The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-12
Chance Puts Him at Ho-
tel of Rogers Relative.
LAWYER HIS SAFETY
Proprietor and a Dozen Friends were
on the Point of Giving Their
Transient Guest a warm Greet
ing---Story of Stay at
BennetSvi!e.

Claude Bernard, not so young,
somewhat fatter, not nearly SO Jovial,
has at least this in common with Puck
beside his size, that he is apt to put
a girdIe round the world before he
stops again at Raleigh-if he con-
tinues his. appearances and disappear
ances at the rate at which he has been
located for the past two weeks and
more.
Bernard has been heard from since
he left Wilmington, one day in Japan.
another in darkest Africa. He has
been seen scaling the Alps. sporting
on the beach at Long Branch, slipping
cooling drafts on hotel verandas at Old
Point Comfort, taking a shot at the
races at Morris Park. talking to news
paper men at Norfolk and going 10
Eastern North Carolina.
The Hon" Claude is Il sprinter. He
is like the pea under the shells: Nov
you see him-now you DON'T One
thing is certain; he is having adven-
lures.
The other. day the Hon. Claude was
i'm Bennettsville, S. c. lie had just ar
rived. presumably, from the North
Pole. whittier he had gone to cool off
and was seeking, also, presumably,
change of climate. Fatigued from his
travels he betook himself to a hotel
to rest, ordered a room and retired to
q quiet couch.
Later the proprietor happened to
look over his register. When he came
across the signature Of the Hon.
Claude, his eyes protruded. his breath
came In gasps. he hunted silently for
n sufficiently impressive cuss word.
The proprietor'S name was Rogers,
and he was 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 other words, the pro-
prietor was related to the psychology
of the Bernard haste. He felt that he
had a personal interest III the travels
of the guest who was then Slumbering
upon his linen. 1t was problem for
the proprietor of the hotel. This man
was eating his salt, at SO much per
diem. He was n his room. He had
chartered it. 1t was his castle. The
proprietor was torn with emotions
that went round in his head like the
colors of a prism or the flicker of an
electric fan. Between turning out n
guest and accelerating the speed of
Bernard, was a problem indeed Be-
tween letting him lie and laying him
low was even a greater gulf of un-
certainty. The proprietor famed
himself and called in his friends.
The friends were enthusiastic. There
were about a dozen Of them. They
voted for the Bernard room by ma
iority of twelve to nothing. They had
heard of Bernard and they lusted for
his acquaintance. The game seemed
TO them q merry one. They started
with the enthusiasm of youth, and the
joyful habit of their State. Their ac-
indecision of their host.
Rumor has il that the twelve went
down the hall. even to the Bernard
door. when the hotel man came to
them for further pariey. Within they
heard the Bernard snore. 1t was as
music to their ears. They were eager
as children after rat But the
hoteIlist was still torn with the con-
flict of his doubts. He desired to con-
suit lawyer. The twelve reluctantly
agreed. The lawyer was obtained.
The fourteen held pow-wow. The law
yer laid down the law. He was an in
eXorable Spoil-sport He pointed out
the penalties of fun. He referred
even, To the Inconvenience of travel
rs illustrated by their friend above
The crowd withdrew. murmurng the
proprietor went to bed, and Claude
sleDt on.
'"l lh' 'itAl iH'til illuS tlftIe CAME "
whisper TO his ears. Whether it was
Rogers or something worse is not
vet known. 1t IS not even known how
the whisper came whether by note Of
hand or word of mouth. The cham
pion sprinter waited not, however 1t
may have come. Into his eager ear
that had SO often heard the word
there came again the whisper,
Haste" He hasted. The wheels
went round. With them went Ber-
nard. He may be now at the South
Pole. Perhaps he will come to light
i'm California Who knows?
But at any rate he hastens still.