The Evening Tribune

THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD.
It Isn't Always Simple to Get a Steak For
15 Cents.
It was in a cheap down town restaurant,
where some of the waiters are reformed
pugilists. The customer was a weak
enough looking little man. He came in
and sat down at the end table. "Whatcha
want?" demanded the waiter.
"I'd like to have a top sirloin," said the
customer.
"What, a top sirloin steak?" snarled the
waiter.
"Is there a top sirloin anything else?"
asked the customer meekly. "Did you
think I wanted a top sirloin chicken or a
top sirloin duck? When a man asks for a
top sirloin, he wants a top sirloin steak,
doesn't he?'
"Say, you look out here," said the wait-
er. "When you come in here, you're sup-
posed t' give yer order right, see? If yer
want a steak, yer want ter say yer want a
steak, see? D'ye t'ink d' boss hires mind
readers fer waiters 'n sells steaks fer 15
cents besides?"
"My friend, it seems to me you're a lit-
tle sassy," said the meek customer.
"Say, didja come here t' pass remarks
'r t' eat?" demanded the waiter. "Come,
whatcha want, er git out."
"I want a top sirloin steak, please,"
said the meek man a bit nervously.
"They ain't no please about it," snorted
the waiter.
He walked away three steps toward the
kitchen. Then he turned and came back.
"Say, young fellow," he said, "it ain't a
piece o' steak that you wants, it's a piece
o' me, see, 'n yer goin t' git it."
Saying which he hauled off and swung
his right around with force enough to
have driven the meek man through the
wall. The other customers jumped up and
rushed at the waiter, but they were not
quick enough. The meek man had let out
with his left foot and kicked him in the
shins. That kick bent him forward, and
as he came the meek man swung his right
and caught him in the short ribs. There
was a grunt that was heard a block, and
the waiter fell in his tracks. His wind
was gone, and agony was written in his
face. The meek man stood over him. It
was a minute before the waiter came to,
and, rolling over, painfully clambered to
his feet. The meek man feinted with his
right. The waiter dodged.
"Do I get my top sirloin steak 'n raw
fried potatoes?" demanded the meek man.
"Sure yer do," said the waiter meekly,
"but you wouldn't if yer hadn't ordered
'em, see?" and he limped off toward the
kitchen.
"It beats me," said the meek man,
"how sassy some waiters do get."
The other customers went back to their
places, and quiet reigned.—New York Sun.