The Portland daily press., 1894-05-15
AFRAID HE'D MISS HIS CHORES.
But the Assurances of the Bellboy and
Clerk 0uieted His Fears.

buC INC assurances OF bne oeiAooy anu
Clerk s.uieted His Fears.
A night clerk at one of the principal ho-
tells of the city had customer the other
night.
lie ambled into the hotel with the unoer-
tain gait and hesitating manner of man
who is conscious of the fact that be has
turned up the wrong road, carrying in his
hand new yalise that looked as though it
had been given coat, of lard before driv-
ing to the station.
He sew the clerk at ABOUT the same mo-
ment that he was discovered and stopped
as though caught stealing a ham from his
'j'inin neighbours sinokehouse. He began
stroking his chin whiskers and looked up
to see where the roof was.
Good evening, sir, nodded the clerk
pleasantly.
"Howdy?" asked the new arrival. Just
then his eye located the ceiling, and he
held it transfixed as though fearful of los
ing it, while the top of his head from the
chin up was stretched back until it was ON
line with his spinal column. "How's
folkss"
"Why, pretty well, thank you, " replied
the clerk. Your folks wells"
The upturned eyes slowly followed the
lines of the decorated ceiling, the body
turning In unison until the strangers
back was revealed. What there was visible
seemed to have been used some.
Right peart was the slow and almost
strangled answer 'cept Mandy. She's
ailin agin. Ike hain't had no fit since
corn cuttin.
The ceiling having been duly digested,
the eyes slowly returned to the horizon
and then sunk to the oilcloth valise That
seemed to remind him
"What'n I do with my trunk"
you might set it down on the floor
unless you would prefer holding it the rest
of the evening do one and some do
the other, y returned the clerk.
Thought this was a tavern" And the
figure started to retreat
'ssIt isl
"Hain't it an opeIy housea"
"No, it, ho-I mean tavern"
Don see no beds"
They're up there above the roof. Do
you want to registerP"
"Way up tharin And again the upper
part of the face receded from the chin.
"Do you want to registerf"
"Uhuhl Where'll go?"
"Guess you don't understand. I asked
you if you wanted to register"
81 told you. Want to stay all night too.
| Which way is it?''
The clerk got him up stairs after half
| hours hard work and drew breath of re-
| lief. 'sWell, there is the worst ever see, I"
was his mental comment.
| Fifteen minutes later he heard a shout
| from the upper regions Of the house and
sent a bellboy up ON the double quick to
! see what the trouble was. The boy reap
| peared in a moment with the stranger. In
his hand was his trunk"
| HSay, young feller kin you hang this
| up some place whar the pesky rats can 7
| get at ita"
Certainly. What have you in it?"
''Shelled corn for seed
| The heavy valise was slowed away, and
| bellboy started with him in tow. AT the
| bottom of the stairway he stopped.
"S'posin there's fire in the tavern
| then whar be 1s''
| well let you know if there isl
s'S'posin git burned up, then who'll
| do the chores tomorrer?"
You won't burn, " assured the clerk.
| He seemed relieved. sSure9"
| Il know it, 7 'gasped the clerk,
This satisfied him, and he departed. The
! bellboy waited till he had climbed into
! bed, turnsd the light out, locked him in,
and few minutes later his slumbers
sounded like weather signal. --Indianap
4 oils Sentinel