Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-09-08
The Prinna
Donna's Jewels


said Spike McGunn, of Detroit,
who used to be q swell hotel sneak,
"was a mug falls in on in a room in
the Palace hotel, San Francisco.
II studied the makeup of the hall
mems platoon in that house for week
or ten days, watching for off duty ones,
before | got a chance to do anything.
Then the third floor front hallman
turned up missing one afternoon.
6'pose he was sick or on drunk, or
something like that
81 figured that they couldn't get an
other hallman to take his place before
the next morning, and so decided to do
little business along the line of the
third floor front right quick. | hap
pened to know that there was some
good people located in that part of the
house, and took a rubber at the key
rack and found that lot of them were
o,lt, their keys being pigeonholed.
"All had to do was to take the front
elevator, ride up to the third floor, step
off, and the third front hall was mine
for operations. | went up, and there
was no third floor front hallman. 1t
looked too easy.
This is like cunning souse,'
thought, as | gumshoed down the hall
in the direction of a certain suite of
rooms that had in mind-a prima
donna's suite,
"The number of the entrance door TO
this suite was 6S. 1t was kind o.
shadowy down that way, and I'm a bit
nearsighted anyway, and so instead of
getting hold of the knob of No. GS
door-feeling of my bunch of skeletons
with the other hand-what do do but
give the quiet twist ON the handle of
No Sc.
THE door was not locked, and knew
right off that somebody was inside the
room. l was all ready with my Beg
pardon-made a mistake when l
heard Come in,' given out by some guy
with deep bass voice.
We'll, it was up to me. and in l
stepped. 1t was a handsome room, and
over by one of the windows big, good
looking duck was standing in his shirt
sleeves in front of small hand glass
shaving himself
HE didn't turn around at all as en-
tered, but felt that he was piping me
oft, all the same, in that little shaving
glass. He went right on scraping his
map, though.
III have to ask you to excuse me-
l began, standing up straight ana throw
ing out the Sandow chest for bluff.
The twists and turns in this
''The bloke lowers his razor and
wheels around and hands me the win
some smile
"'Cut that, PAL says he, wiselike.
Don't pass me that kind
What do you mean?' asked him.
1T looked from his style that he was
on the get, himself, but | didn't intend
to be baited into any trap with my
lamps open.
He stood grinning at me.
Guess you were after the singstress'
stuff hey, Bud?' says he to me, and in
the dark you got mixed on the rooms :?
Well, she's out, all right, and SOS her
maid. I'd ha' gone after her gear myself,
but that kind O. works bit out o. my
line, and I'm some clumsy at it. Sit
down. She's singing at matinee, and
you've got plenty O. time. Much doin'?'
well, this looked pretty much like
he was member of the craft in some
branch or other of it. He had the patter
down all straight enough.
Moreover, his grayish hair was
clipped right short, and it struck me that
he might be lag who'd just finished
stretch over the road, so that his hemp
hadn't had time to shoot out to the right
length for such a good locker. But
didn't propose to nibble until had his
game copped dead to the right.
LOOK here, my friend says /, do
ing heavy I'm-not-wise gag, what the
deuce are you talking about?
well, sir, he just threw his head back
and holIered.
You've got your business down AL
pat, PAL says he when he's able to talk
through his chuckling. But don't make
me giggle. I've got the earache. Just
flag that parson end of 1t and deal from
the middle or bottom. You're working
the halls. Well, that's not my lay, but
every man to hin own graft Have a
ball?'
He went over to the dresser, picked
up quart bottle of the correct goods
and couple o. glasses, handed me the
layout on tray with the water bottle
and stood chuckllng while poured out
a hooter and tossed 1t in. Then he
took small drink himself and went
on with his shaving
Il was keeping up heavy line o.
thinks. This duck might be slipping me
the bogus spiel. thought and wasn't
looking for any corral.
"Ho finished his shaving washed his