The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-03

that the men standing aroun1. 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-m e-tired
tone.
YOU are quite sure?" said the man.
switching fiom the confide1t 10 the con-
ciliatory.
away.
The man concealed the fact ,ha. he was
disconnected very cleverly. f,e picked
toothpick out OF the box on the counter
and put It between his lips with an sp-
pcarauce of one lost in thought. Iheh
he turned around and leaned with MS
hack against the clerks desk. i,is at-
titude was studiedly elegant. He seemed
unmindful OF his surroundings, and 70 De
looking over the heads Of the men on tne
settee across the lobby. The clerk looked
al him occasionally in mingled anger ana
amusement. Presently the man walked
out into the centre of the lobby. glanced
slowly around. and walked deliberately
out Of the hotel through the writing room
and the ladies' entrance.
IL wish somebody would invent sure
crank killing machine" said the clerk,
after the man had disappeared. THAT
fellow was the sixth tonight.
What do you meanY' asked the re-
porter.
low knew when he came here that no
such man as he inquired for had ever
stopped here. In fact, the name ne men
toned was all there was Of his pretend
ed friend When he came here ana asked
for the myth of his own creation, ne
knew that he was simply bothering me.
What was his object? Oh, simply 10
create an impression on the people stand
ing GROUND. Did you notice how his voice
rose when he talked Of the myth as the
biz millionaire? Don't you know there
are men who are constantly craving the
notoriety that is associated with riches
Haven't you heard men in restaurants
elevated trains, horse cars. bar-rooms,
and elsewhere talk about big deals
bonds. vast sums OF money, their social
positlon. intimacy with great men, and
all that sort OF thing? or course you
have and have known all the time tnat
they were merely taking. Well, that sort
Of man comes in here nearly every day
and annoys the life out OF US. This Eel
low you saw has been here so many
times l am dead on 10 him. He wants TO
show off his clothes and imitation dia-
monds. and make people think he Is
big gun Most Of them are not so well
dressed as he IS Some are countrymen
who have heard a good deal about our
lobby and the men who frequent II, ana
ask questions about persons who don't
exist as an excuse for coming here. They
seem to think that being seen In CONVEX
sation with the clerk gives them sort
Of right to stay here and satisfy their
curiosity. They have an idea the de-
tectives Will come around and order
them out unless they do something or
the kind. / frightened one Of these fell
lows nearly out Of his wits one night.
He was n perfect jay. and suffered. He
asked II Howard Johnson was in.
Yes, I said. there he is and
pointed out our detective. who was stand
ing close by. Mr.. Johnson | said here's
a man wants b talk TO you l winked TO
the detective and he tumbled. What do
YOU wish Of me. sir?' he said. crowding
him I'D into this corner. The fellow turned
blue with fright. 1 g-g-guess MN made
q n-m-nistake. he suffered You asked
for Howard Johnson l said. severely
And that's my name said the detective
taking the hint Yy-yes. said the fell
low. 'b-b-but I g-g-guess y-you air id
different HH-HOward. lie Kept edsln6
OF as far as he could. and finally bolted
some Of the cranks get up great cock
and-bull stories. one fellow called the
other night TO know II Mr.. Harris had
left pair OF opera-glasses for him. There
had been no such guest here. During the
last campaign. when the papers were fun
Of stories about the big men here. we had
as many as thirty and forty cranks pes
terng us every day. a favorite trick with
some Of them was to wait until the papers
announced the departure OF a big gun
and then come here and poster US WIN
questions about when he would return.
They always pretended surprise when
told he had gone without leaving messages
FOR them and would try 10 talk conhden-
TALLY with us. in tones loud enough TO be
heard fifty feet away. about their init
mate relations with the big man. We
we're overrun with them. and found II
difficult to attend 10 our business, Tor
they stuck Ike leeches. IL was great re-
lief TO see them drop off after the cam
paigr. but we are still annoyed by enough
to make US sore at times. New York
sun.