Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-10-21
HIS CHECK WAS GOOD
THE STORY OF A RAGGED MAN AND A
 GOTHAM HOTEL CLERK.


 An Amusing Incident Which DeDonstrates 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 be does not know about cattle would not be worth finding out.
 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 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 be arrived in New York, he looked like the ragged end of poverty, but he was too busy to secure a 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, so he inquired his way to the Hoffman House and affixed his name to the register. The clerk looked at him for moment and asked if be wanted a room.
 "Yes, and good one, replied Dave.
 "Any baggage?"
 "No.
 "Our rates are s10 a day, and we re. l quire cash in advance from unknown parties, said the clerk.
 "Oh, darn your rates; give me the room. l want to wash, said Dave
 "A II right. Ten dollars, please. i Dave run his hand in his pocket, but all be could fish pp was s271. This sum was made up by a silver dollar, two silver half dollars, two quarters, i 20 cent piece and penny.
 'tOh, 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 no deviation from our rules, sir, ; the clerk said politely but firmly. You must pay in advance. "
 Then I'll give you check. , said Gelgin, who was rapidly becoming an. gry.
 He stepped back to the desk, filled out a check for $500 and handed it to the clerk. But the clerk was not greenhorn. He was a New Yorker, he was. He would not accept the check up. less certified.
 By this time Dave was mad. He said few words i'll Latin, or in language that sounded like it was of foreign origin.
 "Confound your rules you blasted chumpl l could buy and sell you ten times over, you pigheaded, pimply faced dude. If you don't think that check is good, send 1t over to the Chemical Ma tional
 The clerk called Q messenger boy and dispatched him to the Chemical Nation al, with a note asking if Q check of $500 signed by David Gelvin of Maitland, Mo, was good.
 The clerk knew it was not, but Dave was fighting mad. and the clerk realiz. ed that it be did not make a seeming ef- fort to ascertain the worth of the check he would get into trouble. While the 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. Nr. Gelvin's s cheek worth $500 is perfectly good. "
 The clerk at once became obsequious. There was nothing teo good for Mr. Gelvin of Missouri.
 Well, give ne back the check, '' said Dave. I'll go over to the bank and cash it myself. ''
 The check was handed to the irate man, and he marched out and never re- turned. The clerk was evidently filled with curiosity about the Missourian, for he sent a letter to Charley Donovan, cashier of the Maitland bank, asking if i Gelvin's check for S1.000 was good. ] Charley wrote back that Gelvin's check for g, GOO was perfectly good; that it was good for S10, GOO, for five times that, and then be would have Q balance in the bank. Ton dod blanked fool, 'i wrote D0uo7zn, .'if GelTin takes a no tien to buy voar third rate hashery and offers a check for II. take it quick. It's as good is the gold. 7
 Dave declares that the ambition Of his life is to go back to New York some time and dazzle the eyes Of that hotel clerk. He insists that when the time comes he is going to dress like king. hire q corps Of footmen. g dozen xalets, sarry 37 trunks, travel in special car and go down to New York and throw tbar h0ral clerk into fits.