The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-01-23

!. IN THE HOTEL OFFICE.
A Singular Story of Man Who Met
One Who Had Known Him
Years Before.

roomy hall, which is always warm in
winter and always cool in summer.
You win find, sitting and sprawling
about the long. broad lounges and the
big chairs, dozens of men who are not
registered at the hotel, nor ever have
been, nor have even invested in a small
glass of beer at the bar of the adjoin-
ing cafe.
One day in particular, in the month
Of February, was great harvest time
for that hotel hall. Every seat was oc-
cupied, and the clerk shrewdly guessed
that the fine, driving snow that had
been filling up all the chinks of the
window frames had much to do with
the size of the gathering about the
heaters Presently a man in a some
what wornout overcoat entered and be-
gan kicking snow from his feet and
showering it from every part of his
person.
The clerk. who had nothing else in
particular to do just at that moment,
saw that the large number of idlers
who crowded the benches rather dis
concerted him. In fact, the clerk no
ticed that the last conner was looking
decidedly annoyed and guessed that
his annoyance proceeded from the evil
dent fact that there was no seat for
him. He would have to loaf standing or
else 20 into the cafe and let a waiter
come and ask him what he would take,
which would be inconyenient in the
absence of the wherewithal to pay.
The newcomer looked at him and
seemed to take a sudden resolution. as
If he had made up his mind that that
clerk ought to be satisfied of his having
some particular business in there.
Having got his hat and bis discolored
oyercoat finally clear of snow, he walk
ed up to the desk boldly and asked, SIS
Mr.. Farquharson stopping hereY
(which Mr.. Farquharson, sir? What
is his nameY
"Er-um- er-Ronald- Ronald Farqu-
harson."
"Where does he register from?" the
clerk asked, solemnly looking at the
register.
'From-er Ottawa"
Ronald Farquharson, Ottawa, Can
ada" the clerk repeated keeping his
finger on one spot on the page of the
register. "Do you wish to see Mr.. Far
quharson? don't know whether he's
in. Yes; his key is here. Will you
send up your card. STRIP
The clerk had some little difficulty in
keeping his face straight while he
made these routine inquiries of the Wis
itor, for the visitors eyes seemed about
to pop out of his head. He opened his
mouth once or twice before speaking.
-yes-that-is
"Tingp' the bell sounded and por
ter came forward to take the visitors
card.
'T-haven't card with me-" said the
man who had come through the snow
storm to see Mr.. Ronald Farquharson
Of Ottawa, Canada.
A blank card was produced, and the
visitor. with some evident hesitation
wrote on it "John Henry Robinson"
The bellboy took the card away on a
silver waiter and John Henry walked
up and down, seeming, as the clerk
thought, rather nervous.
Presently a ford young man in
brown tweeds came from the passage
on one side of the clerks desk. The
young man was carrying a card in his
hand and seemed puzzled.
''Where is this person. he said.
showing the card to the clerk.
"Mr Robinson. sir? There he is.
walking toward the door now His
back is turned"
'Did he say he knew me?'
s'He asked for Mr.. Ronald Farquhar
son, Ottawa, Canada
SCOT my whole name all right?"
'Yes; he had it as pat as you have
it,"
THAT'S funny said Mr. Ronald Far
duharson. II have known a good many
Robinsons in my time. but ] never
knew that any of them lived in New
York; beg your pardon. sir" he add
ed, turning to the visitor, who was
now near the desk. 81 think this is
your card. You have the advantage of
me-"
overcoat. laughing a rather forced
laugh. you're Mr. Ronald Farquhar-
son-er-of Ottawa-Ottawa. Canada.
Heard that you were in New York, you
know
'That's odd" said the Canadian. Il
only got here a few hours ago"
CHATS right Going to make a long
stayY'
"Wcll, before ten You about that
perhaps you'll give me some idea as to
what your business may be with me-"
my business? Oh, yes. Well, you
see, we Americans are always anxious
to learn the views of prominent Cana
dams"
'About what2''
ooh, about-about annexation, you
know"
II see, Well, why don't you go and
ask Mr.. James Scott Muirhead or some
of those other representative Canadi-
ans who are staying here. Why do
you pitch on me? suppose you haven't
been reporter for very long-haven't
had much experience at the business. "
"No;' said the other man eagerly.
THAT'S 1t. haven't had much expert
ence. understood you were a repre-
sentative Canadian"
"You did, eh?' the fiorid young man
laughed. Then. looking his visitor
straight in the face, he said. What
paper do you happen to represent.
Mr.
"Boun-er- Jones'"
"Oh. you are Mr.. Jones of the-what
paper did you sayY'
81 didn't say. represent quite lot
Of papers. It's sort of trust, you
know"
81 see. A news agency--New York
papers?"
''Oh, no; western papers chiefly"
The clerk saw that as the conversa-
ton went on Robinson. alias Jones. got
more and more nervous, while the Ca
madam seemed to be more and more
thoughtfully interested in the inter-
( view
| On hearing that his visitor represent
ed western papers chiefly" Farquhar-
son paused and seemed to consider.
Then he suddenly said, well, Mt.
Brown BY the way. Mr.. Brown,
haven't we met beforeiH
! At that the representative Of western