The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1920-05-25

By GEORGE E. COBB

=
for one week at the Palace hotel a
Brompton, owned and operated by hi
fathers brother, John Morse. Thence
forth the lad had one fervld ambition
to become in time the manager o.
proprietor OF like establishment.
Uncle John was porfAy individua
who had followed the hotel business
for over a quarter of a century. Ht
was built for the task both in dispo
sitlon and bulk. He knew every com
mercial traveller on the road, he kept
fairly apace of the times in equipment
and Improvements. The dazzled TeC
took back home with him a pleasant
memory of the big arm chair in the
hotel lobby filled by his big relative
who was revered by his clientele, al.
ways jolly and joking, typical
"mine host"
The years went on, but the glowing
memory never faded from the mind of
Ted He became clerk in the store
of his native village and one day re-
ceived a letter that set his wits stag
gering. His uncle had died and had
bequeathed to him the hotel. The
dream of early youth was fulfilled.
"Your uncle had been failing for
about two years." the executor of the
estate told Ted when he arrived at
Brompton, "and the odds and ends
have not maintained the old systemat-
ic order. However, young blood com
ing into the proposition will make the
best of a very promising situation"
1t was in Ted to make himself pop
ular. He faithfully copied his uncle's
methods. He became genial host, in
deed. He was accommodating, lenient,
agreeable. The travelling men took to
him and there was no stinting in the
menu and no deterioration in general
service. A new element came into
the situation later that harassed Ted.
His friends and relatives began TO
trade on his liberal, easy going nature.
They came in swarms. They came
with their families and sent their
friends as we'll IT seemed as though
every acquaintance he had received
a tip that half rates, or no rates at all,
We're accessible to those who had the
art to appeal successfully to the in
dulgence of man who loved to he
considered genial host, and whose
ambition was to be known as running
the best hotel on the road"
BY the end Of year Ted began to
realize his weakness. Thus, half
cousin had swooped down upon him
with family of FIVE staying for over
q month and departing without paying
his bill. A btother-in-law had passed |
half a dozen worthless checks on the
hostelry, some old time friends had |
borrowed several hundred dollars from
him. His manager had worked in a |
special friend as buyer for the hotel, |
and Ted could not help but notice the
extortionate prices paid for supplies. !
Something's wrong" decided Ted. |
81 must find somebody to watch the ,
outlay while sit around playing gen
tleman."
Ted was thus occupied in his favor
lite arm chair one evening when
into the lobby. He could not help but
notice her deep agitation. She looked
wearled and her attire was poor and
old.
please, sir" she painted, mamma
is sick"
''Eh, hello what's that?" exclaimed
Ted. "Who is your mamma and where
Is she?"
Mamma is tired out and walked
4 long way, and she expected to find
friends here, ""d they're all dead and
gone, and we're hungry, too. She's just
Big hearted Ted Morse stirred him
self with vigor ever present when
le could do anybody a good turn. He
the child outside. There
eated on the step of the ladies' en-
rance was a young woman, pale, with
losed eyes, and apparently overcome
With weakness. She looked dazed and
espairing as Ted touched her arm
nd spoke kindly. In fragments she
weakly told her story. Both her hus-
and and herself had in years agone
cen respectively steward and book
eeper of the hotel for John Morse.
hey had left for another position
tx years previous. Her husband had
led leaving her penniess she had
ome TO Brompton to see if her former
could not give her employ
rent again.
$50 the finely kept books showing
profit where my careless figuring had
loss was your work, eh?' observed
ed, when he had seen mother and
hid installed comfortably. you've
,me at the right time, Mrs. Award.
ever l needed experienced advice
s just now"
Within month Mrs. Award was
lck at her old desk and the leaks i'm E
-ofits began 10 diminish. Within a E.
onth Ted experienced his first love d
nd there was quiet wedding.
Genial host and genial husband to
charming helpful woman, kindly
ther quite to little Eva, it seemed as
ough fate had led to his door the in y
FENCES that We're to make him a sue