Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-02
A NEW HAMPSHIRE HOTEL.
The Proprietor Was Deputy Sheriff and
He Allowed No Competition.

From the New York Tribune
"There are hotels, and there are hotels" said
the story teller. 'but think that if unique
hotel competition were started I could enter
one which would outstrip every rival in fifteen
minutes l entered a little town in New Hamp-
shire once just about dark. / found an old
hickman who could not conceal his astonish-
ment at seeing stranger in the town. After
asking me where came from, how long was
going to stay and where l wanted to 60, he
dumped me into an old carriage and started to
drive up the street at slow walk, the windows,
the sides and the seats of the vehicle rafting
and creaking and straining uneasily.
When We pulled up in front of the little
hotel, which had a tremendously big name, he
let me open the hack door and drag out my
own light baggage, sitting calmly on his seat
all the while. Fifteen cents was his charge.
and after paying it went into the hotel. The
front room was Il combination office, candy and
cigar store, smoking and reading ROOM and
from the little counter ran up a nickel-p plated
soda fountain. The room was about l0xl2.
There was nobody in it, bu. q dinner bell lay
on the candy showcase and placard invited
guests to ring the bell for the proprietor
Il rang the bell once, but its voice was so
cracked and hoarse and gruff that l dropped it
In alarm. After coughing and shuffiing my
feet loudly for ten or fifteen minutes in the
hope of raising some one, screwed my cour-
age up and rang the bell again-this time Wig
orously. After another wait a little man in his
shirt sleeves and with slippered feet came in,
and without a word went to the diminutive
soda fountain, hunted around under the ooun-
ter for glass, and finding it proceeded to draw
glass of beer from the fountain.
"'Oh, don't want beer, l said i want
ROOM
This seemed to surprise him greatly, but
he went down under the counter again and this
time came up with book. This is the regis
ter, he said. Put your name down on it, Us If
he wanted guarantee OF good faith.
"While / was registering eight days away
from any one else, the landlord seized the bell
and, waving it over his head and all around
him. made such din that 1t nearly split my
ears. Evidently he wanted something but
failing to get it in this way he opened q side
window and began to bawl: Joe. Joe; where
are your In due course of time Joe ap-
peared. He was about twelve years old and a
sight to behold, having just come up from
well which he had been digging.
This gentleman. said mine host, wants q
room. He went down under the counter for a
third time, and this time brought forth key
with big tag to it. SHOW him No. g. he said
Il noticed the glass of beer standing I'M
touched, and asked him if prohibition wasn't
in force in this town.
Of his head. .Them's my handouts, pointing
to a pair hanging on the soda fountain, and
don't allow no competition in this village
There were no lights in the halls, but we
found No. up one flight of stairs, and the boy
tried to unlock the door, but it wouldn't I'M
lock. We tried 10 shake it open, but that
wouldn't do. Finally terrified woman's voice
wanted to know what the trouble was.
I've want this room, cried the boy.
".You can't have it, she said, it's mine
$50 the boy yelled down stairs George, No
SIS taken
80 it is the landlord cried back. Take
any room you can find
I'VE found one easily enough, for No. was
the only one taken. When paid my bill the
next day there was an odd five cents on it.
What's that for?' | asked
That's for the beer said the hotel pro-
prietor in deputy voice.
The town, well, it's not sixty miles away