The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-19
A HOTEL BEAT.
Charles Bloom, the Rock Island House
Clerk Plays Detective with Good
Results-.A Nice Bill.

Charlie Bloom, clerk at the Rock Island
house, has just finished little chase after
slick Hebrew drummer, who attempted
to jump his hotel bill there, and neat
job he made of it. The drummer's name
is Robert Hartung, and he travels for
Philadelphia and Chicago houses. His
line of goods consists Of underwear, hose,
etc. He arrived in the city Saturday ev-
ening and registered at the Rock Island
house, where he stayed until Monday af~
teTnoon, when be asked for his sample
trunks to be sent to Moline, leaving his
valise in his room. The baggage was
given him and he weutto Moline, STAYING
there until Tuesday afternoon, when he
came back to Rock Island. went up to his
room, got his valise, and departed. The
fact was soon discovered that the valise
was gone, and Clerk Bloom began to in-
Quire into the matter lie tclephoncd
to the hotels of the three Giles,
but C ould find no trace of his man. Fl
nally, he decided that he wcnld find that
man and make him come to time. He
hired a horse, went to Moline and inquir-
cd at the so cent store. Hartuug had
been there but they did not know where
he had gone. At the depot he found that
the man had his trunks checked to Orion.
Charlie took the first train to Orion and
went to the hotel. The man had not
been there. Then it was necessary to find
the baggagcman. He had gone TO see his
girl and Charlie had to walk about mile
! over the toughest roads in the country
The baggageman said that Hartung had
goneto Barstow or Moline, and Charlie took
| the first freight train to Barstow. Har-
tung was not there, so Charlie, knowing
that his man could not get away from
Moline before he arrived slept at Bar
stow and took an early train TO Moline
He jumped on the first train from this
city, at Moline and went through all the
cars, but Hartung was not aboard, so he
went out on the platform and was about
to get off when he met Hartung face to
face as he was about to board the train
and leave. He Informed Hartung in not
the gentest tone imaginable that he
wouldn't leave until he had settled thai
bill. Hartung affected innocence and
said who are you? don't know you
l don't owe you any bill" Charlie re.
minded him forcibly of his identity when
Hartung said; "You needn't talk so loud
about it. Come around the corner and
will talk to you. Hartung tried all of
the means at his command to get out of it,
even attempting the bluff game but he was
sat down upon 50 eliectualy that he gave
up his baggage check, which read Rock
Island to Prophetstown proof conclu-
sive of his intention to swindle Proprietor
Field out OF his board bin.
When the baggage reached Moline on
the cars, Mr. Bloom arranged to have it
set off there, loaded it on an express
wagon and sent it to Rock Island, and is
now safe until the bill, which with the
expenses incurred in following up the
matter. amounts to about ST.. Mr.. Har-
tung came down yesterday afternoon
looked at the bill, and seemed very much
troubled at its size. He is man about ii
years of age, with a low toned smooth
voice. and wears q heavy full beard
Charlie Bloom takes reasonable pride in
his little piece of detective work, and is
to be congratulated on his success.
Mr.. Hartung has since borrowed So
on his trunk and its contents, ard leav'
ing them in this city, paid his bill ant
left for Chicago.