Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-08-17
His Self Invited Guests
tOriginal ]

.
[Originall
Paul Gridley, junior partner In the
firm of Johnson, Stokes & Co., having
gone to n. to collect a long outstand-
ing account and having received n
check for $10,962 80, 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 Il walk to kill time and
met man who as he passed sang out:
Hello, Grdley. What are you doing
here| Gridley stopped to look at tho
man, whom he did not recognize, but
he passed on, saying that he was in
hurry.
That evening while Grdley was sit
ting In his room Il card was brought up
to him bearing the name Joseph Con.
1 don"
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. I've seen you
at the store often and have bought q
lot of goods of your concern. The
truth is. I've come up here on matter
of business and was hurrying to get
through when | met you on the street
Couldn't manage it and had to stay
over in this beastly town, where |
don't know a soul. | thought of you
and hunted you up"
Il can't exactly place you" said
Gridley. There are so many custom
ers coming and going that | can't re.
member them all. Besides, have
charge Of the accounts and don't do
much selling"
Mr.. Condor settled himself in u chair
and talked yoluby 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 Glidley 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.
! Nj Perry was a florid man, with
pleasant smile, and came in joyfully
! Gridley rose to receive him.
Beg pa'don for trespassing, Mr.
! Gridley," he said effusiyely; but see
Ing your name on the register from my
native place, ] ventured to send you
my card with a 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 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,
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 Il Sunday school and never
drank a drop of any liquor. This left
the two strangers to accept each 9th.
ers 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 buffed away on Mr.
Condon's cigarette, and Mr.. Condor
drank Mr.. Perry's cocktail.
Presently Gridley noticed that the
conversation was growing a trifie
heavy. He looked at his self invited
guests and saw that they were both
looking drowsy.
II fancy" he said that you gentle
men are no more used to liquor than l.
Judging from the effects of one glass"
Mr.. Condor tried to make a jovial
reply, out "HIle uolHS 50 his uedu leA
upon the back of his chair, and he
snored. Mr.. Perry attempted to go tc
the window, but fell over on the bed
Gridley summoned an attendant, the
clerk was called, and, Gridley having
explained the circumstances, the two
men were taken to another room. How
they could have got drunk on one cock.
tan 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 il
before taking the train for home. On
the next Sunday morning before going