The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28
SwINDLINC MANAGER GOT MS.
Quick R~etributlon Dealt Out by Cardinal"
Bemls. the Chicago Hotel Man..

ana Europe Will we'll remember henry v.
Bemis, the famous Chicago hotel man who
killed himself not long ago. presumably
on account cf business reverses." said a
Chicagoan. For many years he was
NOW as Cardinal Bemis. He was called
Cardinal because for a couple OF decades
he was the proprietor of that celebrated
lake front hotel. theR ichelieu. o extinct.
and because. barring the goatee. he really
bore a>striking resemblance TO the por-
traits OF Cardinal Riohelieu. His hosiery
was, In its day and for it's size. one Of the
most luxurious in the world.
Cardinal Bemis was noted for his anna
bility. but there were times when he could
be as hard as nails. The finty manner
in which he handled one OF his employees.
on a certain occasion in 1893. while the
Chicago fair was in progress. is still harked
back to by Chicago hotel men who recall
the incident.
The employee was the manager of the
Richelieu. an extremely fine looking. smooth
and oily young chap Of 30 or SO. This man
had been attached in some capacity or
other to the Richelieu since his boyhood.
and Bemis had made him a sort Of protege.
showing him along from position to position
until he finally settled him in h managers
billet. a fine and profitable job.
The manager. however. was a natural
born gambler. This wouldn't have been
81 a II he had been an IN the level gambler.
but he fell into the habit of teaching rich
foreigners stopping at the Richelieu the
noble game Of draw poker. and Of thor
oughly plucking them.
This thing went on for a long while before
Cardinal Bemis learned anything about it.
IL the manager hadn't been a rrofigate
he'd have been able 10 tuck away in the
bank many Thousands. not to say tens Of
thousands of dollars. but the horse lug
had him too, and he was a spendthrift gen
orally.
Cardinal Bemis learned of the swindling
Of his manager through a chance remark
let fall by a amous English capitalist and
writer on financial subjects W no registered
at the Richelieu during the worlds fair.
The manage ~graciously offered to teach
the Englishman how 20 play poker one
night. The manager had a couple Of swell
looking dummies in the game. and at the
finish Of the game the rich Englishman
was TO the bad the astounding sum OF So
900. The Britisher wasn't a squealer, but
in the course of a casual conversation with
Cardinal Bemis on the following day he
happened to mention that the American
game Of draw was a mighty expensive game
to master.
~'How's thatT' inquired the Cardinal.
-'Well, last night it cost me nearly 1000
pounds to learn the difference between
a king high and an ace high flush replied
the Englishman.
~'Whewr exclaimed Bemis. Who was
the thar who had the ace atop Of your
Why. your young man-that clever
young manager OF yours said the Eng
lishman. 'Uncommoniy lucky young chap
that-he beat me every time at drawing
cards
" you mean to tell me that he won
10000 OF your money last night? asked the
Cardinal.
why, certainly he did replied the
Englishman. No end Of a stiff drop that.
.'where was the game played'' asked
why, in my rooms, said the English
man. 'Oh, I say, l didn't mention this TO
you to have you make a row about 1t, you
now l don't want you to do that. I'm
not complaining. you are TO understand
losses?' asked Bemis.
why, in checks upon my New York
bank replied the Englishman. Now,
see here. old chap, | don't want any talk
/ VI IOW oNtI lIlb Nhllkt dhd II 4 nav hlioNh
you were going to become beastly over it,
you know. I'd never have
But Cardinal Bemis was already out OF
earshot. First he went behind the hotel
desk and took a pistol out OF the hotel safe.
Then he went up in the elevator to his
managers suite OF rooms. The manager
was still in bed. His employer raped
on the door. and the manager got up in his
pa jamas and let the Cardinal in.
Hello. governor. said the manager.
ah6raaaipu his ampIpvpr in his uSlIal Wny.
What's up?'
well. you're not. for one thing. ! OBJ
serve said Bemis, although it's close TO
noon. Look here. son. when did you first
game of pokerT
The suddenness OF the question knocked
the smooth young manager all oil n heap.
but he put up a fine imitation OF a man
flaming under unjust accusation. Bemis
had correctly figured on the young mans
probable conduct under fire when he stuffed
the gun in his pocket.
II never skinned anybody as you call
it, replied the young manager. I got the
money on the square
mo. you didn't quietly replied Bemis.
No man on the level would take that amount
Of money away from a guest Of the hotel
to which he was attached in the capacity
Of manager. You have been playing the
horses for some time. as l happen to know,
and the horse game has in all likelihood
made a crook of you. Now, l want you to
hand me those checks given to you by MIR.
Blank naming the Englishman.
I'm not going to do anything of the
sort, governor.' promptly. replied the
manager, I'll resign first
you're going TO hand over those checks
said the Cardinal, just as promptly. and
you're going to gesign your position, too
Of this place bodily. and | am going to do
the firing. Busy for you. now-those
checks. first. and then get your clothes on
and Bemis calmly yanked the big gun from
his rear pocket.
THE manager caved and began TO
whimper over the situation, hut Quick,
now. with those chectsl' snapped his boss
and the manage produced the checks and
handed them to the Cardinal.
You've got five minutes now TO get your
duds on. said Bemfs. and he went into the
adjoining room Of the suite. When the
young manager had dressed, Bemis--a little
man with iron muscles-took him by the
two shoulders from behind and literally
kicked him and hurled him all the way
down the stairs, through the ground floor
corridor, snd out onto Michigan avenue.
The Cardinal handed the checks to the