The daily Alaskan., 1913-12-12
His Blunder
 By GREGORY GIBSON

lll8, NlIQ tue uSudl result hO"GNClt the affair was not brought to a finish, and Woolcott was obliged to take thousand mile trip for the purpose of making a proposition. He was pre- pairing to do so when the lady wrote him that she would be at NJ. short Iy and would be happy to receive him there. Since M was some 300 miles nearer than her residence. Woolcott concluded to see her there instead.
 Miss Martindale wrote that she would be at the Cliffs meaning that she would visit family of that name. Woolcott took this to mean that she would stop at a hotel. On alighting at the station he asked a man who was in a hurry where he could find the Cliffs. The man pointed to a hand some house on a hill near by. He found the baggage agent and, pointing to the house. told him to send his trunk there; then he set of to walk the dismnce. On arriving he opened the front door, entered a spacious hallway and saw a gentleman reading a news paper before an open fireplace.
 "The Cliffs. believe" said Woolcott
 The gentleman looked up at him over a pair of glasses. somewhat sur. prised. and replied in the affirmative.
 Are you the landlord?" asked Wool cott
 4 twinkle came into the gentleman's eye. and he replied that he was the proprietor
 "I would like Il room in your house for few days" continued the travel CT Have you d young lady staying with you of the name of MartindaleY A fight seemed 10 break In upon the gentemun's brain. Miss Florence MurJiudale: Certainly. She arrived few days ago But she's out in an auto just now. She will not return till late tonight. Be seated and I'll call a servant to show you to a room"
 Howard Cliff, banker. entertaining a few friends at his country residence, had sent them off in his car, remaining at home himself. He went himself for the butler. instead of ringing for him, to tell him to show a gentleman to his room who supposed he was in ho- tel and who was not to be told he was in a private house. Then Mir. Cliff re- turned to the guest, followed by the butler who took him upstairs. While Woolcott was making a toilet his bag gage arrived and was sent up to him. When he came downstairs he found Mr. Cliff in the library.
 We have very few guests at pres ent," said the supposed landlord. You see. ours is e summer house, and we shall close up for the winter within few days or a week. It depends upon how long I can keep those who are now with me. You will have to dine alone, for all have gone on the auto party"
 "I don't like that" said Woolcott If you are alone may we not dine tOgether?"
 Certainly"
 What wine have youT
 Mir. Cliff mentioned several kinds of wine, and his guest selected cham pagne. He asked for wine card, but the host told him 1t was unnecessary. Woolcott regaled his host with one bot tie and called for another. The dinner was delightfully."- served, and altogether Woolcott found the landlord a very agreeable companion. Judging by the number of foreign places he was fa- miliar with. Woolcott thought that he must have kept hotels all over the world. Mir Cliff suggested that, since the auto party would not return till late. perhaps WOolcott would not sit up for them. Since the latter did not relish a meeting with the lady to whom be had come to propose before others he said he thought he would go to bed.
 When he went down to breakfast in the morning he met a genial party, every one of whom had been coached with regard to his reception. Miss Martindale had been mortified at the blunder he had made. She had ex- pected him to stop at hotel and call upon her at her friends. But MT. Cliff pleaded with her to permit her friend to remain in ignorance of the situation temporarily and continue to be enter tained by the Cliff family.
 Miss Martindale advanced with a smile. not unmiugled with embarrass- ment. but refrained from mentioning the mistake All sat down together to breakfast, and Woolcott thought what a charming place it would be for him to make his proposal
 He had ample opportunity, for the members of the family kept out of the couples way, having some suspicion of the young mans errand During the afternoon the two took a long walk, and when they came back Woolcott looked very proud of himself. At din ner he remarked to Mrs. Cliff that he had never before stopped at so charm ing hotel.
 "Hotelr' exclaimed the lady, feign- ing surprise.
 ''AIr. WOOIcott," said the host, "l have to thank you for making a mistake in totyino my hOuse for q hotel Had you