Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16
IN THE WRONG ROOM

Hotel at which I was stopping along to-
ward midnight one night last month";" said
travelling diamond salesman who dropped
off in Washington on his return to New
York. Before entering the room was
surprised to see through the transom that
there was a light in my room, but sup
posed that the chambermaid had turned on
the electric light in distributing towels and
had forgotten to turn the light on didn
entertain that idea very long. When en-
tered the room-I had inadvertently left the
key In the door in starting for the theater
that evening" saw tall man STANDING
by my bureau. He had his back to me
when pushed open the door, but he quick
ly wheeled and regarded me with sort
gems which 1 occasionally have on my per-
son have to pack gun around with me,
and it didn't take me long to put this In
truder under the gun.
You might as well put your hands up,
said to him. entering the room and closing
the door after me.
1T looks that way the man replied,
pointing upward with both his hands.
Il was tired, so sat down in rocking
chair near the door, keeping the gun point
ed at the interloper all the time.
Been here long? l asked the man.
" Only few minutes, he replied coolly.
asked him.
i" Haven't had time to search yet said
the chap, and a smile fiickered around the
corners of his mouth.
You take things pretty easy, don
you? said to him-I was bit nettled over
the fellows imperturbability.
$685. he replied. Say, can let my
arms down and rest 'em? l haven't got
any shooting iron On me-
well, you stand right by that window
overlooking the court, with your arms close
to your Sides I said to him, but if you
make move I'm going to put a ball
through YOU
40. k said this cool customer, and he
lowered his arms. stepped over to the win
dow indicated, and pressed his arms to
his sides. He was good-looking and ex-
ceedingly we1l-dreSSed man. / had heard
of the GOODNESS of frst-rate professional
crooks when corralled, but the benign way
this fellow smiled upon me was both
puzzling and irritating
him.
.''Quite SPELL he answered, looking me
straight in the eye and the smile still play
ing around his lips.
done much time?' inquired.
" Oh he replied, chuckling in his mysti-
flying fashion, I've served several terms
" Been mugged frequently, I suppose ?
said l.
1--we had quite few pictures taken
said the man. Say how about my sitting
down in this chair here-dye mind?
Mot if you behave said I. still keeping
the gun on him. But you'll have plenty OF
time to sit down--on a long bench-where
I'm going to send you
well you might give a fellow show
for his white alley said the man. deposit
ing himself in easy chair and placing his
hands behind his head. I haven't swiped
anything. What's the use OF rallroadlng
me?'
ward society. my friend 1 said to him.
solemnly, and blamed if he didn't laugh IN
my face: o., s,da Of
w. 7
that but he went right on haw-haWlng IN
the most hearty and good-natured fashleh
ina ginable. ,a
control his laughter. what Is the honioei
of this room, any way!' ,,o,,
This is 1885, I replied. Why do you
ask that?' ,,r;,od
SOMETHING of the sort when you came in,
the man replied, and then he exploded INTO
another fit of laughter. ..x o,,,.,,
81 got up from my chair, sun polntIle
the gun at him in case he might make some
ouick move and get the bulge on me- ana
backed toward the call button l toucneo
the button with my free hano
I'm sorry, but it's gong 10 p,n De pinch
" well I suppose it can't be heipeo' ne
replied, continuing his chuck1ng. o..
aWhen the bell-boy came l told MIN 70
send the house detective 10 my loola %
once While waiting for the appearance
of the house detective l asked my prisoner
a good many questions about ms way VI
life how he had happened 10 orHe ih.o
tho nrofession of hotel sneak II ne hao
ever succeeded in making any Dig nauis,
and so on He replied to my qneslons
with the most perfect frankness and anna
bility but he laughed so much all the tlme
that | feared he had become sort OF nys-
terical over the suddenness with WHICH,
had nailed him.
II was standing in the middle of the
room. with my gun still pointing at my
nrisoned. when the house detective raped
on the door and came in when gave the
Enter The house detective stared at the
sit,,st ton with an extremely blank face.
".Hey. what's coming OFF here, Charley!'
he said to the man on whom l had the
bead-and it was my turn to feel blank
If didn't look it.
".Oh. nothing, Jack replied the man
addressed as Charley by the house de-
teetive except that I've been doing little
hall-sneaking, and I'm under the gun
that's ALL and he burst into roar OF
laughter.
"'Got into the wrong room, l suppose,
said the house detective, grinning. All the
rooms along this row are just alike-that
| it, CharleyT
"'Wen, my numbers 166 and 1t seems
| this is 1863, said the tall man whom had
| held up.
house detective to me with a still broader
grin and then he introduced me to State
Senator Charles Blank-I won't mention
his name-one of the wealthiest land-own-
| ers and fruit-raisers in California.
Il had to clean up my San Francisco
business and leave there in a hurry
| couldn't stand for the enormous amount
| of buying when the story got around
among the gang.