The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-11
ONE KIND OF CRANK.
How He Makes Lots of Trouble
for Hotel Men.
A New York Clerk Tells of q Curious
Sort of Vanity Some People Are
Afflicted. With-Cstching an
Unwary Countryman.

as Mr.. Henry Wilson IMP"
The man who put this question to the
clerk at the Fifth Avenue hotel the
other night was attired in evening
dress and had thrown open his over
coat SO as to reveal his expansive shirt
bosom with its twinkling diamond
studs. He affected the elegant in his
attitude, also, and swung his silver
handled cane with an air of impor-
lance. His physique, voice and face
were designed to aid him in his attempt
to create an impression. He was tall
and broad-shouldered, had big features
and an aggressive black mustache,
and his voice was deep and sonorous.
He looked like a man who might try to
bulldoze another of lesser frame.
The clerk looked up at him with
bland smile, but made no pretense of
looking at the key rack, as Is his Gus
tom when he wants to learn whether
guest is in his room or not. Neither
did he look at the register nor at his
list of the days guests He simply
said:
"Mr. Henry Wilson, did you say?
There is no such person stopping
here"
The inquirer looked a little taken
aback, and frown passed quickly
over his face. When he spoke, the
tone of his voice suggested that he felt
the clerk had estimated him properly,
but he was impelled to make an at
tempt to change the clerks theory.
SIS that SOP" he asked in surprise
that was evidently assumed; "whensdid
he leave?"
81 don't remem Der his having been
here" said the clerk, in tone full OF
meaning.
''Oh, pshaw; you must be mistaken"
said the man, fretfully. why, / am
certain he was here week ago.
have a telegram from him asking me
to meet him on last Wednesday. I'M
fortunately, was out of town when
the telegram arrived, and it was not
forwarded. Wilson is the big million
aire contractor from Chicago, you
know"
The last sentence was spoken so
loudly that the men standing around,
and even those on the settees, heard 1t
and looked at the speaker.
HE did not stop here" said the
clerk, in a monotonous, oh-you-make-
me-tired tone.
"You are quite sureP" said the man,
switching from the confident to the
concilatory.
positive" said the clerk, turning
away.
The man concealed the fact that he
was disconnected very cleverly. He
picked toothpick out of the box on
| the counter, and put it between his
lips, with an appearance of one lost in
| thought. Then he turned around and
learned with his back against the
clerks deslx. Hin attitude was studied
" elegant He seemed mindful of
his surroundings, and to be looking
over tho heads of the men on the settee
across the lobby. The clerk looked at
him occasionally in mingled anger and
amusement. Presently the man walked
out into the center of the lobby, glanced
slowly around and walked deliberately
out of the hotel through the writing
room and the ladies' entrance.
II wish somebody would invent a
lsure cranlS-xilling machine" said the
clerk, after the man had disappeared
"That fellow was the sixth tonight y
"What do you mean?" asked the re-
porter.
81 mean," he replied, shat that feb
low knew when he came here that no
such man as he inquired for had ever
stopped here. In fact, the name he
mentioned was all there was of his pre-
tended friend. When he came here
and asked for the myth of his own
creation, he knew that he was simply
bothering me. What was his objects
oh, simply to create an impression on
the people standing around. Did you
notice how his voice rose when he
talked of the myth as the big million
aire? Don't you know there are mer
who are constantly craving the noto
riety that is associated with riches'
Haven't you heard men in restaurants
elevated trains, horse cars, barroom'
and elsewhere talk about big
deals bonds, vast sums of money
their social position, intimacy will
great men, and all that sort O
thing9 OF course you have, and have
known ali the time that they were
merely taking. Well, that sort of man
comes in here nearly every day and an
noys the life out OF us. This fellow
you saw has been here so many tunes
am dead on to him. He wants to SHOW
of his clothes and imitation diamonds
and m AXE people think he IL big gun
Most of them are not SO we'll dressed q
he Is. Some are countrymen who hav'
heard good deal about our lobby and