The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-06-15
Two Real Kind Landlords.

"Just at the close of the great Cotton
Exposition at Atlanta, Ca" said he,
L happened one day to be dining with
friend at the Markham House, when
that man came in. The day was wet
and disagreeable, and he wore a huge
ulster overcoat, the skirts of which near
ly reached his heels. He left the over
coat in the cloak-roomp and, came into
the dining hall attired as neatly as you
see him now. I happened to be stand
ing near the door when he finished his
dinner, and saw him endeavor to pass
the clerk, who, on account of the crowd
ed condition of the house, had been
placed there to take up tickets or cash.
The clerk was too quick for him, and,
after good deal of talk, the man ad-
mitted that he had no money, and the
clerk, who was in no charitable mood,
suggested that some portion of his fine
apparel would stand good for the price
of his dinner. AL right said the man,
you may have my pants if you won't
take my word that will pay you to-
morrow The offer was accepted at
once, and a few minutes later the man
with the big ulster left the cloak-room
with his overcoat buttoned closely about
him and his pants apparently rolled up
a few inches to keep them out of the mud.
"You may call this much chapter
one, for learned the balance of the
story in confidential way on my next
visit to Atlanta. One afternoon, per-
haps about the same date as the above
incident, man answering the descrip-
ton of the one you see down there, en-
tered the other hotel, the Kimball
House, and registered in the usual way.
He informed the clerk that he was not
feeling well, did not want any supper,
and would be glad to have room at once.
Quite early the next morning the electric
alarm connected with the room to which
the stranger had been as signed seemed
to be unduly agitated. A boy was at once
sent up, and returned saying that the
man was up there raising the. dickens
about somebody robbing him, and
wanted to see the proprietor Immediate
ly. Some thief had stolen his pants and
all the money he had about him. The boy
hunted up MI. Scoville as soon as pos
sible, and it took that gentleman good
half hour TO calm down his guest and
persuade him to accept new pair of
pants and say nothing about it. 'Kee p
quiet, my dear sir, only keep quiet
begged Mr.. Scovile; my house is full
of people, most of them having money
and valuables about them, and if this
were to get out it would empty the
place in day. After time the new
pants arrived, and as Scoville came
down stairs with the man before
breakfast, they first walked into the Of
fee, where $S3. so, the amount claimed
to have been in the stolen pants, was
counted out and placed in the latter's
hand, with the request. many times re-
peated: Don't say anything about this
for heavens sake
"About ten clock the same morn
ing, as it was afterward learned, the
gentleman who had dined at the Mark
ham House on the day previous came
into the Office of that hotel, and with a
whitening glance at the clerk handed
him one dollar and called for bundle
that he had left there. The clerk meek
ly received the money, delivered the
bundle, containing one pair of pants,
and the stranger went straight to the
depot, where he bought ticket and de-
parted for distant city.
"Quite naturally Mr.. Scoville used
every effort to discover the thief who
had robbed one Of, his guests, and hav-
ing no success he after a time related
the story confidentially to Mr.. Huff, of
the Markham House, hoping for a little
advice. Huff had been little ashamed
of himself for refusing to trust man
who SO promptly parte d with his appar-
Ell, and who SO promptly paid up next
day. But Scoville's story set him to
thinking, and in comparing notes they
came to the conclusion that the man you
saw down there was a sharper. They
also concluded to say nothing about it,
but such things don't keep worth cent,
you know" -LouisvilIe Courier-Jonr-