Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-20
THE AWKWARD NOT ALWAYS SIMPLE
An Over-Confident Man Buys Little En-
perience, and Next Time He VIII Not lie


An Over-Confident Man Buys Little En-
perience. and Next Time He VIII Not he
SO sure.
An awkward-lOOking man walked
somewhat timiily up to the hotel clerk
and asked if Armand WitherSbee was In
his room.
Armand Withersbee?" replied the
hotel clerk Don't know him."
Hasn't he q room here?" asked the
man.
No"
Got parlor D, on the second loor?'
he gasped, as he mopped his face with
his his handkerchief and produced
check for 500, payable to Armand
WitherSbee," drawn on the Fourth Ma
tional Bank.
"Did he tell you he lived here?'
asked the clerk.
eyes" answered the man, land he
promised to be here ut : p. m. sharp to
repay me the $40 he borrowed from me.
"Been lending him money, eh?'
"Why, yes, but ne gave me good Sc
curity. l wouldn't lend money to
man l had only known for few hours
without good security. He gave me his
check for 500"
Chow much did you lend him on it?"
Forty dollars"
"The bank was closed and he had to
get the money somewhere at once to
meet a pressing claim, Ell?
"Why. yes; that was it exactly. How
did you know it?"
Hear them every day" replied the
clerk, and see their victims
"VictimS?"
eyes, victims. You're one Of them. y
Flows that"
"YOu've been swindled."
'Me Swindled?"
Eyes, you. You ought to know bet
ter than to lend money to casual ac-
ouaintanceS you may make in this city.
You must learn 10 keep your eyes open
aud read the newspapers. It's pretty
rank greenhorn that would be taken in
by that old dodge"
an thank you not to call me green
horn, sir" replied the man in an angry
tone; Pm no fool, can tell you. |
can read character in the face. This
Mr.. WitherSbee struck me as an honest
man and I'm sure he'll come here TO re-
deem his check"
Bet you ne doesn't" said the clerk.
'I'm not betting man." replied the
other, "but Pm going to sit here awhile
and wait for Mr.. WitherS6ee."
"All right" said the clerk. "Sit
down."
The man sat down and kept his eye
steadily on the door for about half an
hour.
"Still think he's going to come, eh?"
Sneered the clerk.
Eyes; l amt going to abandon my
faith in human nature yet. He'll come
bet you $40 he don't" said the
clerk, tantalizingly.
"Well, I'll risk it," replied the man.
who'll hold the StakeS?"
The elevator boy" said the clerk.
Two $40 bills were put up and the
man sat down to wait again. Before 10
minutes had elapsed man hustled in,
went straight up to the clerk and threw
down card, on which was engraved,
Armand WitherSbee."
HAS anybody been asking for me-
he said. Then, without waiting for an
answer, he turned about and let his eye
fall upon the man who had the check.
With an exclamation of pleasure he
saluted him. excused his lateneSS, pro-
duccd $40 in crisp bills, handed them
over. produced his check for 500 and
invited the lender TO drink.
The clerk looked on in amazement,
while the awkward man reached for the
elevator boy, got the $50, declined to
drink, took the arm Of Mr.. Witherstee
and marched out with him triumph
antiy.
As they passed out they had an indie
Scribable but unmiStakable air OF COM
radeShip about them that made the
clerk kick himself and eXclaim angrily:
"Doue again, by jimmy! Pals, of course.
| might have known it"'