Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-04-19
CHAPTER n.
The First Wayfarer Lays His Pack
Aside and Falls In With Friends

Aside and Falls In With Friends
The little hall in which ne found
himself was the "OfIlce" through which
all men must pass who eOme as guests
to Harris Tavern. A steep, angular
staircase took up M end Of the room.
Set in beneath its upper turl was the
counter over which the business of the
house was transacted, and behind this
a man was engaged in the peaceful
occupation of smoking a corneob pipe.
An open door to the right Of the
stairway gave entrance to a room from
which came the sound Of a deep, s0no-
rOus voice mployed in what turned
out to be a conversational solo. To-
the left another door led to what was
evidently the dining room. The glance
that the stranger sent in that direction
revealed two or three tables covered
with white cloths.
"Can you put me up for the nightT'
he inquired, advancing to the counter.
"You look like a Teller who'd want
a room with BATH" drawled the man
behind the counter, surveying the APP
plicant from head to foot. switch we
amt got" he added.
"Tll be satisfied to have a oom with
a bed" said the other.
"Sign here" was the lacoDic re-
Spouse.
Can l have supper?"
"Food for man and beast" said the
other patiently. He slapped his palm
upon a cracked call bell and then
looked at the fresh name on the page.
"Thomas K. Barnes, New York." he
read aloud. He eyed the newcomer
once more. "My name Is Jones-Put-
nam Jones. / run this place. My ia
Their an grandfather run it before re.
Glad to meet you, Mr.. Barnes. We
used toshave a hostler here named
Barnes. What's your idear fer footin'
1t this time o. the yearT
q" do something like this every
spring. A month or six weeks of ii
puts me in fine shape for a vacation
later on" supplied Mr.. Barnes whlm-
sically.
Mr.. Jones allowed a grin to steal
over his scanned face. lie reinserted
the corncob pipe and took a couple Of
pulls at 1t.
81 never been to New York, but il
must be a heavenly place for a vaea-
ton, If a Teller en- judge by what some
of my present boarders have to say
about it. It's a sort of play actors
paradise, amt it,"
ut is paradise TO every actor who
happens to be on the road, Mr.. Jones,p
said Barnes, slipping his big pack
from his shoulders and letting it slide
to the floor.
"Hear that Teller in the taproom
talkin'? Well, he Is one Of the lead
ing actors in New YOrk-in the world,
for that matter. He's been talkin'
about Broadway for nearly a week
now, steady"
MAY l inquire what he is doing up
here in the wilds?"
"At present he amt doing anything
talk. Last week he was treddin'
the boards, as he puts 1t himself. Bust
Up the flue. Showed last Satur-
day night In Hornville, eighteen mile
north of here, and Immediately after
performance him and his whole
started to walk back to New
York, a good four hundred mile. They
out the back way of the opery
house and nobody missed 'em till next
mornin' except the sheriff, and he
didn't miss 'em till they'd got over
the county line into our bailiwick.
of 'em are still stoppin' here
just because / amt got the heart to
turn 'em out ner the spare money to
buy 'em tickets to New York. Here
comes one of 'em now. Mr.. Dllling-
ford, will you show this gentleman to
room eleven and carry his baggage up
fer him? And maybe he'll want a
of warm water to wash and
shave in." He turned to the new guest
md smiled apologetically. "We're a
little short O. help just now, Mr..
Barnes, and Nh. Dllllngford has kind
y consented to-"
"My world" gasped Mr.. Dlllingford,
at the register. Someone
little old New York? My word,
sir, you Won't you have a-er-
something to drink with me be-
fore you"
"He wants something to eat" inter-
Mr.. Jones sharply. Tell Mr..
Bacon to step up to his room and
take the order"
IAN right. old chap-nothing easier"
said Mr.. D~illingford genlally. "Just
climb up the elevator, Mr.. Barnes. We
do this to get up an appetite. When
you leave New York;"
Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp
and the heavy pack, Mr.. Clarence Dill
led the way up the stairs.
He was a chubby individual Of inde6-
mite age. AT a glance you would have
said he vas under twenty-One; a sec
ond look would have convinced yOu
that he was nearer ~forty-one.
Depositing Barnes pack on a chair
In the little bedroom at the end Of
the hall upstairs he favored the guest
with a perfectly unahashed grin.
Continued mex Saturday,
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