Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1910 — AN INGENIOUS DEVICE. [ARTICLE]

AN INGENIOUS DEVICE.

The proprietor of a certain hotel on the Maine coast had been much harassed by the accusations of guests who “overslept,” and thereby failed to make connections or keep appointments. They invariably insisted they had never been called, abused his employes as well as himself, and declared they would never stop with him again. Of course they usually did stop, but that did not altogether even matters from the proprietor’s standpoint. At last, after long and anxious thought, he hit upon a plan which seemed calculated to insure justice and satisfaction to all parties. It was one of the most abusive of his patrons under the old regulations on whom the new scheme was JJrst tried. He had retired with reiterated injunctions to wake him in time to catch that 5 o'clock train. It was midwinter. The proprietor had learned by experience how difficult of persuasion is a sound sleeper in a warm bed at that hour of the morning. At quarter past 4 there was a loud rap upon the guest’s door. No answer. Then a still louder summons. “What’s the matter?” came the response. “Get up, quick, sir—please,” in a tone of excitement, “and sign this receipt!” “Receipt?” “Yes, sir; here it is and here’s the pencil. Right quick, sir, please! It’s very important—won’t take you a minute, sir, to sign It!” Muttering Incoherently, the guest stumbled out of bed. The very strangeness of the demand had roused him as 'doubtless no ordinary summons could do. Unlocking the door, he thrust out his hand, confused ideas of registered letters, checks, legacies, crowding upon bls half-awakened senses. The paper which he drew inside bore the date and "Called at 4:15, as requested. Sign hete.”