VAN BIBBER AND OTHERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8485, 17 May 1893, Page 2

VAN BIBBER AND OTHERS.

THE HUNGRY MAN WAS FED.

Young Van Bibber broke one of his rales of life one day and came down-town. This unusual journey into the marts of trade and finance was In response to a call from his lawyer, who wanted bis signature to some papers. It was five years since Van Bibber had been south of the north side of Washington Square, except as a trausient traveller to the ferries on the elevated'road. As he walked throush tbe City .Hall Square he looked about him at the new buildings in the air, and the bustle and confusion of the streets, with as much interest as a lately arrived immigrant. ... He rather enjoyed the novelty of the situation, and after he had completed his business at the lawyer's office he tried to stroll along lower Broadway as he did on the Avenue.

But people bumped against him. carts and drays tried to run him down when he crossed the side streets, and those young men whom he knew seemed to be in a great hurry, and expressed such amused surprise at seeing him that he felt very much out of place indeed. And so he decided to get back to bis club window and its quiet as soon as possible. " Hello, Van Bibber," said one of the Joung men who were speeding by, "what rings you here? Have you lost your wav ? " "I think I have," said Van Bibber. "If you'll kindly tell mc how I can get back to civilisation again, be obliged to you." "Take the elevated from Park Place," said his friend from over bis shoulder, as he nodded and dived into the crowd. The visitor from up-town had not a very distinct idea as to where Park Place was, but he struck off Broadway and followed the line ot the elevated road along Church street. It was at the corner of Veaey street that a miserable-looking, dirty and red-eyed object stood still in his tracks and begged Van Bibber for a few cents to buy food. "I've come all the way from Chicago," said the Object, " and I haven't tasted food for twenty-four hours." Van Bibber drew away as though the Object had a contagious disease in his rags, and handed him -a quarter without waiting to receive the man's blessing. "Poor devil I" said Van Bibber. •• Fancy soiag without dinner all day I* He could-ot fancy this, though he tried, and the impossibility of it impressed him so much that he amiably determined to go back and hunt up the Object and give him. more money. Van Bibber's ideas of a dinner were rather exalted. He did not know of places where a quarter was good for a " square meal," including "one roast, three vegetables, and pie." He hardly considered a quarter a sufficiently large tip for the waiter who served the dinner, and decidedly not enough for the dinner itself.' He did not see his man at 'first, and when he did the man did not see him. Van Bibber watched' him stop three, gentlemen, two of whom gave him some money, and then the Object approached Van Bibber and repeated his sad tale in a monotone. He evidently did not recognise Van Bibber, and the clubman gave him a half-dollar and walked away, feeling that the man must surely have enough by this time with which to get something to eat, if only a luncheon. This retracing of his footsteps had confused Van Bibber, and he made a complete circuit of the • block: before he discovered.that he had lost his bearings. He was standing just where he had started, and gazing along the line of the elevated, road, looking for a station, wheu the familiar accents of the Object again saluted him. When Van Bibber faced him the beggar looked uneasy. ' He was not sure whether or not he had approached this particular gentleman before, but Van Bibber conceived an idea of much subtlety, and deceived tbe Object by again putting his hand in his pocket. " Nothing to eat for twenty-four hours I Dear mc 1" drawled the clubman : sympathetically. "Haven't you any money either ? " "Notacent," groaned .the Object, *' an' I'm just faint for food-, sir. ~ S'help mc. I hate to beg, sir. It isn't the money I want, It's) jest food. Tm starvin*. .sir."! " Well," said Van Bibber suddenly, " if it is just something to eat you want, come in here with mc and I'll give you your, breakfast." But the man held back, and began to whine and complain that they wouldn't let the likes of him' in such A fine place. "Oh, yea, they will," said Van Bibber, glancing at the. bill of fare in front of the place. "It seems to be extremely cheap. Beefsteak fifteen cents, for instance. Go in," he added, and there was something in his tone which made the Object move ungraciously Into the eating-house. • • It was a very qneer place, Van Bibber thought, and the people stared very hard at him and his gloves and the gardenia in his coat and at the tramp accompanying him. ** You ain't going to eat two breakfasts, are yer?" asked one of the very toughlooking waiters of the Object. The Object looked uneasy, and Van Bibber, who stood beside bia chair, smiled in triumph. ''You're mistaken," he said t0... the waiter. " This gentleman is Starving; he has not tasted food for twenty-four hours. Give brrnrwnatever he asks for I" - -'- -

The Object scowled, and the waiter grinned behind his tin tray, and had the impudence to wink at Van Bibber, who recovered from this in time to give the man a half-dollar and so to make of him a friend for life. The Object ordered milk, but Van Bibber protested and ordered two beefsteaks and fried potatoes, hot rolls and two omelettes, coffee, and ham with bacon.

