The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-11-11

( DARE say you never heard OF the
80 great smallpox swindle," said the
hotel manager. ''The facts Of
that remarkable affair were with
held at the time for the most urgent rea-
sons of policy, and even now | prefer to
tell the story without names or localities.
1t happened in the fall of 1886, when a
certain hotel in large western city was
crowded with tourists. One day, at the
height OF the season, two gentlemanly
looking strangers put up at the house and
were assigned to what we call a double
room About a week later one of them
appeared at the Office and requested a
private interview with the manager. 4
regret to inform you he said, after the
door was closed, that my friend is down
with a severe attack Of smallpox
''The proprietor nearly fell out Of his
chair. There was known to be smallpox
in the city, and the bare suggestion that
the disease had appeared in the hotel was
enough to empty it in a twinkling. To
let the news get out meant the loss Of
thousands upon thousands of dollars. 1t
meant She ruin OF the seasons business
fHe must be quietly removed at once, said
the proprietor, trying to control his agita-
ton.
GO Removed , exclaimed the other
Taken through the cold air to lazeretto,
Why, man, that would be murder! I'll
not permit it"
"The hotel keeper was thunderstrucL.
'Do you mean to say lie must stay here?'
he gasped.
" Certainly, said the stranger.
''It was ticklish situation. The hotel
keeper dare not enforce his suggestion,
while to let the case remain was like stor-
ing gunpowder in furnace room. He
pleaded, protested, begged, threatened and
clustered, but all in vain. The man was
firm as a rock If you attempt to eject
my friend, he declared, I'll publish your
inhumanity to the entire community
Finally it occurred to the distracted
proprietor to see, first, whether it was
really a case of smallpox. So he sent for
a physician, swore him to secrecy and
hustled him up to the room. The doctor
took one look at the disfigured face on the
pillow and reported that the malady was
there in malignant type. He advised the
mans immediate removal at any cost If
you keep him concealed he said, the dis
ease may spread, aud it would ruin you
for life You owe something TO your
guests Again the proprietor interviewed
the friend, and again the latter refused to
bulge from his position.
"'Whcre can take him, he demanded.
'You know very well ] can't get comfort
able quarters for such a purpose, and |
WON'T have him hutchered in pcsthouse
s. to please any landlord on earth. The
hotel man felt his hair stand on end. but
concluded to let things stand as they were
unti morning.
Nest day ne sent for the sick mans
friend and asked hiIn whether he had any
suggestion 10 make
I" 'Yes he replied; 4 thought up plan
over nigaS, which you may adopt or not,
as you like. As | said before he con-
tinuad, it is useless TO try to rent quarters
for such Il case. We might, however, buy
cottage and take him there. have
figured the thing up and the total expense
would be about S., 900, If you are willing
to band over that amount, | will take him
away ard assume all further responsibility.
l make the offer entirely out of sympathy
for your guests.
The landlord looked him in the eve. |
4, too, have thought the situation over,
he said and I'm convinced it's conf
dence game pure and simple. Pm also
convinced that the slightest breath Of the
affair would greatly damage the reputation
of the house. AS business proposition |
consider il worth S., 600 to get rid of you.
The other man smiled ironically. Call |