Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-02-24
WAS HE A
F1ERO?

Had any of his chums been there to
see they would have jeered at the
idea.
Floyd Grant, Is years old, and Of the
city. and one Of the latest guests at
the Mountain Top house, has raised
his hat to the chambermaid on his
floor as he encountered her at the door
of his room.
It came about through sort Of in.
stinct or intuition. He somehow felt
that he was in the presence Of lady,
and UP went his hat. Tive minutes
later the elevator had landed him on
the office floor and he was puxaling
over it bit. The mystery was solved
an hour later when he overheard one
lady telling another that ten young
women who were working their way
through college had taken places In
the hotel as chambermaids for the sea-
son.
Ethel Davis. daughter of widow
who was none too well off, was one of
the ten. When taking the situation
the clerk of the hotel had said to
her:
mo airs, now. You are coming as
a servant, and you will be expected to
dress and do the work of one. You
can't be a college girl here"
At nine o'clock the next morning the
same young man came up from break
fast just as she was finishing his room,
and looked in and saw her and raised
his hat and backed out.
Next day, in front Of the elevator,
the hat was lifted for the third time,
and two 5oung lady guests giggled and
the elevator boy dared to wink at Miss
Ethel. Her cheeks burned and her
eyes flashed, and she almost decided
to go to the management and enter.
complaint. If there was fourth time
she would do SO.
There was fourth time, but she
didn't do what she thought she would.
The manager and hotel detective were
In company with Mr.. Grant when he
entered his room where she was still
busting, and although he, alone. of the
trio lifted his hat, she was too con-
fused to more than notice it.
miss Davis" began the manager,
with the voice and attitude of mag.
istrate, "a sum of money has mysteri,
ous1y disappeared from this room this
morning. Mr.. Grant rose earlier than
usual to take a walk before breakfast,
and left purse with 5000 in it under
his pillow. When he returned it was
missing. You were on this floor and
must have seen him go. You also have
duplicate keys to the rooms
"And wish to say, Miss Davis, sats
ar. Grant, that not the slightest sus-
picion attaches to you. merely re-
ported the loss at the Office"
"But-but what is it?" asked the
surprised girl. II didn't see the gen
tleman go out. I was not in the room
until a quarter of an hour ago. Sure
ly-"
Miss Davis, you have duplicate
keys" insisted the manager.
The girl grew SO weak that she sat
down. She was looking first at one
and then at the other; and her trem-
bling lips were trying to frame ques-
ton or protest when Mr.. Grant sud
denly started and said:
What an absent-minded idiot am!
Why. tossed that purse into my
trunk before leaving the room, and
there it is, fast locked, as we all can
see! Miss Davis, we came simply to
question you as regards others. The
house is full of guests, and there are
two or three on this very floor that we
might be suspicious Of. l am sure l
beg your pardon for the trouloe we
have given YOU"
But was 1t thought I took the
purse?" demanded the girl as her
voice came to her all at once.
Surely not
Miss Davis gave notice and the
next day she left the hotel. She felt
that she had been suspected, and she
could not stay. Mr.. Grant touched his
hat to the new chambermaid who was
also a college student, but thought Of
the other. Some one had got his
money. He had deliberately lied to
shield Miss Davis. The purse could
not have been produced had the man
ager asked that the trunk be unlocked.
The question was not as to the girls
honor, but whether she believed he
lied for her sake.
One morning. week later, Mr..
Grant arose at an early hour for an
other stroll. From his position be-
hind q bowlder on the mountain he
saw a man leave his room and walk
along the balcony Of the fire escape
and enter another. The second room
belonged to the young man.
Half an hour later the. robber-guest
was under arrest and had made q
written confession. That same day.
with q copy of the confession in his
pocket, the victim started for the home
Of Mrs. Davis. a hundred miles away.
The "chambermaid" opened the door
to his ring, and as she looked
into his eyes she asked with a weary
smile:
Have you come to arrest me?"
mo, but to talk with you end your
mother. The real thief has been found.
and have his confession here with
me-"
Then you lied when you said the
purse was in the trunk. Believing me
guilty, you lied!"
Believing you innocent. I lied!"
I'll don't know-it's all so queer"
sobbed the girl. with her face to the
wall.
( mot bit queer. All plain as day
I'm going to ask your mother II may
pay my addresses to you. and some.
time, when know you love me. shall
ask you to be my wife. Wouldn't be at
all queer II we should be at the
Mountain Top next year as man and