New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-04-27
HIS CHECK WAS GOOD

HIS CHECK w s GOOD
THE STORY OF "a RAGGED MAN AND a.
GOTHAM HOTEL CLERK.
An Amusing incident Which Dem onstrates
Anew That It Is Not Always Wise to
Judge Man by the Cut Of His Coat or
the Fit of His Trousers.
Dave Gelvin-it is pronounced Gal
vin-of Maitland, Mo-, is one Of the
cattle barons of northwest Missouri, a
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 <,s-(l a r n z. III NJ
Dave is always SO busy looking after
his cattle interests that he seldom has
time to "dress up in his company
clothes, and at first sight stranger
would take him for an innocent gran
ger, eager to buy gold brick or likely
to blow out the gas. ". s....
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 a train for home the
next morning. Dave is lover Of the
good things of life, SO he inquired his
way to the Hoffman House and affixed
his name to the register. The clerk
looked at him for a moment and asked
If he wanted room. - -.~ 81
eyes, and a good one, "replied Dave.
"Any baggage?"
"No."
"Our rates are $40 day, and we re-
luire cash in advance from unknown
parties,'' said the clerk.
"Oh, darn your rates; give me the
room. I want to wash," said Dave.
"All right. Ten dollars, please.
Dave run his hand in his pocket, but
all he could fish up was SAIL. This
sum was made up by silver dollar,
two silver half dollars, two quarters, a
30 cent piece and penny.
"Oh, I'll pay you in the morning."
said Dave, turning to go to the elevator.
But the clerk knew thing or two.
He was not to be caught that way-not
he.
@There is nd deviation from our
rules, sir" the clerk said politely but
firmly. "You must pay in advance"
"Then I'll give you check" said
Gelvin, who was rapidly becoming an
cry.
He stepped back to the desk, filled
out check for $500 and handed it to
the clerk. But the clerk was not a
greenhorn. He was a New Yorker, he
was He would not accept the check I'M
less certified.
By this time Dave was mad. He said
a few words in Latin, or in a language
| that sounded like it was Of foreign
origin. - .,-e. -. - 1a., .2a5
"Confound your rules, you blasted
chumpl I could buy and sell you ten
times over, you pigheaded, pimply faced
dude. If you don't think that check is
| good, send it over to the Chemical Ma
tional."
The clerk called a messenger boy and
| dispatched him to the Chemical Nation
al, with note asking if check of $500
| signed by David Gelvin Of Maitland,
No., was good.
The clerk knew it was not, but Dave
was fighting mad, and the clerk realiz.
ed that if he did not make seeming eff
fort to ascertain the worth Of the check
he would get into trouble. While thu
messenger was absent Dave walked the
floor Of the magnificent Office and talk
ed to himself
In due time the messenger returned
with an answer. It read, ''Mr. Ge1vin'.
check worth $500 is perfectly good"
The clerk at once became obsequious
There was nothing too good for Mr.
Gelvin of Missouri. s:-~~.-s' ~s (zs3i 4.
"Well, give me back the check, ,
said Dave. ''I'll 60 over to the banl
and cash it myself"
The check was handed to the irat,
man, and he marched out and never re
turned. The clerk was evidently filled
with curiosity about the Missourian
for he sent letter to Charley Donovan
cashier of the Maitland bank, asking i
Gelvin's check for $1,000 was good
Charley wrote back that Gelvin's checl
for $1,000 was perfectly good; that j
was good for $4,000, for five time
that, and then he would have balance
in the bank. S''You dod blanked fool, ,
wrote Donovan, '.if Gelvin takes no
ton to buy your third rate hashery ant
offers check for it, take it quick. It
as good as the gold.
! Dave declares that the ambition o
his life ITO go 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 a king
hire 9 corps, OF footmen, dozen Wallets
II 40 -,