National Republican., 1886-10-02
WORKING TIE HOTELS.
The Dodge Played TO Secure Free Ac-
gommodpttonE.


A well-dressad young man went into
Wizards Hotel on Wednesday evening and
said he would take dinner lie registered
"Chas. Adams, Chicago" in an easy hand,
and was shown TO the dining hall. When
he had satisfied the inner man he returned
to the Office aud said he thought he would
take room, addressing n different clerk
from the one who received him when he
first made his appearance, aud was as
signed to room, the clerk not knowing
but that bis baggage had been sent up. As
he started off the clerk learned this was not
the case, and though know.
ing he was without security for his bill
determined to risk It's payment. Yesterday
morning he laid for the guest, but dl not
succeed in finding him IN his room until
evening when he sent "fronp' up to say
that IL was rule that when no baggage
accompanied traveller to settle the board
bill in advance. The polite young man sent
word down that under those circumstances
he would send for his baggage and while
the message was being carried he "skipped
by the light OF the moon"
1t wasn't long before all the hotels had
been notified OF the presence OF the young
man In the city, and every guest seeking
lodging In Washington was scrutinizrd to
discover q similarity to the description
given.
At about 10 O'Clock Thursday night the
easy-going gentleman was Transformed into
gTeenhorn In general manners and appear
ance, and made call at the Metropolitan
lie didn't know that parties arriving signed
their names TO the register, and had TO be
told just where TO put bis name and the
place he came from. lie had evidently
never been In a hotel before. His action
told that He asked II friend he named
haH mt In vpt n1 hatn n
negative, said he would go TO the postoillce,
and inquired the way thther. He came
back, and seeing he had been assigned to a
room, called for his key, but the clerk re-
minded him that he had not paid for his
lodging, and. as he had no baggage, IL
would be necessary for him to do 80. In
that case, he said, he would get his traps,
aud departed for that purpose. He had reg
ietered "II. Curtis, Utica, N.Y." In rather a
strained hand, yet one that could be easily
recognized rs near relative to "Charles
| Adams, OF Chicago
"H. Curtis" then went the way OF "Adams''
and ceased TO exist. The ambition OF these
combined individuals to secure lodging
burned with such fervor that from the ashe
Of their disappointed hopes arose, PhDnix
like, "S l.. Spencer, OF Harrisburg" as
was evidenced by an individual answering
the personal description Of the former
gentlemen appearing at the National about
an hour later, at the same time several Other
guests arrived from train. Though
"Speucer" had no baggage he had evidently
learned that II was bad article to bt
without before the vision OF a hotel clerk.
SO he watched one of his fellow travellers
set his satchel down, aud edged his way
alongside Of II with an air of ownership
The clerk saw him, and, noticing his bag
gage, didn't care for any money, and the
tired young man was soon tucked snugly
In bed, where he slept until yesterday morn
\ ing, when he left abruptly for parts un-
known before anyone noticed him. The
clerk, who was looking hard for Chas
Adams" Of whom he had been mott
fed, has awakened to the fact that trans
formation scene has taken place with that
person, whom he had the honor OF lodging
for the night under another name.
Don't you learn to detect them by ex
perience?h asked reporter for the REPUB
LICAN Of one of the clerks who figured II
the little episode OF last evening, referrin!
to Messrs. Adams, Curtis, and Spencer.
"Ycs; but we will be caught sometimes
They usually come In and, after registering
keep out Of our way by visiting the wate
cooler or by some similar ruse until the
are roomed. Then they hasten up and cal
for their key by giving their number
and dart off for their room. We usual
can tell them by their general appearance
but the dead beat will get In his work Of
the cutest OF us sometimes
"What can you do with them II they ar
caughtf"
"Nothing. They come, ask for room
is no penalty attached to such a method {
| a han ~