A NEW WAY TO GET A FREE DRINK.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3654, 31 March 1883, Page 4

A NEW WAY TO GET A FREE DRINK.

A feAV evenings ago, Avhile half-a-dozen gentlemen Avere standing at a bar of one of the most fashionable up-town saloons in AVashington. a well-dressed, good-looking strange!'' entered tho room and Avalked straight to the bar. and addressed the barkueper iv language like the following : ••Stranger, 1 am in a A'cry, very bad condition. 1 want a drink: 1 must have a drink, but I am compelled to make the humiliating statement- that I am unable at present to pay for it. H you will be kind enough to favour me iv my extremity, you shall be paid, sir." "AYe don't keep whiskey to giveaway here." was the blunt reply of the bar-keeper. The stranger begged, but thebar-keeper was inexorable" and" even rude. The mildmannered stranger turned to the gentlemen who had been witnesses to the conversation and said: •■ Gentlemen, you are all ,-trangers to me, but would one ot you behind enough to hum me the price of a drink ? I will pay it back." One of the party addressed handed the stranger lo cents. Ho'stepped up to the _ bar aud said: " Now can T ha\'e a drink ':" "A'es," said the bar-keeper, " anybody can get a drink for the money here." "I thou »-ht so," said the stranger. The bottle of "red licker" Avas placed on the bar: the stranger filled his glass liberally. " A little bitters iv here, if you please, •said the stranger. Then, when the bitters were finished," he asked for a large glass ot Avater, Avhich was also set up. The stranger drank his beverage and then turned to the man Avho had loaned him the money and said : " Stranger, I make it a point ot honour to pay borrowed money before I pay whisky bills :* here is your fifteen cents: I am greatly obliged to you for the loan :" and so saA-ing. he Avalked out. The dazed barkeeper, seeing that he Avtis sold, aud that the laugh was on him, ran to the door and called to the stranger to come back. ~ ~ ,_ The stranger promptly returned and inquired. "AVhat do you want:" The barkeeper replied, "'That was a cute trick you played, and I own up you caught me. The drinks are on me. AVhat will you taker' "Excuse me, sir," replied the stranger, " I drink only with gentlemen: I cannot drink Avith voii." and themysteriousstranger walked away, leaving tho bar-keeper to wonder Avhether it Avould not have been better to give a stranger one drink than to be caught by a trick and have "to set them up" to a whole croAvd.