Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-14
DAILY SHORT STORIES

hearing the order, remarked:
I'VE don't have wine cards at &c
Eldrige House. Mr.. Fordham. We cap
give you champagne. claret and sau.
terne"
II would like quart OF cham.
payne replied Fordham.
In few minutes the waitress
brought the wine, and Mr.. Fordbam.
being very much pleased with the COM
pany, told her to All the glass oiscvery
guest and that OF the landlord. aXShen
all were primed Eldrige raiSslT his
glass to, his lips and, bowling osdord-
ham, said: s
welcome to Hotel Eldrige. "a May
you remain long. I'll see that YOU get
the best OF everything"
When the first bottle OF wine had
been emptied the maid brought an.
other. Fordham hadn't ordered Il. and
when the landlord pledged him again.
saying that he thought he would like
Ii, Fordham fancied there had been
some mistake. However. money being
no object to him. he ordered stu an
othef bottle. What astonished him was
that none OF the other guests followed
his example. Finally the host ordered
bottle. saying:
MIR. 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 n
-
and the others checked their mirth.
Fordham, thinking that there was
some joke OF which he was ignorant
connected with the wine. asked what
II was. He was told that the Hotel
Eldrige was a temperance house and
that he had broken the rule I'm order
Ing the wine. This satisfied him.
After dinner small motorboat was
brought up TO pier and the guests of
the hotel invited Fordham TO have a
ride with them. The landlord came
aboard, but after his presence mt 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 10 Miss Vincent for
the evening"
The maid, unabashed, took seat
beside Fordham, who looked III every
member OF the party successfully, es-
pecinlly the ladies. TO know IL there
would be anything amiss In his enter
tnining maid. But they were alichat-
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 I'm
nvniling himself Of the privilege that
had been extended to him.
For heavens sake, Rowland" said
Fordham after the party had gone
ashore and were separating for the
| night, what sort OF hotel do YOU call
| this anyway? p"
III tell you. Eldrige tx u man with
n whim. He Is above the station OF a
landlord Indeed. he's very scholarly.
He has a theory TINT one person &, as
| good ms another, that he doesn't de-
| mean himself by keeping a hotel and
that. his servants are entitled to hob
| mob with his guests 30 long ms they
behave themselves. You being the last
| arrival, the maid was assigned TO you
| for the boat ride"
Fordham remained ut the Hotel
| Eldrige several days, during which the
| conspirators kept him In ignorance OF
the fact that he was In private house.
Miss Vincent, who thought nothing OF
during season, made II her special
| object TO snare him. The others were
watching the process OF his enthrnll-
ment, and one evening when the fruit
was ripe for plucking she wept that
| she was only poor servant girl while
he was fine gentleman. Fordham
| swore he would have her n she we're
| a sculliOn.
Now II happened the next morning
that Fordham was summoned home.
With regret no called for hla bill. at
the same time ordering his auto TO be
brought around to the front door. The
| landlord told him that ne woGld bring
his bill into the drawing room where
the other guests were waiting 90 bid
him ndieu. Fordham was snylng good.
bys when Eldrlge brought I'm the bill.
The former looked at the footing I'm
establishment. It was $4,000 Then
| no glnuced ~ the items:
TO three bottles OF champagne AZ
1900 each observation-disclosures. 5000
TO kissing maid four times ut 5000
each OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1000
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 10000
When the house party saw the ex-
preston Oh FordhNm's face their pcnt-
up mirth broke lts bounds. Fordham
| looked NJ them with such puzzled
wOcbcgOnc expression that Mr Fl
lrigc stepped forwnrd and explained
that, taking advantage Of his mistak