The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-08
Copyright. 1851


A'A was sorely in need of COM
pany. Miss Dorothy Grant was the
cause of it. She was the candle to
which Charley played the moth. He
fiuttered about it to the imminent
danger of his wings and to Mr.. Tee
tiers loss of his society at least three
nights in the week.
Hence, when Mr. Simeon Huncks
crossed Mr.. Teeters' path and evinced
an interest in him, the lank and lone
some private secretary fell upon that
welcome gentleman's neck and clasped
him to his heart Mr.. Huncks met Mr..
Teeters as ten hundred thousand men
have met before-he asked him for
a match 1t was in the Hotel Rirebien
rotunda. The time was the second
Sunday in Lent, shortly after six
o'clock at night. Charley was at the
Grants. Mr.. Teeters was moping in a
corner by himself, smoking a cigar
cite and wondering what he should
have for his solitary dinner, when Mr..
Huncks dropped down beside him;
Mr. Teeters produced the requested
match, Mr. Huncks returned his
thanks, and this exchange of cour-
tesies led to conversation. 1t was
adroitly fostered by the sociable
stranger and in ten minutes he was
possessed of Mr.. Teeters' history, and
Charley's, from the cradle to their
present point of progress toward the
grave
Mr.. Huncks glanced at the clock
over the desk. "Six-forty! What do
YOU say to a bite of something-with
bubbles on the side? I'm loose. Wife
left for Frisco this morning"
Mr.. Teeters hesitated. Was this an
invitation or double checks? Mr..
Huncks seemed to sense his COM
panion's state of mind.
I'm buying" he announced. when
l meet a man like you-both eyes
open-it's pleasure to entertain him.
You're not dated up, hope"
~ amt got thing to do but eat
your dog" responded Mr.. Teeters
facetitiously.
II was thinking of Paups," said Mr..
Huncks, but you have to reserve
table there in advance. It's always
crowded; and Lent don't cut any fig
ure with it
Paurs1 Where's that" queried Mr..
Teeters.
Mr.. Huncks looked at him aston
ished.
you don't know Paul's? Down by
Thirty-eighth street? I'll take you to
a real restaurant some night this
week, you and Mr.. Carter. Say, down
at Paul's they're so busy every night
the cashier don't have time to stack
the money. Throw it on the floor
till after hours and counts it by ma
chinery. l ought to know"
Hey? How's that" asked Mr.. Tee
tiers.
I'm financially interested in the
place, that's how" Mr.. Huncks in
formed him. And I'm in the hardest
kind OF luck, blast it. Cot to sell. The
madam is nuts on the Coast, and we
are going over there to live. But come
on in 70 dinner and I'll tell you about
it. Maybe they've got duck IN there
we can eat without an AK: and they
can't fool me on the wine. | was born
with a cork in my mouth
They went in to dinner. When they
came out, two hours later, Mr.. Tee
tiers, Just to show that money, when /.
YOU knew how, could be swept up
from the floor like bread crumbs, !
tossed a lordly quarter to a bellbov !
who had not done a thing for him
but get out of the way. !
Mr.. Carter came home with rose
in his coat and light in his eyes that
spoke of a rapturous evening. Mr..
Teeters was waiting up for him. He
was sprawled out on the couch in the I
sitting room smoking a black cigar
TO keep him awake. 1t was striking
twelve as Charley entered.
Thought you'd be in bed, Skeet-
crs. What's doing"
Mr. Teeters arose from the couch
and crossed over to his chief. /
81 got a hen on for you, Conle-On =
A nestful of eggs. It's for tomorrow
mean tonight; it's morning
now. Don't you tell me you got an
other goo-goo date This is biz-a
chance to make your million"
GO ahead" Charley babe him.
He took off his topcoat, first care
fully removing the rose. and sat
down. Mr.. Teeters perched himself
on the table and swung his long legs
to and fro as he talked. He reached
his chance encounter with Mr.. Simeon
detailed with gusto the items
Of the twenty-dollar dinner that lib
eral gentleman had blown" him to,
and told Of his connection with Paul's,
with which place Mr.. Teeters pro-
fessed An intimate acquaintance.
Hes got to sell quick" concluded
the secretary, land he amt going to
count the beans too close.
Charley merely smiled. GO on" he
said forbearingly. What about the
eggs| ,.. NJ r......
What about EN-? Why, they're ready
% hatch, that's what! All you got to
10 is buy the place and clean up ten
thousand a week clear profit. Hunks
S doing it; he said so. And if it
wasn't for his wife he wouldn't think
IF selling"
TOO bad" observed. Mr.. Carter
Mr.. Teeters hoped down from the
able. His mustaehe wiggled, and his
eyes glistened. He was
plainly moved.
you think it's another con game.
out it amt" he asseverated. "Golla-
mighty, Come-On, it's a restaurant!
It's there! You can see it-put your
land on it-eat it It's Paurs! Every
BODY knows PauIs. You got to tag
your table in advance or eat off the
ioor."
What does he want for the place."
Charley asked. Mr.. Teeters' earnest
ace ;r,oreesed hin,