Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-02-02
SCHEME THAT FAILEI
A LITTLE ADVENTURE IN A
HOTEL.

tillating Scrafplp more securely in his
grass-green necktie. Il had drifted into
Sioux City with $3.50 cents in loose
change in my pocket and blameless
reputation as far as Sioux City was con-
cerned. l calculated that before got
out of there the reputation would get
spotted up some, because was hunting
Cuff Nilsson, who had agreed to meet me
at the Booge.
II made a few cautious inquiries in
a roundabout way concerning friend
Cuff and | was finally directed to fine
sandstone building, where l was in
formed he was staying. l didn't call
on him. What was the use? l knew
he wouldn't be at liberty to do me any
good-not for 81 days. anyway
Il had a good-looking yalise with
me that found at Missouri Valley, when
we changed cars. 1t was disappoint-
ment inside, as it contained nothing but
sour soiled collars, briar pipe, two ham
sandwiches. razor and hairbrush, but
it was dandy externally, and l thumped
it down on the marble in front Of the
hotel clerk with all the confidence in the
world
III be here for a few days. l said,
and 1 want a good, light room with a
bath
TT went He did ask me if I had any
baggage checks, but took no notice Of
him. AS soon as l got to the room
threw the boy half a dollar and then
went down and bought a 25-cent cigar
at the cigar stand SO that the clerk could
see me.
II went to bed at tolerably early
hour that night didn't want to do any
cheap grating If could nelp it and had
to study up some plan OF campaign.
finally concluded that would do what
l could with the hotel and hike right
out on the early morning train. So about
two o'clock / went softly out In my
stocking feet with my handy little
pocket assortment of tools and stole
into the room next to mine.
THAT was all stole. There came hair
raising yelps from the bed by the time
l had got to the bureau If you ever saw
swift and smooth getaway In your
life it was the one l made. went like
tom cat out Of the pantry window, and
/ was in my own room safe and sound
before the echo of that cry died away
on the startled air and got into bed in
a hurry.
Just at that instant as / heard the
sound of hurrying feet bright idea
came to me. I grabbed my trousers,
took out the $1,S8 had left and slung
'em out of the open window. Then I
poked my head out Of the door and
Joined the chorus of alarm up and down
the corridor.
What was it?' 1 asked the clerk,
whom I recognized in his disguise of
pyjamas and bathrobe Is it burglars?
I'll bet it is, because If there wasn't one
in my room ten minutes ago I'm badly
fooled. was three parts asleep when
woke up and thought might be mis-
taken, and dozed off again, but I can't
find my trousers
Somebody else called him then and
he excused himself and hurried off.
went back and turned on the electric
light and got into bed. In about ten
minutes there was a knock at the door
and the clerk came in with stout in
dividual he introduced as the proprietor.
They asked me to tell them what knew
about the recent disturbance, and mar
rated how, hearing slight noise, woke
up and thought 1 saw dark figure fit
across the room and out of the door, but
hearing nothing more imagined l had
the nightmare and snoozed off again
till the yells in the next room lifted me
out of bed in quest Of my basement cloth
ing, now missing.
"Mr. Proprietor was very sorry. No
doubt there had been robbery, but the
robber had escaped. The lady in the
next room had given the alarm just in
time to save herself from the loss of
jewels valued at $4,000. Think of that!
But he would see me in the morning.
L expect you to- I said, significant
ly. I value those trousers Of mine at
$500. There was that much currency in
them. 1 think it's up to you to make
good
HE went sadly away and l turned
over on my pillow with mind at ease.
Of course, I knew he'd never dig up
any three centuries on my say-so, but
it was a cinch in my mind that was
fixed for ticket to Chicago, reasonable
expenses and new trousers. Under the
circumstances that was good enough for
me.
Did l get 'em? Nit, not. He came
up according to agreement, but he
brought something with him. 1t was
my trousers. They'd caught on the rail
of the fire escape on the floor below and
instead of being grabbed by some passer-
by or falling into an alley ash can, they
had been waving there gracefully in
the morning breeze, attracting the un-
divided attention Of close on a thousand
people in bunch.
'Strange!' / said. He must have
taken the money and thrown the trous-
ers away
Very strange!' says he. Very
strange, indeed!' He looked atme with
cold gray eye, coughed behind his
hand and went out.
There was something foreboding in
his manner. l got instantly into those
trousers and I guess hit the office floor
by way Of the staircase and was out
on the street before he could drop down
on the elevator. I left the valise. |
didn't have any use for it in the box
car that l managed to sneak away into,
anyway.
II got to Omaha, all right, though
somewhat the worse for wear, and there
l found kind friends. But somehow I've
got bunch that I only missed visiting
Cuff Nilsson by a half a hairs breadth,
after all."-Chicago Daily News
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