Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-09

my friend MIR Fordham. Mr.. Ford
ham is a bang up good fellow, and l
wish you TO treat him well. he has
enough to pay for what he gets and
wants the best"
The landlord bowed. washing his
hands in imaginary water, and asked
the new guest if there was any especial
dish he would like for dinner. Ford
ham said he wished for plenty Of she'll
fish while he remained and would like
to be shown to his room at once.
When Fordham came down to dinner
he was surprised to see the landlord
sitting at the head of the table in even
ing dress. Being seated himself by
Rowland. he whispered:
II see you have the landlord with
you
That's the latest wrinkle in these
small swell hotels
You don't mean it. I've never seen
it before
There was plenty of chat among the
guests of the house. and Fordham was
introduced to them all. Every one
seemed TO be on as good terms with
the host as with the rest Of the party,
but he noticed that Eldrige. as the
guests called him. might have passed
anywhere for a gentleman. Fordham
called to the waitress who seemed to
have his wants In charge and. slip
ping a tip into her hand. asked her to
bring him wine card. The landlord,
hearing the order, remarked:
I'VE don't have wine cards at the
Eldrige House. Mr.. Fordham. We car
give you champagne. claret and sau
terne."
81 would like quart OF cham
payne" replied Fordham.
In a few minutes the waitress
brought the wine. and Mr.. Fordham,
being very much pleased with the com
pany, told her to fill the glass Of every
guest and that Of the landlord. When
all were primed Eldrige raised his
glass to his lips and. bowling to Ford
ham, said:
Welcome to Hotel Eldrige. May
you remain long. I'll see that you gel
the best of everything"
When the first bottle of wine hao
been emptied the maid brought an
other Fordham hadn't ordered it. and
when the landlord pledged him again.
saying that he thought he would like
it, Fordham fancied there had beer
some mistake. However, money being
no object TO him. he ordered still an
other bottle. What astonished him was
that none of the other guests followed
his example Finally the host ordered
a bottle. saying:
"Mr. Fordham, you're the only guest
I have who knows how to spend his
money like a gentleman. This is on
the house"
Fordham. who expected to hear the
thrust resented. was surprised at a
burst of laughter. Eldrige scowled,
and the others checked their mirth.
Fordham. thinking that there was
some joke of which he was ignorant
connected with the wine. asked what
it was He was told that the Hotel
Eldrige was a temperance house and
that he had broken the rule in order
ing the wine. This satisfied him.
After dinner a small motorboat was
brought up to a pier, and the guests Of
the hotel invited Fordham to have a
ride with them. The landlord came
aboard. but after his presence at the
dinner this did not surprise Fordham.
When the maid who had waited on
him got aboard he supposed she was
to go to serve refreshments. But the
landlord introduced him to her. say
ing. You are expected, Mr.. Fordham.
to devote yourself to Miss Vincent for
the evening"
The maid. unabashed, took a seat
beside Fordham. who looked at every
member OF the party successfully. es-
pecially the ladies. to know if there
would be Anything amiss in his enter
tanning a maid. But they were all chat
ting with Miss Vincent Familiarity,
some of them calling her Lou" and
since Fordham had had an eye on her
during the dinner he was not slow in
availing himself of the privilege that
had been extended TO him.
For heavens sake, Rowland" said
Fordham after the party had gone