The Portland daily press., 1900-02-19
THE H0LBR00k
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
The Committee Was q Pretty
Girl, and She Entertained
the Stranger Admirably.
BY W. r. ROSE.


the hotel entrance was evidently a
stranger In the city. He looked about
him with a strong suggestion of curios-
ity. Anon he stared upward at the I'M
wonted mingling of smoke and sky
scrapers.
This observant young mans name was
Jack Holbrook. He was New Eng
lander, a Harvard man, mining engi-
neer, and this was his first visit west of
Albany. He had come to Cleveland at
the earnest and oft repeated invitation Of
his college mate and very dear friend,
Tom Plympton, and he had arrived a
day ahead of time. He had meant to
stop at Buffalo for few hours confer
ence with mining expert, but on the
train had received telegram from him
stating that he had suddenly been called
TO Toronto In connection with an impor-
tant legal case and asking him to deter
his Buffalo visit So Jack had come
straight through to Cleveland, and, be-
ing of a slightly diffident disposition, had
gone to hotel instead of proceeding at
once to his friends home. At the hotel
he had telephoned and asked for his
friend, but the servant who answered
his call stated that Mr.. Tom had gone
to Akron, but would return late in the
afternoon. Thereupon he had spelled
out his name for the domestic and added
the name of the hotel, the maid promis-
ing to deliver both name and address to
Tom as soon as he returned.
Then Jack strolled out in front of the
big hostelry and watched the tide of hui
mainly stream by. The tide presented
some new types to Jacks observant eyes
and the time slipped away rapidly as he
watched them. Presently he became
aware that a smartly dressed young wo-
man was regarding him with some de-
gree of intentness. She was pretty
girl, with laughing black eyes, and those
eyes were fixed upon Jack with quizzi-
cal interest. She passed him and then
came back. As she neared him she
swung in little closer.
Pardon me-" she said with much
gravity, but am mistaken in assuming
that you are q stranger In town.
Her voice was low and musical and
very pleasant to the ear, and Jack was
still more firmly convinced OF her ex-
IRENE degree of prettiness. Both these
facts firmly impressed themselves upon
his mind, although he was quite stunned
for the moment by the unexpected en-
counter.
II am a straff>Sr In this particular
city," he managed tS'reply, but not en-
tirely stranger to city ways"
1T Is evident" said the young woman,
with an increase of gravity, that you
read the newspapers"
1T is a habit that / have never at
tempted to conceal" said Jack.
There was a moments silence.
The young woman had, as 1t were,
al IDaI into n
deavor to keep step with her as she
slowly moved toward the avenue.
"You look" she said, like an honest
young man."
Honesty, like beauty" commented
Jack, "is sometimes but skin deep. The
fact is, / am really an accomplished pick
pocket. Perhaps you will kindly notice
the shabby looking man who is appar-
emily absorbed in the jewelers. window
across the way? That's a famous de-
tective who is logging my footsteps"
IL see," said the pretty girl with a
charming smile, that you are humorist
as well as a pickpocket. 1t is a pleasant
recreation and in time think you would
shine at it. But pardon me, Mr.. Pick
pocket, il l briefly digress. As you are
a stranger In town you cannot be ex-
pected to know anything about our Gus
toms. Kindly understand, then, that
am an active member of an organization
of Cleveland women who are banded to-
gether for the purpose of extending the
inequalities of our city to all worthy So
journers within Its gates. We are ex-
pected to meet strangers and impress
them with our city's beauties"
Difident Jack boldly interrupted her.
"You have certainly impressed me with
one Of them" he said. II don't think i
care TO see the others"
The smiling young woman slightly
flushed.
when the stranger happens to be
young and good looking" she said, lone
of the younger members of the commit
tee on transients is sent to proselyte him.
For, you see, the prime object of the
committee Is to win from him promise
to become q good Clevelandsr. l might
add that the scheme Is strongly Endorsed
by the sojourner committee Of our re-
vered chamber Of commerce"
(Which reflects great credit on the
chambers good taste" said Jack the
diffident.
Just what he thought Of this remsrka'
BILE adventure he could hardly tell. The
girl WAS certainly delightful. even II heI
explanation was trifle labored. He
would see the adventure through.
"And now for luncheon" said the
black eyed committee of one, as she led
him, still wondering, into a well appoint
ed restaurant and ordered a toothsom'
light rspast. And as they sat facing each
other she drew him out by degrees unit
difident Jack was telling freely aboui
his recent trip up the Orinoco and hi
shipwreck on the Venezuelan coast.
Jack was q keen observer and a cleve
story teller. and his audience VI on
somehow drew out the best tGere was y