Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-01-12
A Bogus Count.

He was about thirty-six years old,
fairly goodlooking, wore q brown check
ulster, derby hat and spoke with Ger
man accent as he took up pen and in
a big round hand registered at the Vic
toria Hotel. New York, about o'clock
Monday evening last as Count Arco,
Washington. D. c. sJust on here fer
the night. Am going to the Patriarchs'
ball. said the stranger to the clerk as
he exhibited an invitation purporting
to have been signed by Ward McAllis-
ter. Please give me the best rooms you
have in the house, continued the Wis
itor. "If 1 like them ! may stay some
time with you. l do SO love New York.
Great city, pretty girls, lot OF sport,
eh - and he jabbed his umbrella at the
clerks breast and chuckled.
The man behind the desk, delighted
to serve guest of such distinction,
banged away at the bell, shouted
.'Front." and half dozen boys
tumbled over one another in their anx-
iety to get tip from the distinguished
looking foreigner. =,
Any baggage, Count 2" asked the
clerk politely.
Valet on the way. Brings trunk,
money, clothes and other things. HAD
to hurry 10 catch train. Couldn't wait.
By the way, am little short. OIL
will lend me fifty or so until Hans
comes, wont you?"
Certainly, Count, charmed to do it,
of course" and the clerk hurried TO
the money drawer and was counting
out the bills, when proprietor Henry
l.. Hoyt strolled in.
Count Arco Valley, German Minister at
Washington, Mr. Hoyt,' said the clerk. He
is Just in. Going to the Partriarchs' ball
| His valet with money is on the way Inc
Count is little short and asks Tor small
loan. 1t is all right presume? Certainly,
certainly Glad to accommodate you an
swcred Boniface Hoyt. Rooms suit you?
All. there YOU are. Count" and Mr.. Hoyt
seized the $50 from the hands of his clerk and
placed the bills in the strangers hands The
| Count stepped into the elevator and was sent
I'D to a luxurionsly furnished suite. half
! hour later an attendant called TO ask II any
thing was desired The rooms were empty.
Perhaps an hour after Boniface Hoyt became
suspicious that all WAS not right. NO valet
had arrived and the stranger had disappeared.
Then it suddenly dawned upon him that
Count Arco Valley had been dead for nearly
two years. Mr. Hoyt was angry enough to
kill dozen Counts when lie recalled this
fact
lie sent for the police and detectives were
placed on the track of the swindler. lie was
traced TO the Windsor, where he had again
registered by the name of the latc German
Minister.
lie told story similar to that told at the
Victoria and was assigned to parlors and Q
OH the fist floor After informing the clerk
of his alleged predicamcnt the Count re-
questcd a loan of $25. He was politely in,
formed that the rules of the hotel prohibited
lending money to strangers.
''All right said the fellow. I'm off for the
ball Valet be here tonight. Take good care
OF him. SO long"
The Count then jumped into cab and was
driven rapidly up Fifth avenuc. The police
are hunting for him. At neither the Victoria
nor the Windsor did they have any idea of his
identity.
He said something to an attendant about
going to the Racquet Club before going to the
ball and asked where it was. But he has not
been seen since-N. Y. H'Ord.