"Holy smoke I watcher think I am?" yelled tho Object, In desperation. "Hungry," said Van Bibber, very gently. "Or else an impostor. And, you know, if you should happen to be the latter I should have to hand you over to the police." _ .. Van Bibber leaped easily, against the wall, and read the signs about him, and kept one eye on a policeman across the street. The Object was choking and cursing through his breakfast. It did not seem to agree with him, Whenever he stopped Van Bibber would point with his stick to a still unfinished dish, and the Object, after a husky protest, would attack it as though it were poison. The people sitting about were laughing, and the proprietor behind tbe desk smiling grimly. "There, darn ye!" said the Object-at last. "I've eat all lean eat for a year. You think you're mighty smart, don't ye? But if you choose to pay that high for your fan, I s'poee you can afford it. Only don't let mc catch you around these streets after dark, that's all." And the Object started off, shaking his fist.

"Wait a minute," said Vefc Bibber. "Yonhaven't paid them for your breakfast."

" Haven't what?" shouted the Object. "Paid 'em I How could I pay him; You'se asked mc to come in here and eat. I didn't want no breakfast, did I? Youeell hive to pay for your fan yerself, or they'll throw yer out. Don't try to be too smart." "1 gave you," said Van Bibber slowly, •* seventy-five cents with which to buy a breakfast. This cheek ealla for eighty-five seats, and extrcmsly e_aa_> it la_" he added.

with a bow to the fat proprietor. "Several other gentlemen. On your representation that you were starving, stave you other oums to be expended.on a breakfast. You have the money with yon now. So pay what you owe at once, or 111 call that officer across the street and tell him what I know, and have you put where J °" I'll eeejott Wowed first I" gasped the Object. . „. .. Van Bibber turned to the waiter. " Kindly beckon to that officer, said he. The waiter ran to the door, and the Object ran too, but the tough waiter grabbed hiia by the.back of his heck and held him. "Lemma go J" yelled the Objects. " Lemme go an* I'll pay you." Everybody in the place came up now and formed a circle around tha group, and watched the Object count out eighty-five coots into tbe waiter's hand, which left him iust one dime to himself. "You have forgotten the waiter who served you," said Van Bibber, severely pointing with his stick at the dime. " No. you don't/' groaned the Object. "Oh, yes," said Van Bibber, "do the decent thing now, or I'll——" The Object dropped the dime in the waiter's hand, and Van Bibber, smiling and easy, made his way through the admiring crowd and oat into the street. " I suspect," said Mr Van Bibber later in the daj\ when recounting his adventure to a fellow-clubman, "that, after I left, fellow tried to get tip back from waiter, for I saw him come out ot place very suddenly, yea see, and without touching pavement till he lit on back of his head In gutter. He was most remarkable waiter.'

11. VAN BIBBER AT THE RACES.

Young Van Bibber had never spent a Fourth of July in the city, as be had always understood It was given over to the armies of small boya on that day, who sat on all the curbstones and set off firecraokers, and that the thermometer always showed niuety degrees in the shade, and cannon boomed and bells rang from daybreak to midnight. He had refused all invitations to join any Fourth pf-July parties at the sea-shore or on the Sound or at Tuxedo* because ho expected his peoplo home from Europe, and had to be iv Now York to meet them. He was accordingly greatly annoyed when he received a telegram saying they would sail in a boat a week later. He finished his coffee at the club on the morning ot the Fourth about ten o'clock, in absolute solitude, and with no one to expect and nothing to anticipate; so he asked for a morning paper, and looked up the amusements offered for the Fourth. There were plenty of excursions with brass bands, aud refreshments served ou board, baseball matches by the hundred, athletic meeting* and picnics by the dozen, but nothiug that seemed to exactly please him. The races sounded attractive, but then ho always lost such a lot of money, and the crowd pushed so, and the sun and the excitement made his bead ache between the eyes and spoiled his appetite for dinner. He had vowed again and again that he would not go to the races; but as the day wore on and the solitude ot the club became oppressive, and the alienee of the Avenue began to tell on him, he changed his mind, and made his preparations accordingly. First, he scut oat after all the morning papers, and read their tips on the probable winners. Very few of them agreed, so he took the horse which most of them seemed to think was best, and determined to back it, no matter what, might happen or what new tips he might get later. Then he pus two hundred dollars in his pocket-book to bet with, and twenty dollars for expenses, and sent around for his field-glasses. He was rather late in starting, and he made up his mind on the way to Morris Park that he would be true to the list of winners he had written out, and not make any side bets an any suggestions or inside information given him by others. He vowed a solemn vow on tbe rail of the boat to plunge on each of the six horses he hadaelec.edfrointlicnewsp&pertip*,andon no others. He hoped in this way to win something. He did not care so much to win, but he hated to lose. He always felt so flat and silly after it was over, and when it happened, as it often did, that he had paid several hundred dollars for his afternoon's sport, his sentiments did him credit.

