Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-04-08
KESNUP'S DOWNFALL.

of term to describe him. This was
simply because he had a patronizing
way about him. He should have been
large man. His manner would have
sorted well with deep bass voice,
pursuing under lip, neck that over
/ Tapped his shirt collar and white
waistcoat of generous girth. On the
contrary, he was slender and rather
understood, his voice inclined TO
squeakiness, and he had an Annie
Laurie sort of neck He really meant
to be kind to people, and that was
the worst OF it, for If he had been will
| fully offensive he would have been
squelched without conjunction.
Kesnup met his Waterloo down in
Mozart, Ind. He had been in bad
health for some time-very much run
down and with some sort of disorder
that threatened to become chronic.
His doctor had visited the mud springs
| at Mozart, had analysed their waters.
and had become a Mozart enthusiast.
He told Kesnup that in those springs
lay his one and only chance OF sal
vation--ordered him, in fact, to go
there and to stay not less than three
months.
When Kesnup found that Mozart
was a way station with not dozen
shabby frame built, false-fronted stores
to it's main street, and not many more
houses, he was as pleasant and good
natured about it as could be. He
70,
lation that there was no occasion for
them to apologize. He was entirely
tolerant of the canvas-curtained hack
that took him out to the springs, and
when the driver pointed pridefully
with his whip to the Hotel Simmons.
noble two-story brick structure, so
by 100 feet in extent, Kesnup nodded
benignantly and said Eyes, | see;
vern nice, indeed!
Bill Simmons, the hotel proprietor,
redfaced, elderly man, in his shirt
sleeves and lowered waistcoat met
him Hospitality at the door, and shook
hands with him, beaming welcome
Come right in" he said. THE
doc wrote me you was coming. We
amt right full now, so you'll have
things pretty much to yourself. He
waved his pudgy hand.
Mahogany desk, you see,' he said,
proudly. Safe for the keeping of val
lybles. Indicator shown who rings
for ice water-and we've got ice water,
too. Tallerphone to the store and post
office. Patent gas lights. | reckon
you didn't expect to see anything like
this, did you? Makes you think you're
right back in Chicago, don't it?"
He dragged the reluctant Kesnup
off on tour of inspection. He called
his attention to the porcelain-lined
tub in the bathroom, to the real brus-
sells carpet in the halls, to the real hair
mattresses in the bedrooms, to the
genuine Georgia pine of the wainscot,
to the patent gas radiators, to the
brand new $50 range in the kitchen,
to the running water-hot and cold,
piped all over the lower fioor-act-
ually! He conducted him to the din
ing-room and set before him a sump-
tuous repast of noodle soup, beef
steak, stewed tomatoes, boiled rice,
canned peaches and marble cake.
Kesnup told him that it was all very
creditaDle, indeed. Really" he said,
"a man could be quite comfortable
here. I'm not a man who insists upon
luxury, Mr.. Simmons. | did not come
here with any large expectations. you
know, and am sure | shall do very
we'll"
Then Bill Simmons exploded. "Oh,
you will, eh?" he said, bitterly! You
think you can Pub along, do you?
Didn't expect much, and so you amt
so awful disappointed! Why, dog
gone my hide! Now, lookee here,
you're accommodating and easy to
please, and willing to put up with
on a gentleman like you by asking
him to put up at one-horse tavern
like this. Don't you do it. You can
leave your grips here, and there's lots
of time before dark for you to find a
place to board where it's more like
what you're accustomed to. Don't
you come back anyway, until you've
NIlGu IL IOuI biIA gill lOliillb DIT
all. | couldn't charge a man for such
horse feed as you've been insulted with
here. Please excuse it and ask the
clerk to direct you to some good board
ing house as you go out. Well, I'll be
derned!"
Kesnup did find accommodation else
where, but what he suffered in the
next few days no one knows He
would have returned to Chicago, but,
in spite of Indigestion and the husk
mattress he slept on and the dismal
surroundings and Inconvenience of
the best boarding place he could find
in Mozart, he felt that the springs
were doing him good.
In the end he pocketed his pride and
went TO Simmons and asked him how
he had managed to offend him. The
landlord took him by the arm and ut
tered no word until he had led him
to the office. There he waved his hand
comprehensively. 81 want to ask you