The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-11-26
BLAcKBURN's JOKE.
Senator Vest Braved 1t Out Until He
Heard About Jones.

One of the first intimate acquaintance
Shlps which Senator Vest formed when
ne came 90 Washington after his election
20 the senate from Missouri was Senator
Blackburn. Vest had been st0pping at
a hotel but concluded to find private
accommodations and appealed to Black
burn for q suggestion.
III take you to a room which will suit
YOU ] know. for ] used 30 live there my
sen; said the kcntuckian. IN see the
landlord sometime today and make the
arrangements. and tonight III take Won
10 your quarters.
It was dark when Senators Vest and
9lackDurn that evening walked down L
street 10 Vest S new quarters. Blackburn
led the way mp a pair OF stairs next to
a store whose character Vest could not
exactly determine because OF the dark
ness, and ushered him into a commo-
deus handsomely furnished front room,
which appeared to offer all the con-
Veniences of a modest but refined bach
tloT eStabnS nment. Soon the land
lord appeared Vest paid a months
rent In advance and after Black
burn departure. quietly retired to
his bed and slept tin morning When he
reached the sidewalk the next day to 20
10 the senate he concluded TO take q good
look at the house in order to fix his place
OF abode firmly on his mind He looked
through the windows of the store and
saw collection of collins and other evil
dences Of a first-class undertaking and
embalming shop within. An uncomfort-
able feeling stole over him. bat ne de-
Jermlued not to say anything about his
disappointment TO Senator Blackburn,
VINO had evidently planned to play a
practical joke on him.
I'm fool him." thought Vest IF he
asks me how 1 like my room I'll make
believe that il suits me exactly, and to
prove it III stay there another month. ="
Blackburn, however. said nothing. In
the inner depths of his being Vest did
not go TO bed for week without eXpe-
rlencing an uncanny sensation and with
out breathing a Charnel house atmOs-
phere more or less tinctured al recurring
nor lode aree.FF.
ms mlnd was made up not 70 crafty
blackburn by mentioning the subject or
ny making change of quarters.
one night "a person OF strong garrulOus
procitvities who had resided in Washing
ton for some years a Missouri constitu-
ent or vest s. dropped in to make a social
call on the senator. They talked for
some time, when at last this individual
broke into "a reminiscent mood.
Ihls aim the first time I've been in
TINS room he said. II used to call here
regularly on Jones. He occupied il before
you moved in. Jones was "a queer fellow.
one evening L called and found the room
dark. but the door OPEN Surprising Jones
would soon be in, pulled a match out OF
my pocket and struck it, walking toward
the chandelier with my eyes down on the
SDUttcring match. 90 make light As
did so ! came in contact with q heavy
mass and dropped the match. A cold
chill passed over me ] couldn't see a
thing before me, but I knew there was
something in the room that had no bust
ness tnere. / stretched out my hand and
felt that same heavy. stiff mass IL had
clothes on and felt like CORPSE. Before
venturing TO make "A further exploration
of this mystery. ! struck another match
and as il blazcd ND and Illuminated the
room, what do YOU suppose I SAW There
hung Jones from the chandelier at the
end of rope. I called for help. and the
undertaken below assisted me to cut him
down. We laid him out on this floor
Right there. where YOU see that flower
i'm the carpet his head rested and here
by your bed his feet. Poor Jones had
committed suicide"
At the conclusion OF this story Vest
was ready TO surrender He concluded to
give up his room at once and forfeit the
balance Of his rent, and that night slept
in another part of the city.