"I shall probably, or rather certainly, be tramped on and shoved," soliloquised Van Bibber. "Ishall smoke more cigars than are good for mc, and drink more than I wane, owing to tha unnatural excitement and heat, and I shall be late for my dinner. And for all this I shall probably pay two hundred dollars. It really seems as if I .were a young man of little intellect, and yet thousands of others are going to do exactly the same thing." The train was very late. One of the men in front said tbey would probably just be able to get their money up in time for the first race. A horse named Firefly was Van Bibber's choice, and he took one hundred dollars ot his two hundred to put on her. Be had it already In his hand when tbe train reached tbe track, and he hurried with tbe rest towards the bookmakers * to. get his one hundred on as quickly 'as possible. But while he was crossing the lawn' back of the stand, he heard cheers and wild yells that told him they were runniug the race at that moment. " Raceland! " " Rsceland !" " Raceland by a length I" shouted the crowd. " Who's second ?" a fat man shouted at another fat man. "Firefly," called back the second joyously, " and I've got her for a place and I win eight dollars." ; "Ah I."said Van Bibber, as he slipped his one hundred dollars back in his pocket, " good thing I got bete a bit late." " What'd you win, Van Bibber?" asked a friend who rushed past him, clutching bU tickets as though they were precious stdnes. ■"I win one hundred dollars," answered Van Bibber calmly, as he walked on up into the boxes. It was delightfully cool up there, and to his satisfaction and surprise he fodnd several people there whom he knew. He went, into Her box and accepted some p&te sandwiches and iced champagne, and chatted and laughed With Her so industriously, and so much to the exclusion of all else, that the horses were at the starting po3t before he was aware of it, and he had to excuse himself hurriedly and run to pat up his money on Bugler, the second on his list. He decided that as he had won one hundred dollars on the first race he could, afford to plunge on this one, so he counted out fifty more, and putting . this with the original one hundred dollars, crowded Into the bettingring and said, " A hundred and fifty ou Busier straight." "Bugler's just been acratched." said the bookie, leaning over Van Bibber's shoulder for agreasy five-dollar bill. "Will you play anything else?" he asked, as the young gentleman stood there irresolute. 4 "Noy thank yob," said Van Bibber, remembering his vow, and turning hastily away. '"^Well," he mused, "Pra one hundred and fifty dollars-better, off than I might have been if Bugler hadn't been scratched and hadn't won. One hundred and fifty dollars added to one hundred makes two hundred and fifty dollars. That pats mc 'way ahead of the game. I am fifty dollars better off than when I left New York. I'm playing in great luck." So, on the strength of this, he bought out the man .who sells bouquets, and ordered more champagne to be sent up to the box where She was sitting, and tbey all congratulated him on his winnings, which were; suggested by his generous and sudden expenditures. " You mast have a great eye for picking a winner," said one of tbe older men grudgingly. " Y-c-a," sAid Van Bibber modestly. " I know a horse when I see it, I think; and," he added to himself, " that's about alj." His horse for the third race Was Rover, and the odds were five to one against him. Van Bibber wanted very much to bet on Pirate King instead, but he remembered his vow to keep to the list he had originally prepared, whether he lost or won. This running after «trange gods was always a losing business. He took one hundred dollars in five-dollar bills, and went down to the ring and put the hundred up on Rover and returned to the box. The horses had been weighed in and the bugle bad sounded, and three of tbe racers were making their way tip the track, when one of them plunged suddenly forward and went down oa his knees and then stretched out dead. Van Bibber was confident It was Rover, althdagh he had no idea which the horse was, bat he knew his horse would not ran. There was a great deal of excitement, and people who did not know the rule which requires the return of all money if accident happens to a horse on the race-track between the time of weighing in and arriving at the post, were needlessly alarmed. Van Bibber walked down to the ring and received his money back with a smile, " I'm just one hundred dollars better off than I was three minutes mo," ha said. " I've really had a most remarkable day." Mayfair was his choice for the fourth race, and she was selling at three to one. Van Bibber determined to put one hundred and seventy-five dollars up on her, for, as he aaid, he had not lost on aoy one race yet. The girl in the box was very interesting though, and Van Bibber found

