The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-22

]
I suppose it is due to the fact that
they work so hard mentally and physi-
cally; but whatever the cause may be,
the fact remains that they eat almost
twice as much as ordinary people. They
all prefer the European plan of living,
and each one generally has several pet
dishes that he likes to have prepared
to order.
''The advance agents of theatrical
companies are the best fellows on earth,
and we always like TO see them come
up TO the desk AS a class they dis
pense more 1avors than the rest, and
ask for ahsolutely none. They are for
ever spending money. treating every
body to cigars and drinks. and making
themselves agreeable on all sides"
AS the clerk talked. a woman walked
up 10 the desk and said, Give me the
key to No, sos. please. That's the
number OF Mr.. Smiths room. isn't it?"
as she started off.
NO. ma am" said the clerk. hand
ing her another key in place of tie one
she had asked for. His room is CSC. -
Now. that's funny thing about
women" he said. when she was safely
out of earshot. LAS long as I've been
in the hotel business I've never known
a woman to remember the number of
her room. AS Icing as they give their
names when they ask for their keys
they are all right. but as soon as they
try to give the number they go wrong.
Then. as I told you a while ago. we
have a few crooks to deal with nov and
then. but their methods do not vary as
much as you would think In almost
all OF their games the bad check fig
ures sooner or later. They don't often
beat an experienced clerk, although oc-
casionalIy the oldest of as get taken up
AS a rule, the professional hotel crook,
thu man who goes about from place to
place. beating hotel after hotel. makes
It his business to work. or try to work
through the hotel clerk himself. That
is to say, he does everything in his
power to win the clerks entire conf
dence because he knows it would be
absolutely useless for him to try any
thin= of the kind If the clerk had the
slightest suspicion Of him.
'In order 70 do this he hangs around
the Office all the time. talks TO the clerk,
learns his name and calls him by it,
treats t. drinks. hands ont expensive
cigars (alI OF which he has charged to
his account), takes him to the theater,
has him up in his room to join him in
sandwiches and drinks when they come
back, and pays him every attention pos
sible. All the time he IS making great
show of ready cash. He will bring
hundred-donar bill up TO the desk TO
have it changed, or he will give the bar
tender a hfty-dollar bill in payment for
drinks.
After this has gone on for few days
he will be ready to work his little game.
This is where the bad check comes in.
OF course there are different ways they /
have Of playing it, but the usual way
is for the man TO come rushing to the !
Office late Saturday night saying he has
just received a telegram calling him
home, sickness in the family being al
most the invariable excuse. He goes up
stairs to get his gr-ip-for this type sell /
dom carries a trunk-and when he comes /
down and his bill is presented, he writes |
out a check for an amount about fifty /
dollars more than his bill and asks the
clerk TO cash 1t and give him the bal
ance Wen, the clerk hates TO turn him
down because the fellow has been so
nice TO him, and moreover he has seen
him with all kinds OF money, so he takes
his address and hands over the receipted
bill and the cash balance OF course the
man has barely time 10 catch the train
so he hustles out. bidding the clerk
very anectionate goOd-by. This is gen.
orally done on Saturday night in order
that a whole day may pass before the
clerk can get in line with the banks.
The check, OF course. comes back, and
the address proves 10 be fictitious. and
the hotel is out
These fellows are never content to