Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-04-27
satisfied the widow as far as it went, but,
unhappily, it did not go far enough

unhappily it did not go far enough.
"There is nothing to do" remarked Mr..
Hackensack confidentially to his wife, sitting
on the trunks in the back chamber that
night after the "benefit," 'nothing but to
settle down as we cannot settle up"
''What do you mean" obtusely questioned
his wife and business partner.
"Why, what can I mean but to settle down
in Oak City and go into businesss I think I
shall open hotel"
Mrs. Hackensack merely opened her eyes
in establishment.
"Better catch your hotel first, pa," sleepily
suggested the eldest son and heir, pulling the
bed clothes over his ears.
The very next morning Mr. Hackensack
started out to begin the process of settling
down. The postmaster owned little lunch
room and confectionery, which his wife was
tired of managing. He was willing to sell
the establishment to Mr.. Hackensack on easy
payments, taking chattel mortgage The
same day the consolidation" moved out of
the boarding house and into the little room
behind the restaurant. Here Mr.. Hacken-
sacks natural ability as advertiser was
afforded full play, and the widespread curl
osity and desire to see and converse with the
taleuted members of the s:cunsolidation"
made business lively the first week. After
that Mrs. Hackensacks excellent cooking
continued to 'draw," when her beautiful
singing was nearly forgotten. The family
seemed in fair way to make living and
pay their debts besides.
1t was several weeks before another 'sshown
happened along in that remote vicinity. A
dramatic company desired to stop over one
night on account of a change in their dates.
The agent met Mr.. Hackensack at the station
and inquired with regard to hotel accommo-
dations.
Mr.. Hackensack easily insinuated that he
was the only hotel proprietor in Oak City.
"Who posts the bills?'
81 do" was the reply.
'Who hauls the baggage?"
81 attend to that also" admitted Mr.. Hack
ensack.
The agent was anxious to leave on the next
train, and only waited long enough to con-
tract with the obliging proprietor board and
lodging for eleven people during one day and
night at "Hackensack hotel"
The happy landlord carried the contract to
his wife.
eleven people!' gasped Mrs. Hackensack,
in a faint voice; "what, where will you put
themg'
"I'll put 'em somewhere" cheerfully re-
sponded her husband; ''take my word for it''
The important day arrived. Eleven we'll
dressed Thespians and large dog, followed
by startling array of trunks, were deposited
at the door of the 'only popular restaurant"
in the town. The place was too small to
afford standing room and several actors and
the dog were obliged to stay outside with the
baggage
The manager, entering last and striding up
to the beaming Mr.. Hackensack, vociferously
demanded to be informed what kind of mis-
take was this
''No mistake at all, my dear sir" blandly
replied the proprietor.
"Where is the hotel?'
"It is coming, sir; the hotel will be here at
the proper time 1t has been delayed, but it
will certainly arrive before dinner"
"What do you say?" cried the manager,
backing away from the proprietor in alarm.
"What sort of a hotel have you got, and
where in thunder do you keep .it?n
''You need have no uneasiness," said Mr..
Hackensack, soothingly; unfortunately my
hotel is not on the ground at this moment,
but it is ON the road, and if you will step this
way you will see that it is coming as fast as
possible"
The company rushed out and directed their
gaze up the street; there, coming around the
cOFueT, udlI d DUCK away, was d SIlldll Irdulo
building, elevated ON rollers and drawn by
two scanty mules. assisted by three darkeys
1t had an appearance of having seen its best
days, but otherwise probably the richest man
in the town would not have presented the
structure to Mr.. Hackensack on the sole con-
dition of its immediate removal from the lot
on which it stood.
Hackensack's hotel was speedily adjusted
in its new position beside the restaurant. Its
landlord pasted old newspapers and playbills
Unfortunately over the interior walls.
Some primitive beds were made up, or rather
down, on the floors, and the eleven guests
were 'assigned to their rooms" or, more lit
orally, were allowed to select their spaces.
They paid round price for the accomoda-
tions And thus "Hackensacks hotel' was
successfully opened.
If we inform the reader that Mr.. Hacken-
sack now owns several three story brick
buildings in Oak City, and has shares in one
bank and two railroads, besides large inter-
est in a silver mine in Colorado, no one will
be astonished. But he insists that all his
success was the result of his inability to sat-
isfy at once the demands of Mrs. Mincer for
board and lodging on the occasion of. their
visit in that embryo ropolis.-Herbert
Hall Winslow in Chicago Mail.