The Colorado statesman., 1912-09-21

| fit of the press
gallery, or any one
else, and come one
In package-but we digress, this fs
a story Of a peach pie. 1t can best be
told in the language of a richly en-
dowed wielder of the pen of the
Washington Times. We therefore
quote:
The dramatis personae OF this af-
fair are:
Col. Charles H. Mann. superintend-
ent Of the house press gallery; Col e.
Jesse Conway of the Associated Press:
Howard L. Acton of the Washington
bureau of the Cincinnati Times-Star:
Frank B. Lord OF the International
News Service. One peach pie. One
colored waiter. Certain hungry by
ISLANDERS in shape of newspaper men.
messengers, house attaches. and
members of congress.
The story concerns the mysterious
disappearance OF the peach pie. or
rather large part of 1t. It's disap-
pearance has kicked up all manner OF
disturbance at the south end of the
capitol.
| Colonel Mann is an old Virginia cav
alryman. Colonel Conway put in some
years in the regular army in the
Philippines. Both know something OF
the gentle art of foraging. and both
understand the importance Of subsis-
tence in a campaign.
So the other day when a member Of
congress sent to the press gallery two
large boxes of fine peaches. the two
veterans selected certain of the
peaches and quietly took them down to
the house restaurant and gave in
structions to have a pie constructed
after those plans and specifications
such as mother used to follow so sue
cessfully. The pie was to be two
inches thick and with other dimen-
sions in proportion.
All went well for a time. The pie
was a success. At noon Colonel Mann
and Colonel Conway sat them down to-
gether and each ate one-fourth Of the
pie. 1t was smothered in cream.
Colonel Mann was heard to remark to
Colonel Conway, as each bent behind
bastion of pie:
Gee. I wish some of them fellows
could see US"
Having eaten square meal Of pie,
they gave orders for its conservation
in the ice box until o'clock. Then
they were once more to advance to
the attack. 1t was not long after this
that Colonel Mann. up in the house
press gallery, was heard to make GER
tain remarks commisserating folks
who were so unfortunate as not to be
able to eat real pie. He also let fall
certain observations about the pie he
would eat at o'clock.
About o'clock. according to the
testimony, Howard L. Acton dropped
gently down into the house restau-
rant Mr. Acton is an accomplished
young man. with an indurated coun-
yet mephistophelian cast OF feature
and a capacity for sleight Of hand that
would make old Hermann the great go
chase himself round the block. Mr.,
Acton stepped into the restaurant,
singled out the right waiter. and said:
'Mr. Mann told me to come down
here and get piece of that peach pie
over there in the refrigerator"
"Yassah." said the waiter.
And bring some cream with It."
quoth Mr.. Acton.
"Yassah."
Presently Mr.. Acton was commun-
ing with one-fourth Of the Mann-Con-
wav peach pie.
Soon Mr.. Love hove in sight.
Frank" said Mr.. Acton. standing
up from behind rampant of pie. tell
the waiter Charley Mann said you
could have that piece of pie over
there in the ice box"
Mr.. Lord duly advised the waiter
that he had come on a mission of pie
as an envoy OF Colonel Mann
Presently there was no pie. It was
good ME while 1t lasted. Mr. Acton
and Mr.. Lord agreed to that. They
got through about 8 p. m. and paid the
waiter each a nickel for the cream.
Accounts vary as to whether they
tipped the waiter.
Punctually at o'clock Colonel
Mann and Colonel Conway appeared in
the house restaurant They sat down
They awaited pie.
The pie did not come. An investi.
cation was ordered. and then It de.
veloped there was no pie and the
waiter. under the third degree. broke
down and confessed.