Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
Mr.. Bunkey beamed.
'' .'Tts So" he said.

Mr. Bunkev beamed.
IT'S SOY he said. I'VE been hasih''
n right smart spell of good weather.
Weather like this ought to make the
farmers feel real good
Have a cigar" asked Mr.. GorrinGe.
Il don't smoke" said Mr.. Bunker.
hut amt above takin one II you.ys
got one you want to get rid or
know a Teller that does smoke. Just
been up seem him. up to Carter, BiodA o
gett & Co" e..
connected with that firm?"
NO. l amt said Mr.. Bunker
But you know some one up theue.-..
insisted Mr.. Gorringe.
We'll, yes. you might sort or say
knowed him. smiled Mr.. Bunker.
I'm on said Mr.. Gorringe. You 81,
Just sort of know some one up there.
But Won are not one Of the firm
Me" chuckled Mr.. Bunker. why.
friend. IL any OF that firm was TO meet
me right here in broad daylight they
wouldn't know me from Adam M
sir: they wouldn't know me from Adam.
I'm bunco steerer.'
you are a WHAT asked Mr.. Cor
ringc.
"Bunco steerer." chuckIed Mr.. Bun
ker I'm bunco steerer from oro-
duna. Iowa d.
Good. Fine" exclaimed Mr. Cor
ringe. II wonder IL We couldn't go
somewhere and have socia bic drink
II don't ever drink" said Mr.. Bun
ker. but / might take an ice cream =
soda" -,
You have the right idea" said Mr.
Gorringe. Keep your mind clear and
your pulse steady when you are doing
business All right--an ice cream soda
1t shall be. / guess I know the place.
you have in mind" 81
The place to which Mr.. GorrinEe led
Mr.. Bunker was one of those down
town refectories that are crowded at
the noon hour. but almost deserted at"
other times. Mr.. Gorringe led the way,
to quiet corner. Mr.. Bunker stopping
on the way to glance at the list '6f
cooling drinks listed above the soda "
fountain. He chose one with which d.
he was not Acquainted. but which had
Lush: Il Cents" neatly aproned
girl took their order. Mr.. GorrinGe a..
slipped at his plain soda and eyed Mr.
Bunker over the top OF his glass. He,
honestly admired Mr.. Bunker. Never
had he seen any one he would have
less suspected of being a grating go
between. He admired Mr.. Blodgett for
choosing such an honest. innocent
looking medium for receiving graft '"'''
Now them" he said, how much does
it cost me- -~.e.
Mr.: Bunker looked up from his
vanilla pineapple lush.
Fifteen he said. 1t was the cost Of
the vanilla pineapple lush. '."'."'-
ut is too much said Mr.. Gorrfhge.
promptly. Ten is enough"
II reckon you can't get somethin' for
nothin' in this world" said Mr.. BunSsrr.
placidly. This is mighty good
drink
1t was a good drink. 1t was worth
Is cents of any mans money. -.
Then you don't think ten would be
enough?" asked Mr.. Gorringe.
Nope" said Mr.. Bunker firmly. Con-
siderin' everything. I don't think FL
teen is a cent too much. Some fofkSe
would give twenty and not think they.
was stung very bad --.-
-%,,If D,,,, No. 49,
face. There was no sign whatever tat
Mr.. Bunker would relent and say ten
was enough.
"All right. then said Mr.. Gorrinse.
Fifteen it shall be-. ~.
He bent low over the table and =%ti
wallet from his inside pocket under,
the table CHANGING under the table.
he drew from the wallet fifteen crisp
one thousand dollar bills. He extended
his hand and touched Mr. Bunker On .
the knee.
Take it." he whispered. and MI
Bunker's hand touched the crisp papef.
Mr.. Bunker looked up. .-~.--.
That fixes it," said Mr.. Gorrinse
all right? I'll go now"
He did go. Mr.. Bunker watched.to
see that Mr.. Gorringe paid for tho "
sodas. and Mr.. Gorringe did pay -fer.,
them. and then hurried out of the re-
fectory. Mr. Bunker raised his hafrf--
and looked at the crisp papers it held.
AS his eyes alighted on the top papers.
he drew a deep breath of surprise. The
top paper was thousand dollar bill.
Slowly Mr.. Bunker turned the bills
over, one at time. He was absolutely.
at a loss to understand this affair.-".A7
man he had never seen and whose name,
he did not know had offered him a
drink, had haggled with him over the
price of the drink-and had then hahd-
ed him $4,000! ,s.s.-
Mr.. Bunker sat so long, staring at-tlre--
money. that the neatly dressed waitress
came to him. .....-
DO you want anything more?" sfre.
asked. -
We'll. no. said Mr. Bunker slowly
II reckon not. l reckon I've got about
all want for today" ="
He slipped the $4,000 into his pocket
and arose. He walked out of the refeo- ~
tory and took Broadway car for hfss''
boarding house home. He rode seventy
two blocks with his eyes fastened to.
the back of the head of the man in-the,.
seat ahead Then he uttered two words.
Il swan" he said. -.
New York. as I may have remarked.
is wonderful city.
Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure Syndicate, .'7,'.
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