The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-12-01
His Self Invited Guests
IOriginal.l


Paul Gridley, junior partner In the
firm of johnson, Stokes & Co.. having
gone to N. to collect long outstand-
ing account and having received
check for $1O.962.5 so, drew the money
from bank and went to his hotel with
It. Having other business at N to
transact the next day, he was Obliged
to remain overnight. During the after
noon he took a walk to kill time and
met man who as he passed sang out:
Hello. Gridley. What are you doing
hereY' Gridlsy stopped to look at the
man, whom he did not recognize. but
he passed on. saying that he was In q
hurry.
That evening while Gridley was sit
ting In his room card was brought up
to him bearing the name Joseph Com
DON"
He was looking at the card. trying to
place the man whose name 1t bore.
when the door was pushed open. and
Mr.. Condor entered.
s'Don't know that you remember me.
Mr.. Gridley." he said. I've seen you
at the store often and have bought
lot of goods of your concern. The
truth is, I've come up here on a matter
of business and was hurrylng to get
through when | met you on the street.
Couldn't manage 1t and had to stay
over in this beastly town, where ]
don't know a. soul / thought OF You
and hunted you up"
II can't exactly place YOU" said
Gridley. There are so many custom
ers coming and going that can't re-
member them all. Besides. L have
charge of the accounts and don't do
much selling"
Mr.. Condor settled himself In 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 c. Perry"
a name Gridley 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
Mr.. Perry was florid man, with =
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, I ventured to send you
my card with view to asking about
some Of my old friends"
Il shall be very happy to serve you.
Mr.. Perry. This Is Mr.. Condor. Mr..
Condor. Mr.. Perry. l suppose we are
all bored at being In 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
I'D 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 wal
not remarkable, for he was superin
tendent of Sunday school and never
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 al
guests, using a hosts room to treat
themselves in. but Gridley was immov
( able. Mr.. Perry puffed away on Mr.
Condon's cigarette. and Mr.. Condor
drank Mr.. Perry's cocktail.
Presently Gridley noticed that thu
conversation was growing a trift
heavy. He looked at his self invited
guests and saw that they were boti
looking drowsy.
Il fancy" he said. that you gentle
men are no more used to liquor than
Judging from the effects Of one glass;
Mr.. Condor tried to make jovia
reply, but while doing so his head fel
upon the back of his chair, and b
snored. Mr.. Perry attempted to go t
the window. but fell over on the bed
Gridley summoned an attendant, tn
clerk was called. and. Gridley having
explained the circumstances. the tw'
men were taken to another room. How
they could hay got drunk on one cock
tail no one could explain. 1t was sun
missed that they had been drinking be
fore the call.
The next morning Mr.. Gridley LET
the hotel early and did not return to
before taking the train for home. o.
the next Sunday morning before goin
to his Sunday school, taking up pa
per, he was surprised to read:
"Our esteemed fellow citizen, MI
Paul C. Gridley. while recently visit
Ing N. received two callers who It
u,,ur,oood In<oudod IN drug md ro