Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-16


it, the door flew open, and the two officers
rushed in
1t was empty.
The bed was undressed; half-smoked
cigar and newspaper of the day before
lay upon the table, which were all the
traces of it having been occupied.
From force of habit the deputy guard
ed the door, while his principal looked
into the shallow closet, under the bed, out
of the window Gt was forty feet to the
pavement, and had even taken off the
blower at the little fireplace, with the
vague idea that the man sought might
have vanished in some mysterious man.
ner up the chimney, when his eye caught
sight Of the BELL boy, standing outside the
door
"Say, boy, do you know where Mr..
| Short is, who occupied this room?"
"Sure, sir, he must be in Portland, y
said the boy with a grin; she left
in the seven O'Clock train, and it's twelve
now"
The Sheriff glanced at his watch
Yes, but whose boots are those at the
| door?"
These" said the boy, taking them
up" these be Mr.. James Pines boots
Here's his name on the lining"
And so it was, and the officers had never
thought to look in them
Are We afraid anyone would stale 'em,
that We sit by em SOP asked the waiter,
maliciously.
The Sheriff made no answer, but strobe
out Of the room, sending the boots aside
with a vigorous kick as he passed toward
the staircase. When he was half way
down he was stopped by the voice of the
bell-boy, who, leaning over the bannister,
called out:
Sir, jist moment, PLACE"
"Well, what is t?' replied the officer,
turning up his face.
Would We tell me, PLACE, how much it
is Mr.. Pines pays an hour for the watch
in av his boots?''
The Sheriff vouchsafed only an indig-
nant humph!" and passed on. He and
his deputy had passed out upon the front
steps of the house when another waiter
running after him, tapped him on the
shoulder with the message that the hotel
clerk wished to speak with him. Hasten
ing back with the thought that he was to
hear something respecting his lost game,
he was met with bland smile by the
clerk, who remarked:
/ b'lleve you forgot this little bill"
Little bill What little bill?'
The clerk presented a paper bearing
the pictorial representation of the Ire
mont, and beneath which was the charge
Stephen Graham, Esq,
To Proprietors fremont House. Dr.
Lodging. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 90
"Do you mean to say that you intend
charging me dollar for mans sitting
up in chair here all night? ?" sad the
officer of the law, red and irritated
Cant tell how he passed the night; all
know is that we gave him lodging, and
one dollars our price," replied the clerk,
Jelly.
Say, Charley, have you seen my old
boots?" asked a gentleman, at this iunct-
ure, who appeared to be accidentally
standing near. Give missed 'em from
my room. | hope some one has kept an
eye on 'em, for [ would rather give a
dollar than lose 'em.''
"All right; the boots is safe; shure,
didn't the gintleman sit by 'em all night, )"
answered the grinning waiter, as the
Sheriff turned around.
"Ah! Grabem, good morning-much
obliged to you-here, let me pay this
lodging bill, for prize those boots,' said
jim Pines, as he took the slip of paper
from the Sheriff IS hands, who stood star
ing at him.
Mr.. Pines, give it up. I'm euchred, ;"
said the officer; and that's the first pair
Of boots [ ever knew that helped a man to
run away without his being in EN-"
All" said jim, there's nothing like
leather when there's business afoot"-
Boston Commercial B1LLLetGn