The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-18
rERNaRD KNEW DANGER nor
Chance Puts linn nj Hotel OF Rogers.
ResatIye-Lauyea His Safety-pro-
rsietor and a Dozen Friends Were
on the Point Of Giving Their Trans
isnf Guest n Warm Greeting.

; On the Point OF Giving Their rams
lent Guest n Warm Greeting.
Claude BeTnar1, not 90 young, sonic
what fatter, not nearIy so iovial. has II
lsast this IN common with Puck beside
his size, that he Is apt TO put q Il die
round the world before he stops again
at Raleigh-if h continues his appear
,ances and disa appearances at the rate
lat which ne has been located for the
past two weeks and more.
Bernard has been heard from since
he left Wilmington, enc day in japan,
Ianother in darkest Africa. He aas
been seen scaling The Alps, sporting IN
the beach al Long Branch slipping cool
ling TRAITS on hotaI verandas at Old
POINT Comfort, taking a shot at the
traces at Morris Park, talking 10 news
lpaper men 1t Norfolk and going 10
eastern North Carolina.
The Hon" Claude is a sprinter. He
lis like the pea under the shells. Now
lyou sec him-now you don't Cns
thing IS CERTAIN, he is having adven-
lures.
The other day the Hon. Claude was in
IBennettsville, S. E.. He had just ar
rived, presumably from the North Poe.
whittier he had gone ID cool IF md ~as
seeking, also presumably, g change u
lclimate. Fatigued from his travels he
Ibetook himself to a hotel 10 rest, order
led a room and retired to a quiet coucr
Later the proprietor happened 20
Hook over lis register. When ne IN
lacross the signature of the Hon Ciau x
his eyes prOtruded, his breath came n
Igasps, he hunted silently for a suf'.-
~|ciently impressive cuss word The pro-
Iprietor's name was Rogers, and he was
"a cousin of the Raleigh policeman of
that name, known TO the Hon. Claude.
but the Hon Claude knew not that
the cousin was mine host. IN n
words, the proprietor was related to the
psychology of the Bernard haste. lie
felt that he had q personal interest in
the travels of the guest who was then
Islumbering upon mis- linen. 1t was q
problem for the proprietor Of the hotel.
This man was eating his salt at so
much per diem. He was in his room.
He had chartered it. 1t was his caste.
THE proprietor was torn with emotions
that went round in his head like he
icolors of a prism or the flicker of an
electric fan. Between turning cur a
lguest and accelerating the speed. OF
bernard, was a problem indeed. Be
tween letting him lie and laying bin
How" was even a greater gulf OF IN
certainty. The proprietor famed him
self and called IN his friends.
The friends were enthusiastic. There
we're. about a dozen Of them. They
voted for the Bernard room by major
lily of twelve to nothing. They mad
heard of Bernard and they lusted TO his
acquaintance. The game seemed to
them a merry one. They started with
1.-The enthusiasm of youth and the joyful
habit of their state. Their action was
las decided as had been the indecisicn
lof their host.
Rumor has it shat the twelve went
down the hall, ever to the n
door, when the hotel man CAM. to
them for further parley. Within they
heard the Bernard snore. 1t was as mu-
Isle to their ears They were eager as
children after a rat. But the hotellist
Twas still torn with the conflict of his
j1oubts. He desired to consult a lawyer,
The twelve reluctantly agreed. The
awyer was obtained. The fourteen
Ineld pow-wow, the lawyer laid down
Ithe law. He pointed out the penalties
l1f fun. He referred, even, to the incon-
veniences of travel, as illus
ltrated by their friend above. me
icrowd Withdrew, m~urnuring, the pro
I@prietor went to led, and Claude Slept
lon.
BIT the next morning there came a
Whisper to his ears. Whether 1t was
I"Rogers,'' or something worse is not
Iyet Known. It is not even known how
1.-The whisper came, whittier by note. or
hand, or word Of mouth. The cham-
lpion sDrinter waited not however II
imay have come. Into his eager ear
THAT had so often heard the word Enere
Icame again the whisper, Haste" He
lhasted. The wheels went round. With
them went Bernard. He may be now
lat the South Pole. Perhaps he VIII
|come to light in California. VINO
knows?
But at any rate, he hastens still
News and Observer.