The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-11
CHAPTER I
The Governors Suite

ara oI ehcellence Is uniformly high
nevertheless some extra cost usual
ly attaches to a breakfast ordered
from the Governors suitc-most ele-
CANT and most expensive of all the
fuites-hence the waiter checked
over his card and made a final, fiut-
ter.ng examination to be sure that
the chilled fruit was chilled and
the hot plates were hot before he
raped on the door. A voice, loud
and CHEEKY, babe him enter.
The pajama-clad guest cast a
hungry eye over the contents of the
ribbt r-t.red breakfas. table. He
too. tested the temperature of the
melon and felt the cover of the toast
plate.
"Splendid,' he cried. mice rooms,
prompt service, a pleasant-faced
waiter. Why | couldn't fare bet
ter in my best club. Thanks to you,
my first impression of Dallas is
wholly delightful" He seated him
self in padded boudoir chair, un-
folded a snowy servette and at
tackled his breakfast with the en-
thuslasm of perfectly healthy ami
NAL.
is this your first visit here, sir?''
"Absolutely. Dallas is as foreign
to me as Lhasa. 1t is the Bagdad of
my dreams and it's streets are
strange. Perhaps they are full of
adventure for me. ! hope so. Any
thing exciting can happen in a town
where one has neither friends nor
acqua!ntanceS, chg"
May l ask if you are in oil, STRIP
I'm oil? Bless me, what a nause-
ating question-at this hour of the
day"
"Most everybody here is in oil.
We turn dozens away every day,
we're that full. It's the boom. I'm
in oil myself-in small way. of
course. It's like this: sometimes
gentlemen like-well, like you, sir
give me tips. They drop a hint, like
about their stocks, and I've done
wcll--in a small way, of course. 1t
doesn't cost them anything and
SOME of them are very kind. You'd
really be surprised"
"Oh, not at ALL The OCCUPANT of
| the Governors suite leaned back in
his chair and smiled widely. .As a
matter of fact, am flattered, for it
is evident that you are endowed
with the money making instinct and
that you unerringly recognize it in
others. Very well, l shall see what
! can do for you. But while we are
on the subject of tips, would you
mind helping yourself to dollar
out of my trousers pocket?"
The waiter proceeded to do as di-
rected but moment later an
nounced, apologetically: Here's all
find, sir. It's mostly pennies" He
exposed handful of small coins.
y "Look in my coat, if you will"
But the second search resulted as
had the first. "Strange!" MUIR
INJURED the guest, without rising. II
must have been robbed. l remem-
Der now, a fellow crowded me as I
left my train. Um-m! Robbed-at
the very gates of Bagdad! Dallas is
a City of Adventure. Please add
your tip to the check, and-make it
two dollars. I'd like to have you
serve me every morning, for cannot
abide an acid face at breakfast. 1t
sours my whole day"
Calvin Gray finished his break
fast, smoked a cigaret as he scan
ned the morning paper, then he
dressed himself with meticulous
care.
Some men possess an effortless
knack of commanding attention and
inspiring coy rtesy. Calvin Gray
was one of these. Before many mo-
ments, he was iM the managers
Office, explaining, sauvely, "Now
that l have introduced myself, l
wish to thank you for taking care
of me upon such short notice."
at was the only space We had. If
you wish, I'll save your rooms
changed as soon as"
Have you something better"
Haviland, the manager, laughed
and shook his head. Scarcely!
That suite is our pet and our pride.
There's nothing co beat it in the
whole Southwest
ut is very nice. May l inquire
the rate?"
"Twenty-five dollars day."
quite reasonable" Mr.. Gray
beamed his satisfaction.
ut is the only suite we have left.
We've put beds in the parlors of the
others, and frequently we have to
double up our guests. This oil ex-
element is a blessing to us poor
innkeepers. l presume it's oil that
brings you here?"
Gray met the speakers interroga-
tory gaze with a negative shake of
the head and a smile peculiarly non
committal. "No," he declared. I'm
not in the oil bu:. MSS and I h1Ie no
money to invest in 1t. On the con-
trary, / am penniless adventurer
whom chance alone has cast upon
your hospitable grand staircase"
These words were spoken with
suggestion of mock modesty that
had precisely the effect of deliber-
ate wink, and S1r. Haviland smiled
and nodded his Complete compre-
hension.
81 get you," said he. "And you're
right. The lease hounds would devil
you to death if you gave them
chance. Now thenS if there's any
way in which can be of service"
"There is" Gray's tone was at
once businesslike. "Please give me