly specimen of humanity. turn
ing the matter over in his mind. He
was tempted.
"Have you proof Of your story?" he
asked
"If | had and should produce it l
would lose my bet. The umpires are
watching me at this very minute and
will follow me wherever 60"
''Get in" said the cabman.
The day was waning when the cab
with its disreputable looking occupant
stopped ut the entrance Of the w. He
alighted. passed the cabman, who stood
uncovered. and entered the restaurant
The musicians were tuning their instru
ments. and the tables were being rap
idly filed with diners. The ragged man
strobe to a seat at vacant table. the
eye Of every swell in the room being
fixed upon him. When he was seated
all turned toward the manager. who
stood scowling at the unwelcome guest
He was about to summon a policeman
when the cabman who had brought
the stranger beckoned him to the door
and said something to him. The mana.
ger listened attentively. keeping his
eye all the while on the seedy man
who was intently studying the menu
Presently a waiter was called and d.
rected to serve him. The cabman dis
appeared.
Il 1t was soon whispered among the
guests that multimillionaire was
winning bet by eating dinner If
the hotel in rags. Those who had va
Gated the tables near the one at which
he sat gradually returned to them ant
watched him. He seemed to relish his
dinner as if he had never thus dine6
before. Dish after dish were set be
fore him and the contents consumed
Not content with moderate priced
wines. he ordered the most expensive
J His waiter was assiduous in his atten
, tions, expecting that one of such Law
ish tastes would tip him with a tv,
. dollar bill ut least. And all the whil
groups of people were watching an,
whispering. enjoying the sight Of
| multimillionaire In rags winning q bet
, What an aristocratic brow re
, marked lady. II would know hin
for something beyond the common
even worse dressed than he is-if, in
| deed. that would be possible"
They say there is old Dutch bloc,
in the Colds" said another.
l Look. He is shoveling the foo,
into his mouth with his knife. How
funny
: THAT is to keep up the deception"
b At last the mans appetite was sat
t isted. and. calling for a dollar cigar
q he told the waiter he would like to Sc
: the proprietor That person approach
t ed with great Difference.
} My friend said the guest. Il hav
] enjoyed an excellent dinner at you
l expense. suppose the cabman VIII
drove me here told you that l am
multimillionaire. / haven't red cent
! am Tom Dugan. just out of iai
! where l have been a long while Twin
on the coarsest fare. 1t occurred t
} me that for one good dinner l woul
! be willing to go back for n few month
longer and have put up this job o