Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1897 — COL. PEPPER’S SECRET. [ARTICLE]

COL. PEPPER’S SECRET.

Mushrooms with 90 Per Ceat of Water Too Mnch for Him. “Say,” said Col. Pepper of Kentucky, aa the waiter approached in response to a hasty summons, “I want you to do something foh me. I know that I'm a strangah to you, sub, but uevahthless we are brothahs. Heah's a dollah bill. Will you promise?” Great beads of sweat stood out upon the colonel's forehead, and the waiter drew back, fearing that an effort was being made to implicate him in s me horrible conspiracy. “Come,” pleaded the colonel, “don't tell me that you refuse. 1 have a family at home, and though you are a strangah to me, surely you’ll help me to keep disgrace from falling upon those I love. I’ll make it two dollahs, if one ain't enough!” “What’s the trouble?” the waiter managed to ask. “I want you to promise me, sail, that you will nevah tell anybody what I had foh dlnnah heah to-day." “Oh, if that’s all you waut, I promise,” saying which the waiter rolled up the bills that the colonel had hauded to him, and was about to put them jin Ills pocket, when he hesitated, ancTsaid: “But stop! I must know before 1 enter Into this bargain why you want me to keep this secret.” The colonel held up a newspaper that he had been reading, pointed to an Item lu the “Scientific Column” and said: “Look at that! It says mushrooms contain 90 per cent watah! Think of it! Ninety per cent watah, and I've Just had a plate of 'em! Oh,” he grouned, “promise me that yau’ll nevah tell!” The waiter shoved the mouey into his pocket, nodded, and Col. Pepper began to breathe easy again,