A Man Of Appetite

"There nsed to be a famous place for these things down in Atlanta," remarked the portly gentleman as he cautionsly-eyed the Welsh rabbit and sipped his musty aie. "Why, don't these suit yon?" asked the man who had never traveled. "Oh, yes, fine, but I was just thinking of a little incident that occurred there." "A story, is it? Well, let's have it." "It's not much of a story, but I will teil it the best I can. Yon see, the place I spoke of was kept by a man named Beirmister and was not only fainons for its Welsh rabbits, but for its oysters and hard crabs as well. Delicicus they were too. "There was a dyspeptic little lawyer aronnd town, sharp and shrewd, but a martyr to the stoinach. He used to go around with the boys until some one would suggest going over to Beirmister's and getting some crabs and beer; then you could count the lawyer out. Tha boys would try to persuade him by telling hini how delightful were the crabs, how succulent the oysters, but the lawyer would flee froni thera in terror at the thought. '■ About 5 o'clock one fine afternoon in the early spring a frieud and myself were journeying toward Beirmister's when we met the dyspeptic lawyer. As usual, he stopped us for a little chat, and we walked down the'street together. In a few nioiuents we were in front oí Beirmister's, and my friend, taking a different tack, persuaded the Jittle lawyer to enter with us on the plea that we would find no one in at this time oí day and that we were only going to eai a few oysters. "Once iuside, we found the place crowded. The seats at the tables were all occupied, except at one table, over in a far corner of the room, at which t-here were three vacant chairs, the fourth being occupied by a fat Germán brewer named Grump. We knew Grump, and so went to this table. I introduced the lawyer - Blakely, I believe his name was - to the brewer and ordered beer for the crowd. The lawyer protested, so we left him out. " 'Mr. Grump, ' I remarked, 'we are about to have a few oysters. Won't you join us?' " 'Veil, yon see, I have alretty eomet'ing ordered. ' " 'Oh, that's all right, ' I insisted. 'A few oysters will give you an appetite. ' " 'Is dot so? Yah, I take me a few - chust von leetle dozen. ' "My friend had been engaged in an earnest conversation with the lawyer while I was talking to the jolly old Germán, and when the waiter came with the beers he told him to bring some crabs, 2% dozen oysters on the shell and a glass of hot water. He had persuaded Blakely to try some oysters. "At Beirmister's when an order was giveu for crabs they invariably brought a dozen, and you paid for as many as you consumed out of that number. The waiter soon returned with oysters, crabs and hot water. In the meantime Grump, who was a great talker, had struck up a conversation with the lawyer, and they were cracking jokes at a great rate. "Blakely's courage feil when the oysters were placed before him. He ruanfully drank the hot water and commenced to imítate Grump's heroic style of eating oysters. He managed to down two and then laid his fork gently by his píate and fastened his eyes on Grump. With the aid of a few glassfuls of beer the brewer's oysters had vanished. My friend had maaaged to get away ■with two crabs aud iusisted that Grurnp help him dispose of the remainder. I was still busy with my dozen oysters. " ' Veil, I help yon some.'said Grump, and pickiug up a knife he went at those crabs like a darky shucking oysters. The dyspeptic watched him as if fascinated aud rernarked in a sneering tone that came straight from the stomach: " 'You have a good appetite, Jür. Grump.' " 'Yah, I t'ink pretty goot,' and he actively 'went for another crab. The dish was cleared in a few moments, and I made a mental note that Grump had eaten nine crabs, a dozen large oysters, and drank ten glasses of beer. When the crabs were no more, Grump called to a waiter: " 'Here, Franz, I am waiting. ' "Franz disappeared, and in a few momeuts brought in a large Welsh rabbit and deposited it before Grump. I could see the little lawyer shrink from the odor wafted across the table, but he was game and would have staid at that table until he died. Grump insisted that we share the dish with him, but all hands refused. "With apparent relish and a fresh glass of beer he attacked the rabbit, and in an incredibly short time the dish was clear of the least partióle. Grump wiped his mouth, folded his napkin, and called for another round of beers. If I had not had a reputation to sustain, I wonld have refused, but as it was we drained the srlasses. " 'Now, I must home be going, ' remarked Grump, rising. " 'What'syourhurry?' asked the dyspeptic lawyer in his most sarcastic tones. 'Do stay and have something else. ' " 'Nein. I must to mein snpper go, ' answered the Germán. ' 'The dyspeptic wilted. New, if you are looking for a fight, jnst teil that little la"wyei that Grump wants hitt to eat supper with him. You'll get it quick and strong. " - Washington Post. De Quincey, wbo devoted his life to the reading of books, said that the greatest nunaber of books any one man rould hope to get through within ruairs uilotted time wns 8,000.