Life — March 24, 1910 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE NIGHT SHIFT AT THE HOTEL CHAT “ pront!"* Right Up There BY CHESTERTON TODD ne TNT your best suite for party of three. } Coming this afternoon. E. Setzic | pe ; ‘ } Le ARRY MERLIN, the proprictor and owner of the Sun light Inn, held the telegram in his hand meditatively. Then he slipped it over to his head clerk, who smiled. “Have you any idea who he is, Roberts?” he said. Roberts was a new acquisition. Merlin had secured him through an agency. In his time he had been one of the best hotel clerks in the country, and had once drawn a salary of three thousand dollars. But he was getting old and, not being of a thrifty nature, he was glad now to accept twelve hundred a year in this old-fashioned mountain resort. His hand shook slightly when performing the graceful act of dipping the pen in the ink and handing it to a new arrival; but his knowledge of men was profound, and he was very familiar with all of that class of Americans who go about and spend money. Certainly I do,’* he replied. “He's the man who made so much money in cotton a few years ago—millions. He's a great spender. Wants everything the best. Great thing to have him. her Merlin was cautious in his reply. Mr. Roberts did not ider him quite up to date. Why, my dear sir,"” he said, with a slightly fam which was perhaps excusable in a man of such wide expe- rience, even though he was an employee, “if you can get a few more like him to patro: "-e this inn you'll make enough money Taltvre Serrime Saves! e | out of them to enlarge it for next year and put in a few up to date improvements. It’s great luck.’” “We're doing fairly well we are,’’ said Merlin. “You're making both ends meet—and that's about all. I don’t think you realize the possibilities- . Merlin was perfectly willing to permit Roberts to give him advice up to a certain point, but not beyond it. “What rooms can you give him?"’ he asked shortly. “ All the best rooms on the second floor are tal “Well, put him on the third.” “He won't like it. He won't stay.’" “We can't do impossible things. Roberts’ manner grew more earnest. He knew that this was a crisis in the history of the Sunlight Inn. In his mind’s eye he saw it a few years hence—broad verandas, one hun- dred new bathrooms, stucco garage, six-cylinder cars arriving every five minut and millionaires scattered all over. “TI don’t think you realize the possibilities, Mr. Merlin,’’ he said cautiously. “If we can get him going, and he brings more like him, why, your fortune will be made. Everything depends on how he is treated this time. Fortunately, 1 know what ought to be done. I was once in the same——"" Give him three rooms on the third floor—the south wing —and then let's wait and see what he looks like.’’ Roberts was tactful, but secretly persistent. “Certainly,” he replied, “but if you will pardon the sug- gestion, would you permit me to receive him and—manage him?” Merlin considerec. “Why, yes,'" he said. “You can probably do it better than I,’’ he added magnanimously. “I am quite willing that you should do the honors. Don’t think, Roberts, that I am at all blind to the situation. If he is the right kind of a mil- comicbooks.com