The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-11-24
A sTORK OF TME sInEEuFF.

his duty rightly, considers that the &C
!, cepted guest in the hotel is as much in hi
own-castle as in his own house, and vii
not permit him to be knowingly disturbed
by unpleasant or Unauthorized intruders
This sometimes, is of service, and pre-
vents disagreeable consequences, AS vii
be seen in the history here about to b.
given, the soene Of which was at the Ire
mont house in Boston several years $50,
and one of theaeeors theReina we'll known
merchant of Bostoh, who, over the non
de plane of ''acorn, = used to furnish some
of the ivliest sketches of humor. and
sharPeet of dramatic criticismsto the old
New York Spirit of the Times, whom we
shall designate as Jim Pines the other
well-known business man of our sister
city of Portland, whom, for convenience
sake, We will call Short, inasmuch as he
was short when one of the actors in the
scene We are about to recount.
1t CHANGED one fine evening that q
stranger entered the fremont, and adj
dressing himself to the ''gentlemanly
clerk, " inquiredif Mr.. Short, Of Portland,
was stopping at the house?
HE is" said the clerk, referring to
the register,
''Well, want to see him; show me up
to his room, if you please"
eff you will send your card / will see if
he is at home, replied the clerk.
The visitor produced ascard, which was
handed to the bell-boy, whom he. was
about to follow upstairs. when he was re-
strained by the clerk.
"Be kind enough to wait till we see if
Mr.. Short is in, and will see YOU"
The bell-bOy returned with word that
Mr.. Short "wOuld see the gentleman TO-
morrow morning"
"Where's his room?" said the visitor.
''I1l go right up myself" A
Excuse me, sir. Blr. Short has al
ready sent word he does not wish to see YOU
till tomorrow, and cannot permit him
to he disturbed"
"Well, sir, I-think / shall COUP if you
will give me the number of the room,
for I'm the Sheriff, aud l intend to arrest
him."
Atthese words Jim Pines, who was
sitting in a little room behind the key
beard where he had heard all the CONVEX
sation, and who Ia always ready to aid
man in difficulties knowing this to |
be case of a-late-at,night arrest to force |
a claim, rose and remarked that che was |
going to see if his supper was ready" and
slipping through the dining hall up to his !
room he took from thence an old pair of |
boots and went to Shorts room where he |
was at once admitted.
Cake your valise and buds, old boy,
and come along with me-"
whats up, Jim ?" asked Short.
''Not much, but the sheriff will soon |
be, so come along"
The pair left the room, locked it be-
hind them, and Pines dropped the old |
pair of boots outside the door, after which |
they passed over to another wing of the |
house, to Pines room, where Short was
left, and the former descended, where he |
found the hotel clerk still engaged in con-
versation with the sheriff
give seen about my supper, and it's all
right, said he, as he passed the. clerk |
with wink.
81 see this room against Mr.. Shorts |
name on the register is twenty-six; is
that where you put him ?" asked the sher-
if of the clerk.
:HCs, sir.
"Then demand to be shown to that
room, Immediately"
''AIl right, Mr.. Sheriff. Boy, show
the gentleman No. &C."
The unwelcome visitor was conducted
up stairs to the desired room. There it
was, sure enough, number on the door.
pair of boots sitting outside. The sheriff
looked at his watch. Half-past nine.
''Humph! goes to bed early" He
knocked; no response. Knocked little
louder; still no reply. ..-
"Boy," said he to the bell-boy who still
stood near him, "is there any door open
ing out of this room to the chambers
either side p.
"NO, sir; you can see for yourself
there's nobody in This one"
The sheriff looked into the unoccupied
rooms OH each side, and satiied himself
that there was no communication, and
then, with grim smile, took chair from
One of them and sat down beside the door
Of No. 26.
"Boy." said the officer of the law, edo
you want to earn dollar -
eyes, sir" said the waiter, as his eyes
sparkled.
"Well, take this note for me" said the
officer, as he hastily scrubbed on the back
IF an old letter, "and bring me an answer
and you shall have it."
The waiter was off like shot, and re-
turned with an answer, which was nothing
less than deputy officer, to whom the
other in a whisper explained the situa-
ton He's in here, and no way of get
ting out we can't break in the door, you
must watch here till morning, and when he
comes out to breakfast arrest him. Boy,
there's your dollGr.
Thus left, the deputy settled himself
down in his chair. and the
sheriff walked off, satisfied that he had
trapped his bird.
Next morning about eight o'clock he
re-appeared. There sat the Waterman,
looking a little red about the eyes, and
there stood the boots, as when he left the
night before.
"Any movement, Link ?"
''Not bit as yet; quiet as a church
yard"
"Ah ha! Thinks to tire us out. Go
down and get some breakfast, Link,
and I'll mount guard while you're abb
sent"
The deputy went away, and in half an |
hour returned invigorated and refreshed, /
and resumed his post, which he faithfully |
held till noon, when his principal again
made his appearance on the scene.
"What Not up YETI
''Not motion"
The two men looked at each other
doubtingIy At this moment one of the
chambermaids came al"ng, with broom
and bunch of keys ia hand.
''Got KEY thatIl open this ROOM"
said the sheriff.
eyes, SIR said the maid. Applying
it, the door few open, and the two officers
rushed in.
1t was empty.