Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-09-29


other. Fordham hadn't ordered it. and
when the landlord pledged him again.
saying that he thought he would like
1t, Fordham fancied there had been
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
bottle. saying:
Mr.. Fordham. you're the only guest
1 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 wines asked what
1t was. He was told that the Hotel
Eldrige was a temperance house and
that he had broken the rule in oAler-
ing the wine. This satisfied him.
After dinner a small motorboat was
brought up to pier, and the guests of
the hotel invited Fordham to have
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 20 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 Il seat
beside Fordham, who looked at every
member of the party successively, 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 familiarly,
some Of them calling her Lou" and
since Fordham had had an eye on her
during the dinner be was not slow in
availing himself of the privilege that
had been extended to him.
For heavens sake, uowland." said
Fordham after the party had gone
ashore and were separating for the
night. what sort of hotel do you call
this anyway
IN tell You. E,dri"e is Il man with
n whim He is above the station of a
landlord. Indeed. he's very scholarly.
He has theory that one person is as
good as another, that he doesn't de-
mean himself by Keeping a hotel and
that his servants are entitled to hob
mob with his guests so long as they
behave themselves. You being the last
arrival, the maid was assigned to you
for the boat ride
Fordham remained at the Hotel
Eldrigc several days, during which the
conspirators kept him in ignorance OF
the fact that he was in a private house.
Miss Vincent who thought nothing of
bringing two or three men to her feet
during a season, made it her special
object to snare him. The others were
watching the process of his enthrall-
ment. and one evening when the fruit
was ripe for plucking she wept that
she was only poor servant girl while
he was a fine gentleman. Fordham
swore he would have her if she were
scullion.
Now. it happened the next morning
that Fordham was summoned home.
With regret he called for his bill, at
the same time ordering his auto to be
brought around to the front door. The
landlord told him that he would bring
his bill into the drawing room, where
the other guests were waiting to bid
him adieu. Fordham was saying good
bys when Eldrige brought in the bill
The former looked at the footing in
astonishment. 1t was $4,000. Then
he glanced ut the items:
To three bottles of champagne at
5000 each OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $1,000
To kissing maid four times at $1,000
each ............................. 4Ooo
Total .......................... $4,000
When the house party saw the ex-
preston on Fordham's face their pent-
up mirth broke its bounds. Fordham
looked at them with such Il puzzled.
woebegone expression that Mr.. Ell
drige stepped forward and explained
that, taking advantage OF his mistak-
ing n private summer cottage for
hotel they had perpetrated joke
upon him.
Fordham took out a pocket check
book and wrote a check for the amount
of the bill. saying mt the same time
that the landlord might apply it TO
charity If he did not wish to accept it.
But Eldrige tore it up. Then ForG-
ham declared that he would forgive
them on one .condition-that the entire
party agree to visit him in his own
cottage
There was no want of alacrity in ac-
cepting the invitation. Fordham had
fulfilled Howland's promise that he
was bang up good fellow and had
stood the joke that had been perpe-
trated upon him good naturedly. So
the next week the guests of Hotel Ell
drige reassembled at Hotel Fordham.
Fordham says that the joke, after
all, was on Eldrige. who wanted Miss
Vincent. At the close of the second
house party Fordham carried her of
himself
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