The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-18
His Check was Good.

Dave Gelvin--it is pronounced Gal
vin-of Maitland, Mo-, is one Of the
cattle barons of northwest Missouri,
section of country which has large
number of cattle barons. As hustler
and pusher Dave has few equals and
no superiors, and what he does not
know about cattle would not be worth
finding out.
Dave is always 80 busy looking after
his cattle interests that he seldom has
time to "dress up' in bis company
clothes, and at first sight a stranger
would take him for an innocent gran
ger, eager to buy gold brick or likely
to blow out the gas.
Several years ago Dave shipped lot
of export cattle from Maitland and went
as far as New York with them. When
he arrived in New York, he looked like
the ragged end of poverty, but he was
too busy to secure change of clothing.
He had some business to transact and
intended taking train for home the
next morning. Dave is lover of the
good things of life, 30 he inquired his
way TO the Hoffman House and affixed
his name to the register. The clerk
locked at him for a moment and asked
if he wanted room.
Eyes, and good one, replied Dave.
"Any baggage?"
emo"
"Our rates are $40 day, and we re-
quire cash in advance from unknown
parties" said the clerk.
"Oh, darn your rates; give me the
room. want to wash" said Dave.
"All right. Ten dollars, please"
Dave run his hand in his pocket, but
all he could fish up was 50 II. This
sum was made up by silver dollar, two
silver half dollars, two quarters, a
twenty cent piece and penny.
ooh, I'll pay you in the morning."
said Dave, turning to go to the eleva-
tor.
But the clerk knew thing or two.
lie was not to be caught that way-not
he.
"There is no deviation from our
rules, sir" the clerk said politely but
firmly. "You must pay in ADVANCE
"Then III give you a check" said
Gelvin, who was rapidly becoming an
CRY.
He stepped back to the desk, filled
out cheek for $500 and handed it y
the clerk. But the clerk was not q
greenhorn. He was New Yorker, he
was. He would not accept the check
unless certified.
By this time Dave was mad. He
said a few words in Latin, or in Ian.
guage that sounded like it was of for.
eign origin.
"Contound your rules, you blasted
chumpl l could buy and sell you ter
times over, you pigheaded, pimplv faced
dude. If you don't think that CHECK
is good, send it over 70 the Chemice
National.
The clerk called messenger boy
and dispatched him to the Chemics
National, with note asking if check
of $500 signed by David Gelvin OF
Maitland, Mo-, was good.
The clerk knew it was not, but Dave
we7 fighting mad, and the clerk real
lied that il he did not make seeming
effort = eacertHin the worth of the
check he would get in trouble. While
the messenger was absent Dave walked
the floor of the magnificent office ant
talked , himself.
In due time the messenger returned
with an answer. 1t rec 1, "Mr. Gel
wins check for $500 is perfectly &C H.
The clerk at once became obsequi
GUS. There was nothing too =, I'd fol
Mr.. Gelvin of Missouri.
swell, give me back the check" sale
Dave. "i'll 60 over ID the bank anl
Gosh it myself"
: The check was handed to the irat,
man, and he marched out and neve
returned. The clerk was evidentl,
filed with curiosity about the Nilsson
rian, for he sent letter to Charli,
Donovan, cashier of the Maitlan,
bank, ssking if Gelvin's check for 81 ,O0l
was good. Charlie wrote back tina
Gelvin's check for S1,0c) was perfect,
good; that it was good for $4,000, TO
five times that, and then he would hav'
balance in the bank. "You doc
BANKED fool" wrote Donovan, 81
Calvin takes notion to buy your thirt
rate hasheiJ and offers check for it
, take it quick. It's r. good es the gold.
, Dave declares that the ambition O
his life is 70 90 back to New York som,
time and dazzle the eyes of that hote
clerk. He insists that when the tim,
comes he is going to dress like king
hire corps of fl )tmen, dozen val
cts, carl thirty-seven trunks, travel il
special car and 60 down to New Yorl
and throw that hotel clerk into fits.
This will explain why Gelvin is suct
tireless worker. He has enough tt
live on in luxury and ease all the res
of his life, but he has not yet ;cumu
lated enough to make that New Yorl
trip in what he considers the prope
style. Until he does he will worl
harder than any hired man on hi
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