The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-05-24
THE UNLUcKY NUMBER.
A Superstitious OLD Gentieman's
Search for Room at New York
Hotel.

Search for Room at New York
Hotel.
Boston Budgetl
There are great many people in this
world who think that the life of hotel
clerk is all sunshine, and that he has
little else to do but to dress well and
display huge head lights" on his shirt
front ,condescending occasionally during
the day or evening to accommodate a
weary traveller with room on the
upper story at the rate of So or 81 per
day. This in a great many cases is a
mistake, as the following instance will
show:
A well-known, wealthy, but very SUI
perstitious New Yorker stepped up to
the office of the Westminster hotel, New
York, on Friday last, and inquired of
Maj. Swope if he had any rooms to let
for the coming fall and winter.
Yes, sir" said the major. "Shall I
show you what we have?"
If you please" was the reply.
He was shown No. 13, which room
was about what he wanted, but the
price he thought was too high" The
clerk proposed compromise which
seemed to rather catch the old gentle
man, for he must have been at least IS
years old, but when about to close the
bargain he espied the number-13-on
| the door and broke out with:
"Why, this is No. 13. l wouldn't oc-
cupy that room if you gave it to me
for nothing, that's an unlucky num-
ber."
The clerk, who could scarcely refrain
from laughing, proposed that he look
at some others, to which he consented.
He was shown, unfortunately for the
house, No. 49 on the same floor, which
after glance at the number, before the
door was opened, he said:
"That won't do, either"
"Well, why?" said the major, "you
haven't as yet seen the room. How dc
you know until you have seen it?"
Don't you see that number ?" said
the old gentleman, ~ and make 13;
wouldn't sleep in that room one night
for $1,000"
well" said Mr.. Swope, II have one
other on this floor, and [ think it will
be just what you want" showing hin
around to 56.
When the o. g. came in sight of the
number he objected to going any far
ther, saying in rather subdued tone
"Why, that is like the Others"
"Oh, no; this room is entirely diff
Mr.. Swope was here interrupted by
his caller, who now changed his tone tt
a rather angry pitch, exclaiming, Why
man, don't you see that number, So
Five and eight make thirteen. Yor
couldn't hire me to occupy that room
Hold on, sir, said Major Swope
abe seated, and let US figure this thing
OUT" and while the old cranl
was resting, and in all proba
bility harassed with the though
of his being doomed man, the clerl
discovered that he couldn't let hin
either Of the following rooms: 40, 94
So, 85, 81, 76, 157, 571, 751, 391, 139
1913, 319, 931, 913, 80, Oil
112 or 121. He thereupon turned tc
his Crankiness and showed him the re-
suit of his figuring. Now" said the
major, "Ill tell you what I'll do, VIZ
will change the number on the door Of
any room you may select.
"Oh, no. said our O. G., "bad lucl
never leaves any house or room that ha:
once been numbered 13."
.''That settles it, said Mr.. Swope
''you certainly are not member OF the
Thirteen club, you had better look else
where, sir" and abruptly started fol-
the office, after having spent about hal
an hour in fruitless effort to let {
| room