Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1885 — Two Americans. [ARTICLE]

Two Americans.

Some years ago an emigrant from the United States kept a small restaurant in a town situated in one of the great stock-raising districts of South Australia. He was, presumably, the only Yankee of those parts. There was an enormously rich olj stockman who came into town from his lordly cattle range at intervals whose nationality was a matter of doubt, though he usually passed for a taciturn and uncommunicative bachelor Scotchman. One day this wealthy but solitary old qhap entered the restaurant of the man from the States. When he left he looked hard at the proprietor, and then simply remarked : “American, aren’t you?” On being answered in the affirmative the millionaire cow-puncher walked away without another word. Regularly once a week he reappeared, ate a hasty lunch, and made the same stereotyped remark, receiving the same emphatic “Yes, siree!” in reply. At last there came a time when the eccentric old customer did not return. One month went by—two. At last a wagon stopped at the door, and the old fellow, pale and wasted with sickness, was helped out and supported, the saloon. He called for his usual steak with a weak but dogged determination, ate a morsel, and then tottered up to the counter. As he paid his bill he whispered, haorsely: “American, aren’t you?” “You bet,” replied the proprietor, pleasantly. Stretching out his shaking hand, the old customer said: “Shake; so am I.” ‘ Then he tottered aiway without another word. Three days afterward a lawyer came into our countryman’s place and told him that the queer old guy out on the Thompson range had died and left him a cool $1,000,000. — San Francisco Post.