THE SPONGE TRICK.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXI, Issue 3268, 24 May 1895, Page 8

THE SPONGE TRICK.

Th« wbite-baired old man pushed open tlfe folding doors &nd shuffled into ihe Winding glare of one of the principal hotels in Wellington. He pulled a black bottle from the t«U pocket of tißgreaiy cdftt add stood it oto tHVcoqnter. "Pint o* wbMcry," be sard, in a Itoicefhuskt withage,spd I The bafman 'cf«w. aild ikept his hand on the bottle Until the] imoney should be foftocftming. The old man fumbed about the ragged jo^eniDgs inhis clothes, and then a idarkshawdow of despondency settled lon bis features,|apb|iblinil tame out jof the last pocfei^mi)^, ,r? ! "I've lorst the rhino/ he *aid piteously. .;•' ; : ' : C : i \"l ■ "Allr^^" answered the barman ; »nd be deliberately emptied the bottb of it contents and returned it. \ 'Til be back again afore long/ Were the old man's last words as he khuffled his way out. 1 Fi*e#4nist<|B Ufa* he <$bU M seen |>okmg"tnVi tdlid^bf tne bottle with a After cvg^y,poke be turned but a thimbleful of whiskey into a Cnp, until he had got enough to fill a rine-glass, and then be drained the lot. The old man knew a thing or two, and hsd taken the precaution to [a cood-oized sponge into the* Dottle before ne went to buy the whiskey *rith the < money that was 'not. ,- : '*'?" iV -..■■■ : , ; -'y-:'- .