Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-09-26
His Self Invited Guests

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gone 10 N. TO Collect u long OulSCdnu-
ing account and having received a
check for $10,962.50, drew the money
from bank and went to his hotel with
it. Having other business at N. to
transact the next day, he vas obliged
to remain overnight. During the after
noon he took a walk to kill time and
met a man who as he passed sang out:
Hello. Gridley. What are you doing
hereT" Gridley stopped to look. at the
man, whom he did not recognize, but
he passed on, saying that he was In a
hurry.
That evening while Gridley was sit
ting in his room q card was brought up
to him bearing the name Joseph Con-
dom"
He was looking at the card, trying to
place the man whose name it bore,
when the door was pushed open, and
Mr.. Condor entered.
Don't know that you remember me,
Mr.. Gridley," he said. 1--WE seen you
at the store often and have bought a
lot of goods of your concern. The
truth is, I've come up here on a matter
of business and was hurrying to get
through when 1 met you IN the street.
Couldn't manage it and had to stay
over in this beastly town, where l
don't know a soul. l thought OF you
and hunted you up" ~
II can't exactly place you" sald
Gridley. ''There are so man, custom
ers coming and going that I ear re-
member them all. Besides, I have
charge of the accounts and don't do
much selling"
Mr.. Condor settled himself in a chair
and talked volubly on general subjects,
while Mr.. Gridley did most OF the lis
tening. Presently up came another
card with the name Robert G. Perry"
a name Gridiey did not recognize
any more than that of Mr.. Condor.
He, however, directed that the new
conner should be shown to his room.
Mr.. Condor, who seemed to have set
tied himself to a pleasant evening,
looked annoyed at being disturbed.
MIR. Perry was a f1orid man, with a
pleasant smile, and came in joyfully.
Gridley rose to receive him.
BEG pa'don for trespassing, MI.
Gridley," he said effusively; but, see
ing your name on the register from'my
native place, 1 ventured to send you
my care with a view to asking about
some of my old friends"
Il shall be very happyito serve you,
Mr.. Perry. This Is Mr.. Condor. Mi.
Condor, Mr.. Perry. l suppose we are
all bored at being in a strange town
and should help each other out"
The three sat down together AMIGA
bly,. Mr.. Perry asked about several OF
his old friends, but Mr.. Gridley didn't
happen to know any Of them. Mr.. Con
don produced cigarettes. Mr.. Perry
took one, but Mr.. Gridley said he
never smoked.
Mr.. Perry asked permission to order
up cocktails, which was granted,
though Mr.. Gridley said he never
drank. Mr.. Perry, however, told the
waiter to bring three cocktails. When
they came he took one of them to the
gas jet, saying that he thought there
was something In It," Finding some
thing, he took the other two glasses
there on the tray for inspection. FL
nally he was satisfied and set them on
the table. Mr.. Condor drank one, but
Mr.. Gridley steadily refused. This was
not remarkable, for he was superin-
tendent of O Sunday school and
drank a drop of any liquor. This left
the two strangers to accept each 9th
er's Inequalities. Both demonstrated
at the position they were placed in as
guests, using a hosts room to treat
themselves in, but Gridley was immov-
able. Mr.. Perry pulled away on Mr..
Condon's cigarette, and Mr.. Condor
drank Mr.. Perry's cocktail.
Presently Gridley noticed that the
conversation was growing a tride
heavy. He looked at his self invited
guests and saw that they were both
looking drowsy.
II fancy" he said, chat you gentle
men are no more used to liquor b L,
judging from the effects of one glass;"
Mr.. Condor tried to make a jovial
reply, but while doing so his head fell
upon the back Of his chair, and he
snored. Mr.. Perry attempted to go to
luC NllNlOW, OuI lCii ONSA
Gridley summoned an attendant, the
clerk was called, and, Gridley having
explained the circumstances, the two
men we're taken to another room. How
they could have got drunk on one cock
tail no one could explain. 1t was sur
missed that they had been drinking be-
fore the call.
The next morning Mr. Gridley left
the hotel early and did not return to it
before taking the train for home. On
the mex Sunday morning before going
to his Sunday school, taking up a pa
per, he was surprised to read:
"Our esteemed fellow citizen, MI.
Paul G. Gridley, while recently visit
ing N. received two callers who it is
supposed Intended to drug and rob
him. Drinks were ordered and ciga-
rettes were smoked. The police were
looking for both guests and arrested
them at the hotel the next morning.
They are two notorious crooks who,
unknown IN each othar ottou,n+ad tho