Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-09-20
SCHEME THAT FAILED
A LITTLE ADVENTURE IN A
HOTEL.

CAS- prosperous as you see me now, two |
weeks ago | was on the hog" remarked
Ferguson, as he paid the man in the
white duck jacket and settled his scin-
tillating scrafpin more securely in his
grass green necktie. Il had drifted into
Sioux City with $2.63 cents in loose
change in my pocket and blameless
reputation. as far as Sioux City was con-
cerned. | calculated that before | got
out OF there the reputation would get
spotted up some, because l was hunting
Cuff Nilsson. who had agreed to meet me
at the Booge.
Il made a few cautious inquiries in
a roundabout way concerning friend
Cuff and l was finally directed to fire
sandstone building, where l was in
formed he was staying. I didn't call
on him. What was the use? | knew
he wouldn't be at liberty to do me any
good-not for 50 days. anyway.
81 had a good-looking valise with
me that found at Missouri Valley, when
we changed cars. 1t was a dlsappolnt-
ment inside, as it contained nothing hut
eour soiled collars, briar pipe, two ham
sandwiches. a razor and hairbrush. but
it was dandy externally, and thumped
if down on the marble in front of the
hotel clerk with all the confidence in the
world.
III be here for few days. l said,
and | want a good, light room with
BATH.
eft went. He did ask me if had any
baggage checks, but took no notice OF
him. AS soon as l got to the room
threw the boy half dollar and then
went down and bought 25-cent cigar
| at the cigar stand SO that the clerk could
see me.
81 went to bed at tolerably early
| hour that night. l 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
I could with the hotel and hike right
| out on the early morning train. So about
| two O'Clock l went softly out In my
stocking feet with my handy little
1 SOO~S
| into the room next to mine.
'That was all stole There came hair
raising yelps from the bed by the time
had got to the bureau. If you ever saw
swift and smooth getaway in your
life It was the one made. went Ike
tom-cat out of the pantry window, anc
was in my own room safe and sount
before the echo of that cry died ava!
on the startled air and got into bed il
a hurry.
Just at that instant as I heard tn
sound of hurrying feet bright 1dei
came to me. 1 grabbed my trousers
took out the $1,SS had left and slun'
'em out of the open window. Then
noked nv head out of the door an
Joined the chorus of alarm UP and dow
the corridor.
what was it?' l asked the CLERK
whom l recognized in his disguise Q
pyiamas and bathrobe. is it burglars
/ I'll bet it is, because if there wasn't on
in nv room ten minutes ago I'm badi
fooled. was three parts asleep when
woke up and thought I might be mis-
taken. and dozed off again, but l can
find my trousers
Somebody else called him then an
he excused himself and hurried off.
went back and turned on the electr
light and got into bed. In about tie
minutes there was a knock at the dot
and the clerk came in with stout il
dividual he introduced as the proprleto
They asked me to tell them what kne
about the recent disturbance, and ma
rated how, hearing slight noise, VOL
up and thought saw dark figure Il
across the room and out of the door, b
hearing nothing more imagined hs
the nightmare and snoozed OF aga
till the wells in the next room lifted
out of bed in quest of my basement clot
ing, now missing.
Mr.. Proprietor was very sorry. I
doubt there had been robbery, but t
robber had escaped. The lady in
next room had given the alarm just
time to save herself from the loss
Jewels valued at $4,000. Think of thu
But he would see me in the morning
81 expect you to- said, significal
w. 4 value those trousers of mine
$500. There was that much currency
them. | think it's up to you to ma
good
''He went sadly away and l turn
= over on my pillow with mind at ca
OF course, l knew he'd never dig
any three centuries on my say-so,
f., was cinch in my mind that L "
cd uxeu for ticket to Chicago. reasona
ed expenses and new trousers. Under
circumstances that was good enough
me.
lie did l get 'em? Nit, not. He ca
s.p according to agreement, but
nd brought something with him. 1t
m nv trousers. They'd caught on the
of the fire escape on the floor below
IL, instead of being grabbed by some pass
nv or falling into an alley ash can. Il
nd had been waving there gracefully
s e4 the morning breeze, attracting the
jOn divided attention OF close on a tnOuSt
'hu people in bunch.
RK sStrange!' l said. He must h
md taken the money and thrown the tro
ar
ers away
nd Very strange!' says he. "
lrse strange, indeed!' He looked at me
his. a cold gray eye, coughed behind
ice hand and went out.
ain There was something forebodins
md his manner. l got instantly into tn
ne ne trousers and guess hit the office f
by way of the staircase and was
ng- on the street before he could drop d.
n.y. NY on the elevator. l left the val1se
for didn't have any use for it in the
IN car that managed to sneak away i
anyway.
tat 81 got to Omaha, all right, tho
Ai' somewhat the worse for wear, and Il
r. I found kind friends. But somehow
-. got a bunch that only missed visi
Cuff Nilsson by half hairs brea
after oil n-ChicaoO Daily News,