ft great deal to cay to her. He InterrnM_ I himself once to call to one of «? I messenger-boys who ran with bets, a «l 1 Save him one hundred and seventy.fi*. 1 ollars to pat on Mayfair.- Ml * I Several other gentlemen gave tho ba» M large sums as well, and Van Bibber cm; I tinued to talk earnestly with the girl. ft I raised his head to see Mayfair struggle[! I a bad second, and shrugged his ahoald_iV I "How much did you lone?" she asked I •"Ob, 'bout two hundred dollars," Am 1 Van Bibber ;*" but It's the first time 1%, 1 lost to-day, so I'm still ahead." He b, n i 1 over to continue what ho was saying. 1 when a rude commotion and loud talktn. 1 caused those in the boxes to raise th»ra I heads and look around. Several gentu; 1 men were pointing out Van Bibber to one *J of the Pinkerton detectives, who haas 1 struggling messenger-boy in his grasp. * 1 " These gentlemen say you gave tuUbo. I some money, sir,*' said the detective. •»«• 1 tried to do a welsh with it, and I cattrti I him just as he was getting over the fsnV ! How much and on what horse, sir?" J Van Bibber showed his memoranda, and 1 the officer handed him over ono hundred I and seventy-five dollars. 1 " Now, let mc see," said Van Bibber 1 shutting one eye and calculating intently' I "one hundred and seventy five to tbreaf hundred and fifty dollars makes q.q_l winner by five hundred and twenty.fltil dollars. That's purty good, isn't itf I'M I have a great dinner at Delmoulco'a to. 1 night. You'd better all come back with I mc!" ■ I

But She said he had much better com* 1 back with bcr and her party on top of th* 1 coach and take dinner in the cool country 1 instead of the hot. close city, and Y«n I Bibber said he would like to, only he dM t wish to get his one hundred dollars upo* . at least one race. But thoy said *•_»•• W they must be oft' at once, for the ride wu a long one, and Van Bibber looked at |j|j list and saw that his choice wan Jt c _- Frost, a very likely winner, indeed ; but w nevertheless, he walked out to the en* 1 closure with them and mounted thecoae". f§ beside tho girl on the back scat, with only m the two coachmen behind co hear whet hi 1 chose to say. if And just as they were finally _j M harnessed up and the horn soundea, t*f» m crowd yelled " They're off," and "Vsb |f Bibber and all ot them turned on th«k m high seats to look back. p " Magpie wins," said the whip. J " Ana Jack Frost's last," said another. i« " Aud I win my one hundred dollars," |3 oaid Yon Bibber. "It** really vwa I curious," he added, turning to the p,t r f, f. "ißtarted out with two hundred dollar. I to-day, I spent only twonty-flva dollars a Q ■; flower:*, I woti six hundred and twentfe t five dollars, and I have only one hundred I and seventy-flye dollars to snow for it,and I yet I've had a very pleasant Fourth," 1

111. MRTRAVERS'S FIRST HOtfT. Young Travers, who had been eng___a to a girl down on Long Island for the last three months, only met her father and brother a few weeks before the day .et for the wedding. The brother is a master of hounds near Southampton, and shared tbe expense of Importing a pack from Ennlsal with Van Bibber. The father and son talked home all day and until one ia tha morning; for they owned fant thoroughbreds, and entered them at tho Sheepahead Bay and other race tracks, 054 Mr Pail dock, the father of the Mrf to whom Travers was eugaged, had oven said that when a young man asked him for his daughter's hand he would ask him in return, not if he had lived straight, bn.ii he could ride straight,. Ana on hi. answering this in tho affirmative depended his gainiug her parent s consent. Travers had met Miss Paddock and her brother in Europe, while the men of tho family wore at home. He was invited to their place In the fall when the hunting season open«|, and spent the evening most pleasantly and satitifactorily with his fiancee In a corner of the drawing-room. But as noon as tha women hud gone lyptjng Paddock joined him and said, "You ride, of course tTravers had nover ridden; but ho had bees prompted how to answer by Miss Paddock, and so he said there waa nothing he liked better. As be expressed it, he would rather ride than sleep. " That's good," said Paddock. " I'll give you a mount on Satan to-morrow morning at the meet. He la a bit nasty at the »Uws of the season; and ever since ho killed Wallia, the nccond groom, last year, none of us care much to ride him. But you can manege him. no doubt. He'll juet carrf your weight." Mr Travers dreamed that night of taking large, desperate leaps into space oa ft wild, horse that snorted forth flames, and thai rose at solid stone walls as though they were hayricks. He was tempted to say he waa HI In the morning—'which was, considering his state of mind, more or leas true—but concludethat, as he would have to ride sooner or later during his visit, and that if he did break his neck it would be iv a good cause, he determined to do his best. Ifa did not want to ride at all, for two excellent reasons—first, because he wanted to live for Miss Paddock's sake, and, second, because he wanted to live for bin own. ,

The next .morning was a most forbidding and doleful-looking morning, and yoting Travers had great hopes that the instil would be declared off; but, just as he lay in doubt, the servant knocked at his dost with his riding things and his hot water. He came downstairs, looking very miser*' able indeed. Satan had been taken to tbe place where they were to meet, and Travers viewed him on hla arrival tbwf I with a sickening sense of fear as ho saw him pulling three grooms off their feet, Travers decided that he would stay Willi his feet on solid earth juet as long aa hf. could, and when the bounds were thrown ' off and the rest had started at a gallop he waited, under the pretence of adjusting his gaiters, until they were all well aw&f* Then ho clenched his teeth, crammed Mi hat down over his ears, and scrambled UR on to the saddle. His foot fell quite by accident into the stirrups, and the seal instant he was off after the others, wUft: an indistinct feeling that he was on motive that was jumping tho tics. Satan, was in among aud had paiaotl tho other horses in less than five minutes, and was so close on tbe hounds that the whlpper* in gave « cry of warning. But Travsfi could as soon have pulled a bout back from going over tbe Niagara Falls »». Satan, and it was only becauao tha howßt* were well ahead that saved them i-Wi* having Satan ride them down. Trow* had taken hold of the saddle with hie lm. hand to keep himself down, and and swayed on the reins with his sUffi* He shut his eyes whenever Satan jampea*and never knew how he happened to sties on; but he did stick on, and was co far ahead that no one could see In the &hty morning just how badly he rode. Aa j! was, for daring and speed he led the fla'*» and not even young Paddock was neat him from the start. There was a brute stream in front ot him, and a hill just c* its other side. No one ha/* ever tried to take-this at a jump. It was considered more of a swim than anything els®, «b» the hunters always crossed by the bsl«|3 towards the left. Travers saw the brsdg«, and tried to jerk Satan's head la t*tf direction; but Satan kept right on s» straight as an express train ovor fct* prairie. Fences and trees and furrow* passed by and under Travers llfes s Eunorama run by electricity, and be only reathed by accident. They went on *t the stream and the hill beyond as thongs they were riding at a stretch of turf, a» d t though the whole field «et up a about ot warning and dismay, Travers could oal| faap and shut his eyes. He remember*® he fate of tho second groom and shivered. Then the horse rose like a rocket, .Ifwßiß Travers so high In tho air that he thQ«p*> Satan would neve* come down again ♦ bus he did come down, with his feet buacne**. on the opposite side of the stream. The next instant he was up and over the hill, and had stopped panting in tho very centre of the pack that were ■°* , v ing and snapping around tbe fox. And then Travers showed that bo was * thoroughbred, even thoagb he could not ride, for he hastily fumbled for bis clasrcase, and when tbe field cam® poujawjf up over the bridge and around the h«U, they saw him seated nonchalantly on hl| saddle, puffing critically at a cigar en« giving Satan patronising pats on the bwSk "My dear girl," said old Mr Paddock-*-* his daughter as they rode back, " U Tf\ love that young man of yours and want W keep him, make him promise to give up riding. A more recklesa end m ?Y* brilliant horseman I have never seen. «• took that double jump at the gate and that stream like a centaur. But. he win break his neck sooner or later, and ne ought to be stopped." Young Padda** was so delighted with his prosfw©tt«*s. brother-in-law's riding that that night *<* the smoking-room he made him ajpreseo**, of Satan before all tho men. ,„ "No," said Travers gloomily, "I oa»c take him. Your sister ha* asked mc M> give up what is dearer to mc than SPT" thing next to herself, and that I« «"»/ riding. You see, she is absurdly anxious ifor my safety, and she* has asked ta* to promise never to rldo again, and I na* B given mv word." A chorus of sympathetic remonstrance rose from the men. . __ "Yea, I know," said Travers to be® brother, "it ft rough, but it just aboW* what aacriflcf-a man will make for W* woman he loves. w --]'¥om ~ Van Bibb«r *m Othtrst" by Richard Harding Davis.